Question 1
Define the balance of payments
The balance of payments (BOP) can be defined as the statistical record of a country's
international transactions over a certain period of time presented in the form of double-entry bookkeeping.
Question 2
Why would it be useful to examine a country's balance of payments data?
It would be useful to examine a country's BOP for at least 2 reasons. First, BOP provides
detailed information about the supply and demand of the country's currency. Second, BOP data can be
used to evaluate the performance of the country in international economic competition. For example, if
a country is experiencing perennial BOP deficits, it may signal that the country's industries lack compeitiveness.
Question 3
The United States has experienced continuous current account deficits since the early 1980s. What do you think are the
main causes for the deficits? What would be the consequences of continuous U.S. current account deficits?
The current account deficits of U.S. may have reflected a few reasons such as
1. a historically high real interest rate in the U.S., which is due to ballooning federal budget deficits, that keep the dollar strong
2. weak competitiveness of the U.S. industries
Question 4
In contrast to the U.S., Japan has realized continuous current account surpluses. What could be the main causes for these surpluses? Is it
desirable to have continuous current account surpluses?
Japan continuous current account surpluses may have reflected a weak yen and high
competitiveness of Japanese industries. Massive capital exports by Japan prevented yen from
appreciating more than it did. At the same time, foreigners' exports by Japan were hampered by closed
nature of Japanese markets. Continuous current account surpluses disrupt free trade by promoting protectionist
sentiment in the deficit country. It is ot desirable especially when it is brought about by the merchantilist policies.
Question 5
Comment on the following statement: "Since the U.S. imports more than it exports, it is necessary
for the U.S. to import capital from foreign countries to finance its current account deficits."
The statement presupposes that the U.S. current account deficit causes its capital account surplus.
In reality, the causality may be running in the opposite direction: U.S. capital account surplus may cause
the country's current account deficit. Suppose foreigners find the U.S. a great place to invest and send their
capital to the U.S., resulting in U.S. capital account surplus. This capital inflow will strengthen the dollar,
hurting the U.S. export and encouraging imports from foreign countries, causing current account deficits.
Question 6
Explain how a country can run an overall balance of payments deficit or surplus.
A country can run an overall BOP deficit or surplus by engaging in the official reserve transactions.
For example, an overall BOP deficit can be supported by drawing down the central bank's reserve holding.
Likewise, an overall BOP surplus can be absorbed by adding to the central bank's reserve holdings.
Question 7
Explain official reserve assets and its major components
Official reserve assets are those financial assets that can be used as international means of payments.
Currently, official reserve assets comprise:
1. Gold
2. Foreign exchanges
3. Special drawing rights (SDR)
4. Reserve positions with the IMF
Foreign exchanges are by far the most important official reserves.
Question 8
Explain how to compute the overall balance and discuss its significance.
The overall BOP is determined by computing the cumulative balance of payments including the current account,
capital account, and the statistical discrepancies. The overall BOP is significant because it indicates a country's
international payment gap that must be financed by the government's official reserve transactions.
Question 9
Since the early 1980s, foreign portfolio investors have purchased a significant portion of U.S. treasury bond issues.
Discuss the short-term and long-term effects of foreigners' portfolio investment on the U.S. balance of payments.
As foreigners purchase U.S. Treasury bonds, U.S.BOP will improve in the short run. But in the long run, U.S. BOP may deteriorate
because the U.S. should pay interests and principals to foreigners. If foreign funds are used productively and contributes
to the competitiveness of U.S. industries, however, U.S. BOP may improve in the long run.
Question 10
Describe the balance of payments identity and discuss its implication under the fixed and flexible exchange rate regimes.
The balance of payments identity holds that the combined balance on the current and capital accounts should be equal in size,
but opposite in sign, to the change in the official reserves: BCA + BKA = -BRA. Under the pure flexible exchange rate regime, central
banks do not engage in official reserve transactions. Thus, the overall balance must balance, i.e., BCA = -BKA. Under the fixed
exchange rate regime, however, a country can have an overall BOP surplus or deficit as the central bank will accommodate it via
official reserve transactions.
Question 11
Exhibit 3.3 indicates that in 1991, the U.S. had a current account deficit and at the same time a capital account deficit. Explain how this can happen?
in 1991, the U.S. experienced an overall BOP deficit, which must have been accommodated by the Federal Reserve's official reserve action, i.e., drawing down its reserve holdings.
Question 12
Explain how each of the following transactions will be classified and recorded in the debit and credit of the U.S. balance of payments:
1. A Japanese insurance company purchases U.S. Treasury bonds and pays out of its bank account kept in New York City.
2. A U.S. citizen consumes a meal at a restaurant in Paris and pays with her American Express card.
3. A Indian immigrant living in Los Angeles sends a check drawn on his L.A. bank account as a gift to his parents living in Bombay.
4. A U.S. computer programmer is hired by a British company for consulting and gets paid from the U.S. bank account maintained by the British company.
(Credit) Japanese purchase of U.S. T bonds
(Debit) Japanese payments using NYC accounts
(Debit) U.S. citizen having a meal in Paris
(Credit) Paying the meal with American Express
(Debit) Gift to parents in Bombay
(Credit) Receipts of the check by parents -- goodwill
(Credit) Export of programming service
(Debit) British payment out its account in U.S.