Inflation, Taxes, and the Durability of Capital Inflation, Taxes, and the Durability of Cap
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Equilibrium,competitive竞争均衡见竟争均衡(competitive equilibrium)。
Equilibrium,general⼀般均衡见⼀般均衡分析(general-equilibrium analysis) Equilibrium,macroeconomic宏观经济均衡意愿总需求等于意愿总供给的GDP⽔平。
在均衡时,意愿的消费(C),政府⽀出(G),投资(I)和净出⼝(X)的总量正好等于在当前价格⽔平下企业所愿意出售的总量。
Equimarginal principle等边际法则决定收⼊在不同消费品之间分配的法则。
消费者可按此法则选择消费组合,使花费在所有商品和服务上的每⼀美元的边际效⽤都相等,就能保证消费者所获得的效⽤化。
Exchange rate汇率见外汇汇率(foreign exchange rate) Exchange-rate system汇率制度国家之间进⾏⽀付时所依据的⼀组规则、安排和制度。
历最重要的汇率制度是⾦本位制、布雷顿森林体系和现在的浮动汇率制。
Excise tax vs.sales tax消费税和销售税消费税是对某种或某组商品,如酒和烟草的购买所课征的税。
销售税是对除少数特定商品(如⾷品)以外的所有商品所课征的税。
Exclusion principle排他原则私⼈品区别于公共品的⼀种性质。
当⽣产者将⼀种商品卖给A后,若能很容易地将B、C、D 等⼈排除在该商品益处享⽤过程之外,则排他原则就在发⽣作⽤,该商品也因此是⼀项私⼈品。
若不能轻易地把其他⼈排除在分享过程之外,如公共卫⽣或国防,则我们称该商品具有公共品的特征。
Exogenous vs.induced variables外⽣变量和引致变量外⽣变量是那些由经济体系以外的因素来决定的变量。
与外⽣变量相对应的是引致变量,后者是由经济体系的内在运⾏所决定的。
例如,天⽓变化是外⽣变量,⽽消费的变化则常常由收⼊变动所引致。
宏观经济学英文名词宏观经济学(Macroeconomics)是经济学的一个分支,研究整个经济系统的总体行为和发展趋势。
它关注的是国家和地区整体经济,而不是个体经济主体的行为。
下面是一些与宏观经济学相关的英文名词和参考内容:1. GDP (Gross Domestic Product): GDP is the total value of all goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific period of time. It is widely used as a measure of economic growth and is a key indicator of a country's overall economic performance.2. Inflation: Inflation refers to the increase in the general price level of goods and services over a period of time. It is usually measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Producer Price Index (PPI). High inflation can erode purchasing power and lead to economic instability.3. Unemployment rate: The unemployment rate is the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment. It is an important indicator of the health of an economy and can have significant social and political implications.4. Fiscal policy: Fiscal policy refers to the use of government spending and taxation to influence the overall economy. It can be expansionary (increasing government spending or reducing taxes) or contractionary (reducing government spending or increasing taxes) depending on the state of the economy.5. Monetary policy: Monetary policy involves the control and regulation of the money supply and interest rates by a central bank, such as the Federal Reserve in the United States. It is used to stabilize the economy, control inflation, and promote economic growth.6. Exchange rate: The exchange rate is the value of one currency in terms of another currency. Changes in exchange rates can have a significant impact on international trade, investment, and economic competitiveness.7. Balance of trade: The balance of trade is the difference betweena country's exports and imports of goods and services. A positive balance of trade (exporting more than importing) is known as a trade surplus, while a negative balance of trade is known as a trade deficit. This indicator is important for measuring a country's international trade competitiveness.8. Economic growth: Economic growth refers to an increase in the production and consumption of goods and services in an economy over time. It is usually measured by the annual percentage change in real GDP. Sustainable economic growth is a key goal for most countries.9. Aggregate demand: Aggregate demand is the total demand for goods and services in an economy at a given price level and period of time. It is affected by factors such as consumer spending, investment, government spending, and net exports.10. Business cycle: The business cycle refers to the fluctuations ineconomic activity over time. It consists of four phases: expansion (growth), peak (highest point), contraction (slowdown), and trough (lowest point). Understanding the business cycle is important for predicting and managing economic fluctuations.These are just a few examples of the many concepts and terms used in the field of macroeconomics. They provide insights into the overall performance, trends, and policies that shape an economy.。
选择一个个你感兴趣的历史事件英语作文全文共3篇示例,供读者参考篇1I choose to write about the Fall of the Roman Empire as it is a historical event that has always captured my interest.The Fall of the Roman Empire is a complex and multifaceted event that took place over several centuries, beginning in the late 4th century and culminating in the 5th century AD. There are many different theories and explanations for why the Roman Empire collapsed, but most historians agree that it was a combination of internal and external factors that led to its downfall.One of the key internal factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire was the decline of the Roman economy. The empire had become increasingly burdened by high taxes, inflation, and debased currency, which led to widespread poverty and social unrest. This economic decline weakened the Roman military and made it difficult for the empire to defend itself against external threats.Another important internal factor was the political instability and corruption that plagued the Roman government in the later years of the empire. Emperors were assassinated, civil wars raged, and the administration of the empire became increasingly inefficient and ineffective. This political turmoil made it difficult for the Romans to govern effectively and respond to the many challenges they faced.Externally, the Roman Empire faced a number of significant threats and challenges that contributed to its fall. In the 4th century, the empire was invaded by a series of barbarian tribes, including the Visigoths, Vandals, and Huns, who sacked Rome and other major cities and weakened the empire's defenses. These invasions put immense pressure on the Roman military and resources and contributed to the empire's eventual collapse.In addition to these external threats, the Roman Empire also faced challenges from within its borders. The rise of Christianity as the dominant religion in the empire led to increased social and cultural divisions and weakened the traditional Roman values of unity and loyalty. The spread of Christianity also led to conflicts and rivalries within the Roman elite, further weakening the empire's ability to govern effectively.Ultimately, the Fall of the Roman Empire was a complex and multifaceted event that was caused by a combination of internal and external factors. While the empire had been in decline for centuries, its collapse in the 5th century marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in European history.In conclusion, the Fall of the Roman Empire remains a fascinating and important historical event that continues to be studied and debated by historians and scholars. By understanding the complex factors that led to the empire's collapse, we can gain valuable insights into the challenges that all societies face and the importance of strong leadership, economic stability, and social cohesion in maintaining a successful civilization.篇2Title: The Battle of Hastings - A Turning Point in English HistoryIntroductionThe Battle of Hastings, fought on October 14, 1066, is one of the most significant events in English history. It marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon era and the beginning of Norman rule inEngland. This battle had far-reaching consequences that reshaped the course of English history for centuries to come.BackgroundThe Battle of Hastings was the culmination of a complex series of events that ultimately led to the Norman Conquest of England. In 1066, King Edward the Confessor of England died without a direct heir, leading to a power struggle for the English throne. Harold Godwinson, the powerful Earl of Wessex, claimed the crown and was crowned King of England shortly after Edward's death. However, William, the Duke of Normandy, also had a claim to the throne through a promise made by Edward years earlier.William Invasion of EnglandFurious at Harold's coronation, William assembled an army and set sail for England. In September 1066, William landed at Pevensey with his Norman army, intent on claiming the English crown by force. Harold, aware of the impending invasion, hastily gathered his own forces and marched south to meet the Normans at Hastings.The BattleThe Battle of Hastings took place on a large ridge near the town of Hastings in East Sussex. The battle lasted from morning until dusk and was a brutal and bloody conflict. Both sides fought