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balance of payments

the sum of the capital account balance and the current account balance; put another way, the net change in financial reserves of a country, whether in the form of income (current account) or foreign investments (capital account)


For example, in all years since 1980, the USA has run a large-to-huge current account deficit, but in most years it has run a capital account surplus that is almost as big as the current account deficit. As a result, the USA has run a medium-to-large balance of payments deficit over this period.

A commonly-overlooked byproduct of BoP is that it determines whether or not a currency can be used as an international reserve currency. Despite repeated efforts by the governments of the EU and Japan to get their currencies established as such, they have failed to dent the US dollar's global primacy as the money for international transactions. This is because EU member states and Japan (as well as other major economies) run very large surpluses in their BoP. Japan, in particular, imports extremely little, and retains huge reserves rather than invest all of its net export earnings overseas. As a consequence, overseas holdings of euros or yen are much to small to serve as an alternative to the US dollar.
Since the oil embargo of the 1970's, the US has run a balance of payments deficit because its trade deficit was enormous; prior to the embargo, the US BoP deficit was large because the US exported such an enormous amount of finance capital. As a consequence, the balance of payments deficit has persisted since the end of the Korean War (1953).
by Abu Yahya February 14, 2009
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balian

balian has a fat shlong and he gets all the pussy in the world
oh my god have you seen balian’s dick it’s so huge-said candice
by Jamal and Tyrone May 5, 2021
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BalkanMania

A gang of people with a Slavic descent (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bulgaria), but Romania and Greece can also be included because of the shared culture.

Any Balkan person who is friends with another Balkan person creates their own BalkanMania to show the western people that we are in charge of the best and happiest population in the world, because capitalism is not the key of happiness. Rakija, Ćevape, the sound of accordion music and partying daily with joyful people actually are.
'Bro, I don't need such friends like yours. I have my own BalkanMania with whom I can eat and drink the whole night in the back seat of the yugo car with blasting old music from forty years ago.'

'BalkanMania? Sounds like a TV-show.'

'Yeah, there should be one for keeping up with the Balkans.'
by MemberOfABalkanMania January 27, 2021
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ass balance

When to many overweight individuals take the same flight, the flight crew must split the larger individuals evenly on both sides of the aircraft.
Flight attendant 1 - "Why are we flying sideways?"
Flight attendant 2 - "Time to complete an ass balance"

Nate - "How is the ass balance going?"
Ed - "Ass Balance?"
Nate "*Mass"
by Slarge January 13, 2012
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Ballantines Day

Instead of spending February 14 with a lover/partner, you spend it alone with a bottle of Ballantines scotch whiskey.
Herb : Are you taking the mrs out for a romantic valentines day dinner?

Murray : Nah mate, I don't celebrate that hallmark holiday. I'm celebrating Ballantines Day instead.....probably won't be in to work tomorrow....or in a relationship.
by The Cunning Gunt Shunter February 13, 2014
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Michael Balzary

The best bassist in the world, commonly known as Flea, plays with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Greatest band ever.
Michael Balzary goes by Flea because he is insane and short
by BassBen15 October 17, 2008
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Balzare

Balzare è una parola più comunemente dai giovani del nord ( Milano ) per dire: marinare la scuola, che qualcosa che non ci piace non si fa. Di solito si usa con molta enfasi, eccitazione.
Balzare.
Ieri ho balzato.
Ma balza!
by niazkiIam January 14, 2015
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