a) Influences on net trade

a) the main influences on the (net) trade balance: real income, exchange rates, state of the world economy, degree of protectionism, non-price factors

trade balance = revenue from exports - expenditure on imports

  • positive net trade balance = export revenue > import expenditure

  • negative net trade balance = import expenditure > exports revenue

real income increases in the UK

  • more demand for imports

  • negative trade balance

real income increases abroad

  • more demand for exports

  • positive trade balance

high exchange rate

  • higher £ value

  • expensive exports + cheap imports

  • negative trade balance

low exchange rate

  • lower £ value

  • cheap exports + expensive imports

  • positive trade balance

world economy declines

  • less demand for exports

  • negative trade balance

world economy grows

  • more demand for exports

  • positive trade balance

low protectionism

  • no tariffs

  • cheap imports

  • negative trade balance

high protectionism

  • tariffs

  • expensive imports

  • positive trade balance