fiercely, with heavy losses on both sides. The outcome of the battle hung in the balance for hours until Harold was killed in combat, leading to the eventual defeat of the English forces.ConsequencesThe Battle of Hastings had profound consequences for England. William emerged victorious and was crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066. This marked the beginning of Norman rule in England, ushering in a new era of governance, culture, and language. The Normans introduced feudalism, introduced administrative reforms, and established their own aristocracy in England.LegacyThe Battle of Hastings is a pivotal moment in English history that continues to be studied and commemorated today. The battle fundamentally altered the course of English history, shaping the country's political, social, and cultural landscape for centuries to come. The Norman Conquest also had a lasting impact on the English language, with French influence leading to changes in vocabulary and grammar.ConclusionThe Battle of Hastings remains one of the most significant events in English history, marking a turning point that shaped the course of the nation for centuries to come. The Norman Conquest brought about profound changes in England and laid the foundation for the development of the English nation as we know it today. The legacy of the Battle of Hastings continues to be felt in England and serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of historical events on the course of nations.篇3The Great DepressionThe Great Depression was a severe economic downturn that began in the United States in 1929 and spread throughout the world, lasting until the late 1930s. It was the longest, deepest, and most widespread depression of the 20th century. This event had a profound impact on millions of people and changed the course of history.The causes of the Great Depression are complex and multifaceted. One of the major factors was the stock market crash of 1929, which led to a rapid decline in consumer spending and investment. This, in turn, resulted in a sharp decrease inindustrial production and widespread unemployment. The collapse of the banking system also exacerbated the situation, leading to a further decline in economic activity.The effects of the Great Depression were devastating. Unemployment soared, businesses closed, and poverty and homelessness became widespread. Many people lost their life savings and were unable to provide for their families. The government's response to the crisis was initially ineffective, and it wasn't until the New Deal programs of President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the economy began to recover.The Great Depression had a lasting impact on society and government policy. It exposed the flaws in the economic system and led to reforms that sought to prevent future economic crises. The social and political upheaval that occurred during this time laid the groundwork for the welfare state and government intervention in the economy.In conclusion, the Great Depression was a transformative event in world history. It exposed the vulnerabilities of the economic system and led to significant changes in government policy. The lessons learned from this period continue to inform economic policy and decision-making today.。
2023年考研英语二真题答案之阅读理解Text 2部分Part ADirections:Read the following four texts.Answer the questions after each text by choosing A,B, C or D. Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (40 points) Text 2It's easy to dismiss as absurd the federal government's ideas for plugging the chronic funding gap of our national parks. Can anyone really think it's a good idea to allow Amazon deliveries to your tent in Yosemite or food trucks to line up under the redwood trees at Sequoia National Park? But the administration is right about one thing: U.S. national parks are in crisis. Collectively, they have a maintenance backlog of more than $12 billion. Roads, trails, restrooms, visitor centers and other infrastructure are crumbling.But privatizing and commercializing the campgrounds would not be the panacea that the Interior Department's Outdoor Advisory Committee would have us believe. Campgrounds are a tiny portion of the overall infrastructure backlog, and concessionaires in the parks hand over, on average, only about 5% of their revenues to the National Park Service.Moreover. increased privatization would certainly undercut one of the major reasons why 300 million visitors come to the parks each year: to enjoy nature and get a respite from the commercial drumbeat that overwhelms daily life. The real problem is that the parks have been chronically starved of funding. We conducted a comprehensive survey examining how us residents view their national parks. and we found that Americans place a very high value on them whether or not they actually visit them. The peer-reviewed economic survey of 700 U.S taxpayers, conducted by mail and internet, also found that people would be willing to pay a significant amount of money to make sure the parks and their programs are kept intact. Some 81% of respondents said they would be willing to pay additional taxes for the next 10 years to avoid any cuts to the national parks.The national parks provide great value to U.S. residents both as places to escape and as symbols of nature. On top of this, they produce value from their extensive educational programs, their positive impact on the climate through carbon sequestration, their contribution to our cultural and artistic life. and of course through tourism. The parks also help keep America's past alive, working with thousands of local jurisdictions around the country to protect historical sites including Ellis Island and Gettysburg and to bring the stories of these places to life.The parks do all this on a shoestring. Congress allocates onl$3 billion a year tothe national park system an amount that has been flat since 2001 (in inflation-adjusted dollars) with the exception of a onetime boost in 2009 as part of the Obama stimulus package Meanwhile. the number of annual visitors has increased by more than 50% since 1980, and now stands at 330 million visitors per year.26. What problem are U.S. national parks faced with?A. decline of business profitsB. inadequate commercializationC. lack of transportation servicesD. poorly maintained infrastructure【答案】 D27. Increased privatization of the campground may?A. spoil visitor experienceB. help preserve natureC. bring operational pressureD. boost visits to parks【答案】 A28. according to para 5, most respondents in the survey would?A. go to the national parks on a regular basis.B. advocate a bigger budget for the national parksC. agree to pay extra for the national parksD. support the national parks' recent reforms【答案】 C29.The national parks are valuable in that they__.A. lead the way in tourismB. sponsor research on climateC. have historical significanceD. provide an income for the locals【答案】 C.30. It can be concluded from the text that the national park system_A. is able to cope with staff shortagesB. is able to meet visitor' demandsC. is in need of a new pricing policyD. is in need of a funding increase【答案】 D。
Inflation refers to the overall price level continued to rise.And it causes currency devaluation and purchasing power decline. Simply speaking is the same value of paper currencies can buy fewer goods than before.Then what are the effects of inflation on the cost of living standard? Let me explain something to you.When there is inflation, the price of goods will rise, then people can buy fewer goods. And their deposit will depreciate, which willand their wealth will be lost. And the chance of unemployment will increase, obtaining employment will be more difficult. That is their living standard reduced and they will be poorer, especially low-income people, for their mainly cost is food expenditure. And it is also easy to make producers go astray, and lead to the blind development of production, then cause the abnormal development of the national economy, which result in the imbalance of the whole national economy.As a coin has two sides, inflation's effects on an economy areexample, this is a chance to invest, because inflation will causestock go down and some small investors sell shops at a low price.In a word, inflation。
