Ok.. so for an essay question like:
Evaluate the government's economic policies in maintaining a sustained level of economic growth (found in the WeSSSTA paper for this year.. why did I choose this question? becasue this paper was on the top of my messy study table so I've got no real reason for choosing this question)
ok here we goo... (btw i finished SDD yesterday and haven't studied for economics yet aside from my holiday study so I'll answer the question with what i know). After study today/tomorrow i will probably get back here to fix this up/post a new response for another question
The federal government have a number of economic policies to maintain a sustained level of growth. These policies include fiscal and monetary policy, structural change and microeconomic policies and prices and incomes policy.
Economic growth is defined as the material advancement of a nation and an increase in it's productive capactiy. It is measured through the percentage change of GDP (gross domestic product) each year calculated by the final price of total production in the economy. In the past 10 years, economic growth has averaged 3-4%, within the target of the Government.
The macroeconomic policy of fiscal policy involves the governments use of taxation and spending to manipulate growth levels. Fiscal policy is the main tool used to control growth. A contractionary effect on the economy will be induced if the government increases taxation relative to government expenditure or by decreasing government expenditure relative to taxation. This policy is effective further in the sense that it can target areas of growth. This is one of fiscal policies main advantages. If the government wishes to stimulate the economy in particular area, it can target it by increasing government spending in these areas. Similaryly, it may choose to reduce government spending in areas of high demand to dampen demand.
While this macroeconomic policy is effective in this sense, it also carries several disadvantages. Fiscal policy suffers from time lags. This is due to the time involved in actually implementing the policy. While the government may declare their plans for government expenditure and taxation, it still mussed be passed through the house of representatives.
In 1990, global and domestic recession brought economic growth to -0.34%. By use of expansionary fiscal policy, demand was shortly brought back up. In this sens, fiscal policy can be seen as an effective policy in controling economic growth. In 2000-01, economic growth was at 2% and my further implementing a slightly expansionary policy that year, the next year economic growth rose to 3.8%. Fiscal policy therefore, is truly effective in managing growth in Australia.
Another macroeconomic policy, monetary policy, while taking a back seat to fiscal policy in managing economic growth in recent years is highly effective in managing demand. The RBA controls the cash rate in the short term money market by creating a deficit or surplus in each banks exchange settlement account through the purchase and sale of previously issued government bonds and securities. In doing so, supply of funds in the STMM will me increased/decreased, causing the cash rate to rise/fall accordingly, having an effect on domestic interest rates. If interest rates are high, it will encourage individuals to hold off borrowing and demand, dampening it and causing a contractionary effect in the economy. If interest rates are lowered, it encourages borrowing and spending, and therefore stimulating demand resulting in economic growth. This policy is therefore effective in maintaining economic growth. It's effectiveness is further explicated in it's quick implementation time. Each month the RBA meets to determine the interest rate and carries this advantage over fiscal policy. However, it does suffer from time lags of 8-18 months before any physical changes are evident.
In 1974, monetary policy was dropped 32 times to 4.75 causing a huge stimulation in demand. However, it needed to be dropped 32 times as the consumers simply did not respond to changes. In this effect, it can be seen that this economic policy was not effective in maintaining a sustained growth level. Today however, every change in monetary policy has an effect on the economy mainly due to speculators. It is estimated 90% of investment is speculative and therefore slight changes of 0.25 percent result in changes in demand.
The two macroeconomic policies of fiscal and monetary policy can be viewed as effective, explicating how growth averaged 3-4% for the past 10 years. However, both are demand management policies and do not effect the structural problems of the economy. They also do suffer from time lags and implementation difficulties. However, they are still the most effective policies in managing the economies sustained economic growth.
ok so i didn't cover micro or prices and incomes policy as i sorta stated i would in the essays intro.. I got tired hehe. I know that there aren't many statistics.. I haven't started studying for economics yet so those are the statistics/points i remember from my holiday study.
Good luck with economics everybody!!!
-Lester
edit - i added the following below:
Originally posted by whatever
God
I can't believe how competitive the students for economics are! If you go to the other forums for other subjects you'll see they are much more productive cause they are willing to share info and help each other
That is very true. In the physics and SDD forums.. everyone helps others in marking, with handing out notes and helping those with dot points. The economics forum isn't as friendly lol.