1. Minimum of 1 page page..Choose a country and analyze its balance of payments for the past 2 years. Good sources of data include official bulletins of the statistical authority of a country or its central banks; International Financial Statistics, which is a publication of the IMF (www.imf.org), and the Main Economic Indicators, which is a publication of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (www.oecd.org).
a. Examine how trade in goods and services has evolved over time. Is the country becoming more or less competitive in world markets?
b. Consider the relationship between the country’s net foreign asset position and its international investment income account.
c. If the country has run a current account deficit, what capital inflows have financed the deficit? If the country has run a current account surplus, how have the capital outflows been invested?
2. Minimum of 1 page Pick a country and search the internet for newspaper or magazine articles that contain information related to the balance of payments of the country and corresponding movements in the foreign exchange value of the country’s currency. Does an unexpectedly large current account deficit cause the country’s currency to strengthen or weaken on the foreign exchange market?
3. Minimum of 1 page Pick an example of Free trade agreement Amongst the following ( NAFTA, AGOA, SAFTA, GAFTA).
a) Describe the background of the agreement (parties, aims, ratifications, etc)
b) Did the agreement encounter criticism/challenges before being enacted?
c) Was the agreement successful in achieving its aims? Why?
d) How did the agreement raise trade numbers? Share numbers.
e) Which country(ies) was/were the main beneficiary of the agreement? Why?
f) What is your outlook on this agreement for the future?