《国际经贸高级英语(精读与翻译)》参考答案罗汉主编key to ExercisesUnit OneⅠ/1. the accumulation of physical capital indispensable to economic growth2. to import advanced equipment and know-how from abroad3. license trade accounting for 90 per cent of the total volumeof the world s trade of technology4. lack of human capital reflected in economic development5. the great impact of high technology on the adjustment of industries6. key factors driving economic growth7. the transformation from an agricultural nation into an industrial one8. the tangible and intangible factors making up the total factor productivity growth9. the improvement of educational systems lurking in technological progress10. the ratio of capital to labour in this industry11. expand the labour force and increase its education and training12. the role of the R&D department in the operations of multinational corporations13. a study report analyzing variations in technical progress across a large number of countries14. to incorporate quantity and models into economic analysis15. great gap in incomes between developed and developing nationsⅡ/1. Many economists attributed the rapid economic growth rate of someland desiring areas, such as HongKong and Singapore, to the enhancement of educational levels of their population. Based on this, they drew their conclusion that knowledge is the key to their economic development.2. In the 1960s, on the basis of importing much sophisticated technology andknow how from developed countries, Japan expanded its e conomy in large scales, enabling its economy to keep up with the most advanced level of the world in 20 years.3. The development of new economic theories has raised many subjects to statistics. For example, high rates of school enrollment may not translate into high rates of economic growth if the quality of education is poor, or if educated people are not employed at their potential because of distortion in the labor market.4. In 1994, after a long period of investigation and research, the famous economist Krugman presented a study report analyzing variations in technical progress across a large number of countries. He said in the report that the economic development of Asia was not based on the progress of technology, so the economy contained much foam in it. Three years later, the sudden break out of southeast Asian Economic Crisis verified his conclusion.5. People haven't hitherto come up with an ideal method to put a value on science and technology, for it is intangible to some degree.Ⅲ. In the information age, knowledge, rather than physical assets or resources, is the key to competitiveness. This is as true for the obviously konwledge intensive sectors,such as software or biotechnology, as it is for industrial age manufacturing companies or utilities.For the knowledge intensive sectors,knowledge which feeds through from research and development to innovative products and processes is the critical element. Butwith industrial age manufacturing companies or utilities, using knowledge aboutcustomers to improve service is what counts.What is new about attitudes to knowledge today is the recognition of the need to harness, manage and use it like any other asset. This raises issues not only of appropriate processes and systems, but also of how to account for knowledge in the balance sheet.In future, the value of intellectual capital will be more widely measured and reported. The measurement and reporting of key performance indicators related to intellectual capital will become a more widespread practice among major organizations, completing the financial accounts.Unit TwoⅠ/1. to crack the FORTUNE Global 5002. a collective enterprise supervised by workers3. be pessimistic about the factory s ability to absorb technology4. the incorporation (mix)of foreign management practices and Chinese nationalism5. a leading guru of Japanese quality control6. to transfer the management concepts to new acquisitions7. the dominant position in China s refrigerator market8. a case study of the management art9. to let shoddy products released to the market in large quantities10. to set the stage for the renovation of the enterprise11. the wholly-owned companies and holding companies under the control of the parent company12. to soak up the laid-offs released from state owned companies13. to sell modern refrigerator making technolog y to the factory14. the state-owned enterprises accounting for the majority of industrial enterprises15. the development of domestic pillar industriesⅡ/1. Although this joint venture has been growing very fast, it still has a long way to go to realize its goal of cracking the Fortune Global 500.2. Haier once tried to place the sample products in sight of the assembly line workers to improve the quality of the products, but now it has outgrown thispractice.3. In the early 1980s, out of every 1000 urban Chinese households, there were only two or three that owned refrigerators. With the enhancement of people's livingstandard, refrigerators have become the first big item in the households buy of many families.4. The company has 70 subsidiaries around the world, one third of which arewholly-owned, with their products sold to 108 countries and areas. In recent years, it has averaged an increase of 50% a year in revenues.5. The rapid development of collective and private enterprises will help to soak up the labour force released from poorly operated state-owned enterprises and to relieve the nation's employment burden.Ⅲ. Many managers feel uncomfortable if not actively involved in accomplishing a given job. This is said to result from a“low tolerance for ambiguity”. The manager desires to know what is happening on a moment by moment basis. A wise manager should know clearly what work must be delegated, and train employees to do it. If after training, an employee is truly unable to perform the work, then replacement should be considered. A manager should avoid reverse delegation.This happens when an employee brings a decision to the manager that the employee should make. An acceptance of reverse delegation can increase the manager'swork load and the employee is encouraged to become more dependent on the boss. Unit ThreeⅠ/1. to issue a vast amount of short term government bonds2. plenty of capital inflow to the security market in the recent period3. the preference of investors to the inflation protected treasury bonds4. to decrease the risk by hedging5. diversified portfolio6. to reach more than 50% of the initial public offering7. dilution of securities caused by the distribution of shares8. the trigger event that causes the imploding on market index9. short maturity U.S. government and corporate fixed income secu r ities10. real assets like commodities and real estate11. to avoid insider-trading charges through legal windows12. some trigger events that will charge the interest rate in the capital market13. reflect investors' wary view of the market14. shepherd the funds every step of the way15. the agriculture bonds that come back in the stock marketⅡ/1. During the past several months, the interest rate and the exchange rate have fluctuated greatly, which has brought enormous loss to many investors. But this institution overrode the adverse factors in the market and still obtained a big profit by wise hedging investments.2. The diversification of portfolio can decrease the non-systematic riskof individual securities in the portfolio efficiently, but it is unable to remove the systematic risk of the market.3. During the period of high inflation in capitalist countries between the late 1960s and late 1970s, many people tended to convert their money incomes into goods or real estate.4. One of the Bundesbank council members said that the central bank is under no immediate pressure to cut interest rates and that it needs more time to study the economic data before making a decision.5. Many experts consider that the interest rates would trend higher, because, although it is true that there is not much inflation now, wage inflation is evidentand the entire economy is in such high gear right now.