abu yahya's definitions
In order of population, the Lusophonic countries are Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Portugal, Guinea-Bissau, Timor-Leste, Macau S.A.R., and São Tomé e Príncipe.
by Abu Yahya May 18, 2010
Get the Lusophonicmug. *noun*, term used in economics to refer to the New Classical economics. The fresh water school was lead by Robert E. Lucas, Thomas J. Sargent, and Robert Barro; its position was that fiscal policy and monetary policy are doomed to be ineffective, since they rely on "fooling the public."
Instead, they argued that even tax cuts had no stimulus effect (in contrast to "supply side economics"), and of course they were resolutely opposed to government spending. Instead, the fresh water school maintained that a recession was caused by markets adjusting to a technology shock to create a structurally different economic system. The best thing to do was to allow the markets to restructure industry on their own.
The fresh water school was known for their support of the "rational expectations hypothesis" (REH) and "real business cycle" (RBC) theory.
Instead, they argued that even tax cuts had no stimulus effect (in contrast to "supply side economics"), and of course they were resolutely opposed to government spending. Instead, the fresh water school maintained that a recession was caused by markets adjusting to a technology shock to create a structurally different economic system. The best thing to do was to allow the markets to restructure industry on their own.
The fresh water school was known for their support of the "rational expectations hypothesis" (REH) and "real business cycle" (RBC) theory.
But lately, a ...school of skeptics who think the Government usually just gums things up is gaining attention and influence. The skeptics are known as the "fresh water school," less for the purity of their thought than for their origins at universities along the shores of the Great Lakes.
"'Fresh Water' Economists Gain," *New York Times*, 23 July 1988
"'Fresh Water' Economists Gain," *New York Times*, 23 July 1988
by Abu Yahya March 5, 2009
Get the fresh water schoolmug. (FINANCE) a financial derivative that consists of a contract to buy a fixed amount of a thing at a fixed price at a fixed time in the future,. For example, a commodity future may specify 1000 British barrels (bbl) of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil for $85.75/bbl, for delivery at Cushing, OK, on 31 November 2010.
Futures are "written" by the person with the commodity to sell, and sold to either a financial speculator or else to someone who wants the product--in this case, an oil refinery. Sellers/owners do this because they want to be assured of a fixed price for the thing they're selling. The official reason for buying a future is to get a fixed price for something. This allows businesses to plan ahead.
However, since futures contracts are traded on secondary markets, it's possible to make (or lose) a lot of money trading them.
Futures are "written" by the person with the commodity to sell, and sold to either a financial speculator or else to someone who wants the product--in this case, an oil refinery. Sellers/owners do this because they want to be assured of a fixed price for the thing they're selling. The official reason for buying a future is to get a fixed price for something. This allows businesses to plan ahead.
However, since futures contracts are traded on secondary markets, it's possible to make (or lose) a lot of money trading them.
SOMEBODY: A futures contract can be extremely valuable for doing business. One of the best examples was Southwest Airlines, which weathered the oil crisis of 2007-2008 with futures for aviation fuel. When the market price of fuel doubled, Southwest was able pay a low, low contract price.
SOMEBODY ELSE: Doesn't it ever backfire?
SOMEBODY: Yes, the market price could fall through the floor and you'd be stuck paying THAT instead of the new, lower price. But at least you know what your cash flow will be.
SOMEBODY ELSE: Doesn't it ever backfire?
SOMEBODY: Yes, the market price could fall through the floor and you'd be stuck paying THAT instead of the new, lower price. But at least you know what your cash flow will be.
by Abu Yahya April 5, 2010
Get the futures contractmug. A currency whose value is set by the currency markets; money whose exchange rate relative to other currencies is determined mainly or entirely by unrestricted trading in the currency. Most currencies are dirty float|dirty floats, which means that the government issuing them attempts to manage their traded value in some way; or else hard peg|hard pegs, in which the value is tied to something specific.
When a currency is floating, then its value may rise because the county is running a trade surplus, or it is running a capital account surplus. Floating currencies are not fiat money, although they are often confused for each other.
