Deck 2: International Flow of Funds

Question 1

A high home inflation rate relative to other countries would _______ the home country's current account balance,other things equal.  A high growth in the home income level relative to other countries would _______ the home country's current account balance,other things equal.

A) increase;increase
B) increase;decrease
C) decrease;decrease
D) decrease;increase

Answer 1

C

Question 2

If the home currency begins to appreciate against other currencies,this should ____________ the current account balance,other things equal (assume that substitutes are readily available in the countries,and that the prices charged by firms remain the same).

A) increase
B) have no impact on
C) reduce
D) all of the above are equally possible

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Over time,international trade (exports plus imports)as a percentage of GDP has:

A) increased for most major countries.
B) decreased for most major countries.
C) stayed about constant for most major countries.
D) increased for about half the major countries and decreased for the others.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following would likely have the least direct influence on a country's current account

A) inflation.
B) national income.
C) exchange rates.
D) tariffs.
E) a tax on income earned from foreign stocks.

Question 5

An increase in the current account deficit will place _______ pressure on the home currency value,other things equal.

A) upward
B) downward
C) no
D) upward or downward (depending on the size of the deficit)

Question 6

The U.S.typically has a balance-of-trade surplus in its trade with __________.

A) China
B) Japan
C) A and B
D) none of the above

Question 7

Recently,the U.S.experienced an annual balance of trade representing a __________.

A) large surplus (exceeding $100 billion)
B) small surplus
C) level of zero
D) deficit

Question 8

As a result of the European Union,restrictions on exports between _______ were reduced or eliminated.

A) member countries and the U.S.
B) member countries
C) member countries and European non-members
D) none of the above

Question 9

The World Bank was established to:

A) enhance development solely in Asia through grants.
B) enhance economic development through non subsidized loans (at market interest rates).
C) enhance economic development through low interest rate loans (below market rates).
D) enhance economic development of the private sector through investment in stock of corporations.

Question 10

An increase in the use of quotas is expected to:

A) reduce the country's current account balance, if other governments do not retaliate.
B) increase the country's current account balance, if other governments do not retaliate.
C) have no impact on the country's current account balance unless other governments retaliate.
D) increase the volume of a country's trade with other countries.

Question 11

The primary component of the current account is the:

A) balance of trade.
B) balance of money market flows.
C) balance of capital market flows.
D) unilateral transfers.

Question 12

According to the text,international trade (exports plus imports combined)as a percentage of GDP is:

A) higher in the U.S. than in European countries.
B) lower in the U.S. than in European countries.
C) higher in the U.S. than in about half the European countries, and lower in the U.S. than the others.
D) about the same in the U.S. as in European countries.

Question 13

If a country's government imposes a tariff on imported goods,that country's current account balance will likely __________ (assuming no retaliation by other governments).

A) decrease
B) increase
C) remain unaffected
D) either A or C are possible

Question 14

_________ purchases more U.S.exports than any other country.

A) Japan
B) United Kingdom
C) Mexico
D) Canada

Question 15

The International Development Association was established to:

A) enhance development solely in Asia through grants.
B) enhance economic development through non subsidized loans (at market interest rates).
C) enhance economic development through low interest rate loans (below market rates).
D) enhance economic development of the private sector through investment in stock of corporations.

Question 16

The International Financial Corporation was established to:

A) enhance development solely in Asia through grants.
B) enhance economic development through non subsidized loans (at market interest rates).
C) enhance economic development through low interest rate loans (below market rates).
D) enhance economic development of the private sector through investment in stock of corporations.

Question 17

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)increased restrictions on:

A) trade between Canada and Mexico.
B) trade between Canada and the U.S.
C) direct foreign investment in Mexico by U.S. firms.
D) none of the above.

Question 18

The direct foreign investment positions by U.S.firms have generally ________ over time;the direct foreign investment positions in the U.S.by non-U.S.firms have generally ______ over time.

A) increased;increased
B) increased;decreased
C) decreased;decreased
D) decreased;increased

Question 19

Which of the following is the biggest target of direct foreign investment by U.S.firms

A) Mexico.
B) Japan.
C) United Kingdom.
D) Germany.

Question 20

The "J curve" effect describes:

A) the continuous long term inverse relationship between a country's current account balance and the country's growth in gross national product.
B) the short-run tendency for a country's balance of trade to deteriorate even while its currency is depreciating.
C) the tendency for exporters to initially reduce the price of goods when their own currency appreciates.
D) the reaction of a country's currency to initially depreciate after the country's inflation rate declines.