Ⅲ. For all the similarities between the 1929 and 1987 stock market crashes, there are one or two vital differences. The most important of these was the reaction of the financial authorities. In 1929, the US Federal Reserve reacted to the crash by raising interest rates, effectively clamping down on credit. This caused manyotherwise healthy companies to fail simply due to cash flow problems. If onecompany failed leaving debts, many others down the line would meet the same fate. In 1987, the authorities were quick to lower interest rates and to ensure that ample credit was made available to help institutions overcome their difficulties. There were no widespread business failures and, more importantly, the economy did not enter another depression. There was a period of recession(milder than a 1930s-style depression), but this was largely due to a resurgence of inflation. The sharp interest rate cuts, and excessively hasty financial deregulation, pushed inflation higher, which in turn forced governments to reverse earlier interest rate cuts, prompting an economic slow-down.Unit FourⅠ/1. to rely heavily on monetary flexibility to reign in inflation2. to execute tight monetary policy3. to implement fiscal policy in the form of social insurance and national taxes4. to pour into economically expanding regions5. to replace their individual currencies with a single currency6. to bode well for the future of the EMU7. to control government deficits to meet Maastricht conditions8. the overvalued currency as a main barrier to export9. to refrain from dumping surplus goods abroad10. the influence of integrated economy on capital flow11. the balance-of-payments deficit warranting the devaluation policy adopted by the monetary authority12. to eliminate the economic costs associated with holding multiple currencies13. costs that must be taken into account when estimating profits14. to take advantage of the small difference between the central bank's pegged rates and market rates15. to hedge against risks coming from volatile exchange ratesⅡ/1. Ironically, Europe will see an increase in economic specialization along with the European unification process.2. The European Central Bank will face a dilemma when two member countries both badly need certain monetary policies to regulate their economies but the policies they need are of opposite directions.3. A person will be called an“arbitrageur"if, to gain profits, he takes advantage of the different exchange rates on different markets, or at different times on a same market.4. The national economies of many European countries have recently been forced to fit Maastricht conditions and arbitrary deadlines, and such actions have created unnecessary economic turmoils.5. As a central bank, the Federal Reserve System currently uses its control over the money supply to keep the national inflation rates low and to expand national economies in recession.Ⅲ. Even before construction of the euro is complete, governments can point to one notable success. The past year has seen extraordinary turmoil in global financial markets. Rich country stock markets and currencies have not been spared. Yet Europe has been, comparatively speaking, a safe haven, Intra-European movements in exchange rates have been tiny. This is something that the euro-11 governments had committed themselves to, but their success could not have been taken for granted a year ago. The fact is, at a time of unprecedented financial turbulence, theforeign exchange markets regarded the promise to stabilize intra-European exchange rates as credible. Currencies have held steady and interest rates have converged: it augurs well for the transition to the new system.Unit FiveⅠ/1. a major engine of growth in Asian economy2. the structural weakness in South Korea's financial system3. to execute economic policies which adhere to IMF-aid programs4. a sharp decline in the price competitiveness of that country's exports5. the slump in the Japanese stock market6. a more advantageous position than its rivals in terms of price competitiveness7. trade disputes sparked by price distortion8. the financial panic triggered by the devaluation of Japanese yen9. to stabilize the recently turbulent capital flows10. the advantageous position of industrial countries in the world trade system11. the serious welfare losses for all nations resulted from a full scale trade war12. a USD 58 billion bailout which South Korea was forced to seek from the IMF13. the great expenditure caused by huge government institutions14. technology intensive and knowledge intensive products with high competitiveness15. the country's economy which remains mired in recessionⅡ/1. While the Asian economy regained stability, the possibility of devaluation of the HongKong dollar will be an important variable affecting the recurrence of similar economic crises in Asia.2. In order to connect the improvement of price competitiveness brought about bythe currency depreciation to a better balance of payment, internationalcooperation is as essential as are internal reforms.3. The Asian financial crisis owing to the heavily indebted banking systems,excessive government spending and over reliance on foreign loans has damaged the world economy seriously.4. Some Japanese companies began to fall out of their over reliance on loansfrom the banking system, focusing on profits and cutting out wasteful spending.5. Erupted in July 1997, the Asian financial crisis reflected the defectsin the fragile financial systems of Asian countries.Ⅲ. Like death and taxes, international economic crises cannot be avoided. Theywill continue to occur as they have for centuries past. But the alarmingly rapid spread of the 1997 Asian crisis showed these economies' vulnerability to investor skittishness. Unfortunately, there is no international“911" that emerging markets can dial when facing economic collapse. Neither the IMF nor a new global financial architecture will make the world less dangerous. Instead, countries that want toavoid a rerun of the devastating 1997—98 crisis must learn to protect themselves. And liquidity is the key to financial self help. A country that has substantial international liquidity—large foreign currency reserves and a ready source offoreign currency loans—is less likely to be the object of a currency attack. Substantial liquidity also enables a country already under a speculative siege to defend itself better and make more orderly financial adjustments. The challenge is to find ways to increase liquidity at reasonable cost.Unit SixⅠ/1. capital flight depleting a country s foreign exchange reserves2. domestic hyperinflation caused by devaluation3. to adopt expansionary fiscal policy to increase national income4. be faced with the danger of increasingly shrinking aggregate demand5. capital market harassed by liquidity trap6. to rule out the possibility of massive speculative activities7. to drive down domestic prices at the expense of economic stagnation8. the international gold standard system characterized by fixed exchange rates9. the pressure of hot money flow on currencies10. the neoclassical theory centering on the spontaneous adjustments of market11. intelligent policy makers who will use variable means to achieve economic goals12. flexible fiscal and financial policies that can help the economy out of depression13. the different dilemmas that the developing countries and the mature economies are faced with14. to sacrifice full employment to achieve high output rate15. the increased demand for this currency that will lead to the devaluation of another currencyⅡ/1. The economic turmoil in that country made the central bank and the treasury department take each other to task, which reflected the importance of the collaboration of a country s monetary and fiscal policies.2. The government has now slipped into such a dilemma that if it wants toimprove its balance of payment, it will need to lower the exchange rate, but to lower the exchange rate will lead to inflation.3. Although devaluation will magnify exports, it can also lead to the increasing foreign curren cy denominated debt;it can even cause the collapse of people's confidence in the government. Therefore, the government did not dare to adopt the devaluation policy without careful consideration.4. The increase of foreign currency denominated debt is not necessarilythe indispensable cost of economic development. Because, although it may promote economic growth in the short run, it will increase the burden of domestic enterprises and lead to imbalanced balance of payment in the long run.5. Major capitalist countries had been seeing gold standard as a symbol of strong economic power, but they were forced to give it up for good during the Great Depression.