When a currency is floating, then its value may rise because the county is running a trade surplus, or it is running a capital account surplus. Floating currencies are not fiat money, although they are often confused for each other.
by abu yahya September 28, 2008
Get the floating currencymug. (FINANCE) the rate at which Federal Reserve System member banks lend reserves to each other. It is the one interest rate actually set by the Federal Reserve Board. The other rates, such for treasury securities, are set by auction.
Bank reserves are a fixed percentage of deposits held in reserve against sudden demand by the depositor. In some cases bank reserves take the form of deposits with a Federal Reserve Bank, like the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.* Such deposits do not earn interest for the member bank, unless they are re-lent out at the federal funds rate.
"Federal funds" refers to emergency lending (overnight) among member banks so that the borrower can meet its reserve requirements. Reserves may include deposits with a Federal Reserve Bank which can be loaned by the member bank to another member bank (thereby earning interest).
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* Member banks in the FRS are regular national/state chartered banks, or investment banks. The FRS itself includes 12 Federal Reserve Banks, which actually do the financial work of the FRS.
Bank reserves are a fixed percentage of deposits held in reserve against sudden demand by the depositor. In some cases bank reserves take the form of deposits with a Federal Reserve Bank, like the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.* Such deposits do not earn interest for the member bank, unless they are re-lent out at the federal funds rate.
"Federal funds" refers to emergency lending (overnight) among member banks so that the borrower can meet its reserve requirements. Reserves may include deposits with a Federal Reserve Bank which can be loaned by the member bank to another member bank (thereby earning interest).
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* Member banks in the FRS are regular national/state chartered banks, or investment banks. The FRS itself includes 12 Federal Reserve Banks, which actually do the financial work of the FRS.
by Abu Yahya September 4, 2010
Get the federal funds ratemug. The belief efforts to protect people from calamity will only lead to them being more careless, and bringing on more calamity.
This is a fallacy because it (a) assumes people can adjust personal risk to replicate an incomparable situation, and (b) it confusing risk-taking and risky behavior. "Risk-taking" is a neutral term that includes anything that increases risk in some way, such as operating a machine at a higher speed. This usually is done to get some other benefit. "Risky behavior" is foolish, feckless, or sloppy behavior that has no intrinsic utility to the person engaging in it.
This is a fallacy because it (a) assumes people can adjust personal risk to replicate an incomparable situation, and (b) it confusing risk-taking and risky behavior. "Risk-taking" is a neutral term that includes anything that increases risk in some way, such as operating a machine at a higher speed. This usually is done to get some other benefit. "Risky behavior" is foolish, feckless, or sloppy behavior that has no intrinsic utility to the person engaging in it.
An example of the curmudgeon's fallacy is the erroneous claim that safer cars make for careless drivers.
by Abu Yahya October 19, 2008
Get the curmudgeon's fallacymug. (SOCIOLOGY) merchant class in a colony; usually dependent on exports of raw material from the colony (or former colony) in exchange for overpriced imports from the former colonial power.
As a class, the compradors are usually nationalistic--they usually want the trappings of independence. However, they are totally dependent on the global economy and its structure of hegemony. The rich nations benefit from excellent terms of trade, specialization in manufactured goods or intellectual property, etc.
After nominal independence, the comprador class usually become very powerful in the former colony; major powers like the USA or the EU ensure the comprador remain the de facto leaders of the colony. Anti-US rhetoric is usually just political theater or may reflect petty rivalry on the part of the compradors with their foreign masters.
As a class, the compradors are usually nationalistic--they usually want the trappings of independence. However, they are totally dependent on the global economy and its structure of hegemony. The rich nations benefit from excellent terms of trade, specialization in manufactured goods or intellectual property, etc.
After nominal independence, the comprador class usually become very powerful in the former colony; major powers like the USA or the EU ensure the comprador remain the de facto leaders of the colony. Anti-US rhetoric is usually just political theater or may reflect petty rivalry on the part of the compradors with their foreign masters.
Eventually, the terms of trade become so bad that the relationship breaks down and the country suffers a sovereign debt default, revolution, or permanent FUBAR status. At this point the comprador class has to share power with the local Junker class.
by Abu Yahya May 18, 2010
Get the compradormug.