Question 21

Portfolio investment represents transactions involving long-term financial assets (such as stocks and bonds)between countries that do not affect the transfer of control.

Question 22

Which of the following is not a commonly occurring subtle trade restriction

A) Firms based in one country are not subject to certain restrictions and can produce products at a lower cost than firms in other countries.
B) Firms based in a country receive subsidies from their government, produce products, and then export those products at a cheap price.
C) Firms based in one country are allowed by their government to offer bribes to large customers when pursuing business deals in a particular industry.
D) All of the above describe commonly occurring subtle trade restrictions.

Question 23

The World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA):

A) offers various forms of export insurance.
B) offers various forms of import insurance.
C) offers various forms of exchange rate risk insurance.
D) provides loans to developing countries.
E) offers various forms of political risk insurance.

Question 24

Also known as the "central banks' central bank," the __________ attempts to facilitate cooperation among countries with regard to international transactions and provides assistance to countries experiencing a financial crisis.

A) World Bank
B) International Financial Corporation (IFC)
C) World Trade Organization
D) International Development Association (IDA)
E) Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

Question 25

Which is not a concern about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

A) its impact on U.S. inflation.
B) its impact on U.S. unemployment.
C) lower environmental standards in Mexico.
D) different health laws for workers in Mexico.

Question 26

A weak home currency may not be a perfect solution to correct a balance of trade deficit because:

A) it reduces the prices of imports paid by local companies.
B) it increases the prices of exports by local companies.
C) it prevents international trade transactions from being prearranged.
D) foreign companies may reduce the prices of their products to stay competitive.

Question 27

The demand for U.S.exports tends to increase when:
A) economic growth in foreign countries decreases.

A) the currencies of foreign countries strengthen against the dollar.
B) U.S. inflation rises.
D) none of the above

Question 28

Changes in country ownership of long-term and short-term assets are measured in the balance of payments with the capital account.

Question 29

Direct foreign investment into the U.S.represents a ________.

A) capital inflow
B) trade inflow
C) capital outflow
D) trade outflow

Question 30

The balance of payments is a measurement of all transactions between domestic and foreign residents over a specified period of time.

Question 31

The World Bank extends loans only to developed nations,while the International Development Association (IDA)extends loans only to developing nations.

Question 32

Intracompany trade makes up approximately _____ percent of all international trade.

A) 50
B) 70
C) 25
D) 13
E) 5

Question 33

A balance-of-trade surplus indicates an excess of merchandise imports over merchandise exports.

Question 34

The current account represents the investment in fixed assets in foreign countries that can be used to conduct business operations.

Question 35

Like the International Monetary Fund (IMF),the _______________ is composed of a collection of nations as members.However,unlike the IMF,it uses the private rather than the government sector to achieve its objectives.

A) World Bank
B) International Financial Corporation (IFC)
C) World Trade Organization (WTO)
D) International Development Association (IDA)
E) Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

Question 36

A weakening of the U.S.dollar with respect to the British pound would likely reduce the U.S.exports to Britain and increase U.S.imports from Britain.

Question 37

A General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)accord in 1993 called for:

A) increased trade restrictions outside of North America.
B) lower trade restrictions around the world.
C) uniform environmental standards around the world.
D) uniform worker health laws.

Question 38

______________ is (are)income received by investors on foreign investments in financial assets (securities).

A) Portfolio income
B) Direct foreign income
C) Unilateral transfers
D) Factor income

Question 39

The World Bank frequently enters into cofinancing agreements.Under these agreements,financing is provided by the World Bank and/or official aid agencies,export credit agencies,or commercial banks.

Question 40

"Dumping" is used in the text to represent the:

A) exporting of goods that do not meet quality standards.
B) sales of junk bonds to foreign countries.
C) removal of foreign subsidiaries by the host government.
D) exporting of goods at prices below cost.

Question 41

Intracompany trade represents the exporting of products by one country to other countries below cost.

Question 42

A tariff is a maximum limit on imports.

Question 43

The J curve effect is the initial worsening of the U.S.trade balance due to a weakening dollar because of established trade relationships that are not easily changed;as the dollar weakens,the dollar value of imports initially rises before the U.S.trade balance is improved.

Question 44

Direct foreign investment by U.S.-based MNCs occurs primarily in the Bahamas and Brazil.

Question 45

Exporting of products by one country to other countries at prices below cost is called elasticity.

Question 46

Portfolio investments represent transactions involving long-term financial assets (such as stocks and bonds)between countries that do not affect the transfer of control.