Ⅲ. Troubled Asian Economies have turned out to have many policy and institutional weaknesses. But if America or Europe should get into trouble next year or the year after, we can be sure that in retrospect analysts will find equally damning things to say about Western values and institutions. And it is very hard to make the case that Asian policies were any worse in the 1990s than they had been in previous decades, so why did so much go so wrong so recently?The answer is that the world became vulnerable to its current travails not because economic policies had not been reformed, but because they had. Around the worldcountries responded to the very real flaws in post Depression policy regimes bymoving back toward a regime with many of the virtues of pre-Depressionfree-market capitalism. However, in bringing back the virtues of old fashioned capitalism, we also brought back some of its vices, most notably a vulnerability both toinstability and sustained economic slumps.Unit SevenⅠ/1. government reforms compatible with a country's development program2. lay emphasis on the resolution of government involvement3. the state induced transfer of wealth from the rich to the less fortunate4. to finance the development of public sectors5. a sharp decrease in the subsidy expenditure of a welfare state6. to minimize the public expenditure of this country7. the growth rate of gross fixed asset formation8. heavy interest obligations resulting from huge interest payments9. a certain share of shadow economy in the government performance10. to avoid increasing government spending and lowering the economic growth rates11. the benchmark to assess the scope for reducing the size of government12. be of growing importance in government reforms13. to facilitate adjustment to the new economic environment14. the detrimental short-run effects of reforms on some groups15. the protectionist and competitive devaluation policies administered by some industrial countriesⅡ/1. Over the years, opinions about the role of state have been changing, andpolitical institutions have been changing as well, to accommodate the demand for more state involvement in the economy.2. It's generally believed that even if welfare states cut down the hugewelfare expenditures, they can't necessarily solve their serious economic problems such as large budget deficits and hyperinflation.3. The government carried out the expansionary fiscal policy, which resulted inthe increase of budget deficits. To compensate the deficits, it should take certain measures, such as issuing bonds or increasing the money supply.4. Many industrial countries face the dilemma during their reforms between high inflation rates and low unemployment rates, so they must consider all around to minimize the losses.5. Radical reforms must aim at maintaining public sector objectives while reducing spending. In this process, the role of the government will change from the provider to the overseer or the regulator of activities.Ⅲ. Modern societies have accepted the view that governments must play a larger role in the economy and must pursue objectives such as income redistribution andincome maintenance. The clock cannot be set back and, in fact, it should not be. For the majority of citizens, the world is certainly a more welcoming place now than it was a century ago. However, we argue that most of the important social and economic gains can be achieved with a drastically lower level of public spendingthan that which prevails today. Perhaps the level of public spending does not needto be much higher than, say, 30 percent of GDP to achieve most of the importantsocial and economic objectives that justify government intervention. Achievingthis expenditure level would require radical reforms, a well-functioning private market, and an efficient regulatory role for the government.Unit EightⅠ/1. winds of reform in Japan s banking sector2. the amended Bank of Japan Law in line with the global standards for autonomy and transparency3. touch on the paramount goal in the sphere of monetary policies4. charge the central bank with maintaining price stability and nurturing a secure credit system5. generate unnecessary panics in the financial markets6. the execution of monetary policies independent of the bureaucracy7. the institutions in charge of formulating the interest rate policies8. a discount rate at a historical low of 0.5%9. to keep maintaining and nurturing the credit system in accordance with the state policy10. in the spheres of fiscal and monetary policies11. the new economic law entering force this year12. in the context of propelling economic reforms13. to strengthen the government s functions through fiscal policies14. key measures which have won confidence from the market15. the implementation of a merit based promotion systemⅡ/1. It is no overstatement to say that the bad accounts in Japan's banks have accumulated to a very high level.2. The central bank's quasi-bureaucratic status has stymied its normal operations, so many economists call for the enhancement of its autonomy in accordance with the global standards.3. It has been normal for bank shares to march in line with movements in net interest margins, which means bank shares tend to rise as net margins widen and fall as the latter narrow.4. Japan's bank shares are in a different position from their American counterparts: America s bank shares have already risen sharply thanks to the country's full-fledged economic recovery, while Japan's bank shares are still weak as the banks struggle to get to grips with their bad debts.5. Runs on the banks proliferated and a sharp fall in bank loans followed, before the non-performing loans, amounting to 30% of bank assets, were taken over by the state in 1997.Ⅲ. How fast Japan's financial system seems to be reforming. Barely a week goes by without news of another merger between Japan s huge but troubled financial firms. Deregulation is the spur. Three years ago the government announced a “Big Bang"for the country's financial-services industry. This would tear down firewallsthat had largely stopped insurance companies, banks and stockbrokers from competing in each other's patches. It was also meant to put an end to arbitrary, stiflingand often corrupt supervision.The biggest reason for deregulation in this way was that Japan's incestuous,Soviet'style financial system was hopelessly bad at allocating credit around the economy. The massive bad-loan problems that have plagued the country's banks for most of the 1990s are merely one symptom of an even bigger ill. Even so, there was wide spread scepticism that the government would go through with the cure. It deserves some credit, therefore, for largely sticking to its plans.Unit NineⅠ/1. the most commonly used measures of income distribution2. the shift from labour to capital markets3. specialization in production and the dispersion of specialized production processes4. the widening gap between the wages of skilled workers and those of unskilled workers5. new production techniques biased toward skilled labor6. economic inefficiency and distortions retarding growth7. sustainable growth and a viable balance of payments policy8. a broadly based, efficient and easily administered tax system9. reduce disparities in human capital across income groups10. targeted programs consistent with the macroeconomic framework11. constitutional rules on revenue sharing12. to promote equality of opportunities through deregulating economy13. cash compensation in lieu of subsidies14. stimulate the use of public resources and the overall economic growth15. take effective measures to promote employment and equityⅡ/1. Much of the debate about income distribution has centered on wage earnings, which have been identified as an important factor in the overall distribution of incomes. But in Africa and Latin America, unequal ownership of land is a factor that cannot be ignored.2. Globalization has linked the labor, product and capital markets of theeconomies around the world and has indirectly led to specialization in production and the dispersion of specialized production processes to geographically distant locations.3. Although fiscal policies are usually viewed as the principal vehicle for assisting low-income groups and those affected by reform programs, quite a number of countries have adopted specific labor market policies in an effort to influence income distribution.4. Measures governments can take to promote equality of opportunities include deregulating the economy;setting up strong and responsible institutions, including a well functioning judicial system;reducing opportunities for corrupt practices;and providing adequate access to health and education services.5. Another important issue is whether governments should focus on outcomes—such as decreasing the number of people living in poverty, or ensuring that all members of society have equal opportunities.Ⅲ. One theory on wealth distribution indicates that irrational distribution andcorruption are the major reasons for the uneven income level. According to this theory, wealth goes through four stages of distribution—the market, the government, non governmental organizations and unlawful activities, mainly corruption. Usually the first stage of distribution—the market—will result in an uneven spread of resources, which should be redressed by the second distribution stage, the government. In the third stage, the distribution of wealth is realized through contributions and donations made by non governmental organizations. The contributions are given to the poor in the form of charity activities. Thenfollows illegal grabbing of wealth, such as robbery, embezzlement, tax evasion andbribery. Their harm to social equality and stability is enormous and cannot really be measured.Unit TenⅠ/1. to facilitate the establishment of a new form of leadership in today's corporations2. to link a corporation's developing prospective to its present business performance3. companies which forge ahead in the rather changeable world economy4. to encourage domestic enterprises to seek out opportunities to enter foreign markets5. to instill development strategies of new products into employees at all levels6. to consider the promotion in the company the criteria to judge whether one is successful or not。
英语中宏观经济常用词汇以及实际应用1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (国内生产总值)Sentence:The country's Gross Domestic Product grew by 3% this year, indicating economic expansion.中文翻译:该国今年的国内生产总值增长了3%,显示出经济的扩张。
2. Inflation (通货膨胀)Sentence:High inflation rates can erode consumers' purchasing power over time.中文翻译:高通货膨胀率会随着时间的推移侵蚀消费者的购买力。
3. Unemployment Rate (失业率)Sentence:The unemployment rate decreased to 5% last month, signaling a recovering labor market.中文翻译:上个月失业率下降至5%,表明劳动力市场正在恢复。
4. Fiscal Policy (财政政策)Sentence:The government implemented expansionary fiscal policy to stimulate economic growth.中文翻译:政府实施了扩张性的财政政策以刺激经济增长。
5. Monetary Policy (货币政策)Sentence:The central bank adjusted its monetary policy by lowering interest rates to encourage borrowing.中文翻译:中央银行通过降低利率调整了货币政策,以鼓励借贷。
6. Balance of Trade (贸易平衡)Sentence:A positive balance of trade occurs when a country's exports exceed its imports.中文翻译:当一个国家的出口超过进口时,就会出现贸易平衡顺差。
United States Inflation RateIntroductionInflation refers to the general increase in prices of goods and services over time, resulting in the loss of purchasing power of a currency. The United States, as one of the largest economies in the world, experiences inflation, which impacts various aspects of its economy and the lives of its citizens. This article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the United States inflation rate, exploring its causes, consequences,and measures undertaken to control it.Causes of Inflation1. Demand-Pull InflationDemand-pull inflation occurs when aggregate demand exceeds the available supply of goods and services. It can be caused by factors such as increased consumer spending, government stimulus packages, or expansionary monetary policies. When demand outpaces supply, prices are driven up, resulting in inflation.2. Cost-Push InflationCost-push inflation is caused by an increase in production costs, suchas wages or raw material prices. When businesses face higher input costs, they pass on these expenses to consumers through increased prices. This leads to inflation as the overall cost of goods and services rises.3. Monetary InflationMonetary inflation refers to an increase in the money supply by the central bank. When there is excess liquidity in the economy, more money chases the same amount of goods and services, leading to inflation. Central banks often use monetary policy tools, such as adjustinginterest rates or quantitative easing, to control inflation.Consequences of Inflation1. Reduced Purchasing PowerWhen prices rise, the purchasing power of individuals and households decreases. This means that they can buy less with the same amount of money, impacting their standard of living. It particularly affects those on fixed incomes or with low wages as they struggle to afford essential goods and services.2. Uncertainty and Economic InefficiencyInflation introduces uncertainty into the economy, making it challenging for businesses and individuals to plan for the future. Rapidly changing prices make it difficult to make investment and consumption decisions. Additionally, inflation can lead to economic inefficiencies as resources are misallocated due to distorted price signals.3. Redistribution of WealthInflation can redistribute wealth within society. Those who own assets that appreciate with inflation, such as real estate or stocks, may benefit from rising prices. On the other hand, individuals with fixed incomes or those who hold cash savings may experience a decline in their real wealth.4. Impact on Interest RatesInflation affects interest rates as central banks often use monetary policy to control it. Higher inflation typically leads to higherinterest rates as the central bank seeks to curb spending and reduce the money supply. This can impact borrowing costs for individuals and businesses, influencing investment and economic growth.Measures to Control Inflation1. Monetary PolicyCentral banks, such as the Federal Reserve in the United States, use monetary policy tools to manage inflation. They can increase interest rates to reduce borrowing and spending or decrease rates to stimulate economic activity. Additionally, central banks may engage inquantitative easing, buying government bonds to increase the money supply or sell bonds to decrease it.2. Fiscal PolicyGovernments can also use fiscal policy to control inflation. They can reduce government spending or increase taxes to reduce aggregate demand. By controlling the flow of money in the economy, governments aim to curb inflationary pressures.3. Supply-Side PoliciesSupply-side policies focus on increasing the productive capacity of the economy, which can help alleviate inflationary pressures. These policies may include investments in infrastructure, education, and technology, which can increase productivity and reduce costs. By expanding the supply of goods and services, prices can be kept in check.4. Wage and Price ControlsIn extreme cases, governments may implement wage and price controls to directly limit the increase in wages and prices. However, such measures are often controversial and can have unintended consequences, such as creating black markets or reducing incentives for production.ConclusionThe United States, like any other country, experiences inflation, which has significant implications for its economy and citizens. Understanding the causes and consequences of inflation is crucial for policymakers andindividuals alike. Through appropriate measures, such as monetary and fiscal policies, inflation can be managed to ensure economic stability and sustainable growth.。
通货膨胀英文作文英文:Inflation is a term used to describe the increase in prices of goods and services over time. It is a common problem faced by many economies around the world. Inflation can be caused by a variety of factors, including an increase in the supply of money, a decrease in the supply of goods and services, or an increase in demand for goods and services.One of the main effects of inflation is that it reduces the purchasing power of money. This means that the same amount of money can buy fewer goods and services than it could before. For example, if a loaf of bread costs $1 today and inflation causes prices to increase by 10%, the same loaf of bread will cost $1.10 tomorrow. This meansthat the purchasing power of $1 has decreased by 10%.Another effect of inflation is that it can lead touncertainty and instability in the economy. When prices are rising rapidly, it can be difficult for businesses and consumers to plan for the future. This can lead to a decrease in investment and spending, which can further exacerbate the problem of inflation.In order to combat inflation, many governments and central banks use monetary policy tools such as raising interest rates or reducing the money supply. These tools can help to slow down the rate of inflation and stabilize the economy.中文:通货膨胀是指随着时间推移,商品和服务价格的上涨。
Inflation, Taxes, and the Durability of Capital Inflation, Taxes, and the Durability of CapitalDarrel Cohen Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Washington, DC 20551(202) 452 2376E-mail: dcohen@Kevin A. Hassett American Enterprise Institute 1150 17 Street, N.W.th Washington, DC 20036(202) 862 7157E-mail: khassett@_________________________________________________________________We thank Alan Auerbach for helpful discussions. This paper does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.AbstractAuerbach (1979, 1981) has demonstrated that inflation can lead to large inter-asset distortions, with the negative effects of higher inflation unambiguously declining with asset life. We show that this is true only if depreciation is treated as geometric for tax purposes. When depreciation is straightline, higher inflation can have the opposite effect, discouraging investment in long-lived assets. Since our current system can be thought of as a mixture of straightline and geometric, the signof the inter-asset distortion is indeterminate. We show that under current U.S. tax rules, the “straightline” and “geometric”effects approximately cancel for equipment, causing almost nointer-asset distortions. For structures, inflation clearly causes substitution into long-lived assets.I. IntroductionWith much recent discussion about the merits of achieving price stability in the United States, it is appropriate to consider the effects of fully anticipated price inflation on real economic decisions, a topic of intensive study during the high inflation period of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Recentpapers by Abel (1996) and Feldstein (1996) have returned to this issue. They primarily examine the distortions to theintertemporal allocation of lifetime consumption arising from the interaction of inflation and the tax system and find thatreducing the annual inflation rate from 2 percent to zero can generate permanent welfare gains on the order of 1 percent of GDP per year in perpetuity. In a complementary study, Cohen, Hassett, and Hubbard (1997) focus on the effects of inflation on the user cost of capital and business investment; they show that, under current tax law, an increase in inflation continues toboost significantly the aggregate user cost even when the levelof inflation is relatively low.Auerbach (1979, 1981) has highlighted a key additional cost of inflation, namely that it leads to potentially large inter-asset distortions. Indeed, he shows that the inflationsensitivity of the user cost unambiguously declines with asset durability. Put another way, higher inflation has a larger adverse effect on the user cost of short-lived assets than on the user cost of long-lived assets and, thus, encourages thesubstitution of long-lived for short-lived capital goods. Inthis paper, we show that this result, while correct, is sensitive to the system of tax depreciation in effect; in particular, for assets subject to straight-line depreciation on a historical cost basis, we show that the inflation sensitivity of the user cost can increase with asset durability. This distinction isimportant because the depreciation system currently in effect in the United States is a combination of accelerated and straight-line depreciation schemes in the case of personal property and is the straight-line method in the case of real property.In the next section, we show that the present value of depreciation allowances per dollar invested under both the declining balance and straight-line methods of tax depreciation varies inversely with the rate of inflation. In section III, we establish that, under straight-line depreciation, the inflation sensitivity of the user cost of capital may increase with asset durability. In section IV, we calculate the inter-assetdistortions caused by inflation both within and across equipment and structures classes under current law. Section V offers some brief concluding thoughts.II. Tax DepreciationAuerbach (1979, 1981) assumes that the services of capital decline exponentially, with constant rate of decay, . That is,-tthe service flow per dollar invested is given by S = e whichtimplies that -S′/S = or that the service flow declines at theconstant percentage rate, , each period. Thus a lower value of corresponds to a more durable piece of capital. In addition,Auerbach assumes that depreciation allowances for tax purposes are equal to economic depreciation with no inflation; however,depreciation for tax purposes is done on a historical cost basis even if the replacement cost of the asset is rising over time at rate , the rate of price increase of all goods. If denotes the real after-tax cost of funds (debt plus equity) and + the nominal discount rate, then the present value of nominal depreciation allowances per dollar invested (assuming that the capital good is held forever) is:∞ z = ∫e e dt = /( + + ) (1)DB -(+)t -t 0Note that this present value varies inversely with inflation (given and ). Also note that this characterization ofdepreciation allowances only approximates the declining balance method used for personal property in the United States. Itdiffers for three reasons: first, personal property is written off over a finite period of time--the service life, T (which is seven years for most personal property); second, it is subject to a half-year convention in the first year that depreciation is taken (which, in effect, converts exponentially decliningdepreciation into straight-line depreciation in the first year);third, switching from the declining balance to straight-linemethod when optimal is allowed (this occurs, for example, in the fifth year for an asset with a seven-year service life).In addition to the declining balance method, current U.S.tax law allows straight-line depreciation of real property, such as commercial structures and residential real estate. With straight-line depreciation, the historical cost of a capital asset is written off in equal installments over the tax service life. Further, the tax service life can differ from the true underlying service life. The present value of depreciation allowances per dollar invested, under the straight-line method (in continuous time), is given by:T z = ∫ (1/T)e dt = (1 - e )/ T( + ) (2) SL -(+)t -(+)T 0 Differentiation of this expression confirms that the present value of straight-line depreciation allowances varies inversely with the rate of inflation; that is, if = + , then(∂z /∂)(T) [e (T + T) - T] < 0SL = -2-T 2because ln[1 + (+)T] < (+)T.III. The User Cost and Durability of Capital: Analytic ResultsAs shown by Hall and Jorgenson (1967), the tax treatment of depreciation is only a part of the overall user cost of capital to firms. In fact, maximization of the present discounted value of after-corporate-tax cash flow over an infinite horizon, under the assumptions of no investment tax credit, no adjustment orinstallation costs for new capital, and no change in the relative price of capital goods, q, implies that the pre-tax marginal product of capital today equals today's user cost, C, where:C = q( + )(1 - z)/(1 - ) (3)In this formula, denotes the corporate tax rate.It follows that for a given real after-tax cost of funds,, and a given durability of capital, , the user cost perdollar invested, C/q, varies directly with the rate of inflation, because, as discussed above, the present value of depreciation allowances varies inversely with inflation whether depreciationis subject to the declining balance or straight-line methods.Our focus of attention, however, is on how the durability of capital affects the inflation sensitivity of the user cost for a given cost of funds. Auerbach shows that the inflationsensitivity varies inversely with durability in the case wheretax depreciation coincides with exponential (economic)depreciation--approximately the declining balance method.This is seen by substituting equation 1 into equation 3 and differentiating the resulting expression for C/q first withrespect to , holding constant, to get:∂(C/q)/∂ = -[/(1-)]( + )(∂z/∂)(4)DBNow differentiate this expression with respect to to get:-3∂[∂(C/q)/∂]/∂ =[/(1-)](++)[(++)+2] > 0 (5) i.e., the inflation sensitivity of the user cost rises with the depreciation rate or falls with durability.This implies that a disinflation creates an incentive for a firm to substitute less-durable for more-durable capital goods. The same points can be made in terms of the effective corporate tax rate, defined as (C--)/(C-). Inflation raises theeffective rate by reducing the real value of the stream of tax savings from depreciation deductions. Moreover, the resulting "inflation tax" declines with asset durability, and in this sense, inflation unambiguously weighs less heavily on long-lived than short-lived assets.This result does not necessarily carry over to the case of straight-line depreciation, as seen by the following proposition.Proposition: For a given real after-tax cost of funds, , and Propositionan assumed inverse relationship between economic depreciation rates and tax service lives (i.e., ∂T/∂ < 0), the inflation sensitivity of the user cost under straight-line depreciationfalls with the depreciation rate [i.e., ∂[∂(C/q)/∂]/∂ < 0] only if ( + )T < 1.8.To establish this result, substitute equation 2 into equation 3and let z′ = (∂z/∂) and = + . Differentiation of the SL SLresulting expression yields:∂[∂(C/q)/∂]/∂ = -[/(1-)]{z′ + (+)(∂z′/∂T)(∂T/∂)} (6)SL SLAssume that capital goods with higher rates of economic depreciation have shorter tax service lives, i.e., ∂T/∂ < 0. This condition should hold under any rational tax policy even though it is not uncommon for changes in tax law to modify thetax service life of a depreciable capital good whose true economic durability, as measured by , has not changed. Also,differentiation of z′ establishes that:SL-2-T-T2-T(∂z′/∂T) = (T) {1 - e - (T)e - (T)e} (7) SLThus, the right hand side of expression 6 is negative--reversing the Auerbach result--only if the right hand side of expression 7 is negative. That is, the Auerbach result can be reversed only when an increase in service life reduces theinflation sensitivity of z. This condition is nonlinear in T; numerical approximation reveals that the condition is satisfied for all values of , , and T such that (+)T < 1.8. This completes the proof of the proposition.To illustrate the key condition of the proposition, suppose that the inflation rate is zero and that the real after-tax cost of funds is 5 percent per year. The condition, ( + )T < 1.8, then holds for all depreciable capital goods with services lives less than 36 years. This maximum service life declines, of course, when higher values of the inflation rate or cost of funds are used in the calculation. In any case, it is useful to note that ( + )T < 1.8 is a necessary condition; for inflation to encourage the substitution of short-lived for long-lived capital,∂T/∂ must be sufficiently large in absolute value as well.This result can be extended in a number of directions. For example, the proposition assumes that the real after-tax cost of funds, , is constant. However, as discussed in detail in the next section, varies with inflation because of the taxtreatment of nominal interest payments in the case of debtis negative in the benchmark case because a ceteris 1paribus increase in the tax service life reduces the present value of depreciation allowances (i.e., ∂z/∂T < 0) and because the sensitivity of the present value of depreciation allowances to the real discount rate declines with service life. finance and the taxation of nominal capital gains in the case of equity finance. When depends on inflation, the term,= -[/(1-)][∂/∂][∂T/∂]{(∂z/∂T) + (+)[∂(∂z/∂)/∂T]}, is added to the right hand side of expression 6. This term is negative when inflation raises the real cost of funds (∂/∂ >0); under this benchmark condition (described below), the term reinforces the basic result of the proposition. However, this 1need not always be the case. For example, inflation can reduce the real cost of funds in the case of debt finance.Further, for a hybrid depreciation system like that applying to machinery and equipment currently in the United States, the nature of the distortionary bias resulting from inflation is not unambiguous a priori , because the "straight-line" and"accelerated" portions of depreciation pull in oppositedirections. The next section examines this issue.IV. The User cost and Durability of Capital: Empirical ResultsIn this section, we examine the inflation sensitivity of the user cost under the depreciation rules in effect in the United States in the mid-1990s. These rules were summarized above in section II; a formal presentation can be found in Cohen, Hassett,and Hubbard (1997). In addition, this section also gives a more complete treatment of the cost of debt and equity funds, because,in general, each depends on the rate of inflation. We follow theapproach in Cohen, Hassett, and Hubbard (1997), and start with a brief discussion of the cost of debt capital.Because corporations can deduct nominal interest expenses, the real after-corporate-tax borrowing rate, , is given byd= R(1 - ) - , where R denotes the market rate of interest.dMoreover, because savers are taxed on nominal interest income,the real after-tax rate of return to savers, r, is given by:r = R(1 - ) - , where denotes the marginal personal income p ptax rate. Combining these expressions gives the real after-tax borrowing cost from the perspective of the ultimate supplier of-1debt capital: = [r(1 - ) + ( - )] (1 - ), which alsod p pcan be written as = (R - )(1 - ) - .In our benchmarkdcase, we assume that the real after-tax return to savers, r, is invariant to changes in the rate of inflation. In this case, (which assumes that the Fisher effect holds in tax-adjusted terms) inflation has very little effect on the real cost of debt capital if the marginal personal and corporate tax rates areclose to each other, as can be seen from the first expression for. We also discuss the case in which the real before-tax rate, d(R - ), is invariant to inflation (or that the Fisher effect holds in before-tax terms, i.e., that the nominal rate movespoint-for-point with inflation); in this case, higher inflation reduces the real after-tax cost of debt, as can be seen from thesecond expression for . We now turn to a discussion of thedcost of equity finance.The real cost of equity, , to a firm is = D + E - ,e ewhere D denotes dividends per dollar invested, and E denotesinvestors' required ex-dividend nominal rate of return per dollar invested. This expression reflects the fact that businesses cannot deduct dividends and retained earnings from taxable income. Also, we adopt the tax capitalization or "new" view of equity taxation (see Auerbach, 1979), which suggests that the relevant equity tax rate is the effective capital gains tax rate, regardless of dividend policy. This view is premised on the assumption that equity funds come primarily from retainedearnings (i.e., lower dividends paid out of current earnings) rather than from new share issues, and implies that taxes on dividend distributions are capitalized into the value of the equity rather than imposing a burden on the returns to new investment.Under the new view, Auerbach (1983) shows that the value ofnew investment per dollar, q , equals (1-)/(1-c), whered d denotes the individual tax rate on dividends and c denotes the accrual equivalent tax rate on capital gains. Further, capital market equilibrium requires that the after-tax rate of return on the firm's investment equals the investor's required rate ofreturn, . Following Auerbach (1983), for a constant value of iq, = (1-)D/q + (1-c)E - . Combining expressionsi destablishes that the firm's real cost of equity financing underthe new view is: = /(1-c) + c/(1-c). Thus, for a givene i, inflation increases the real cost of equity because of the iWe also assume that output is produced and held as 2finished goods inventories for one year; we allow for inflation's impact on inventory profits to increase the corporate tax rate by , where is the fraction of inventories subject to FIFO accounting. However, values of between 0 and 30 percent have virtually no effect on our results and, so, for simplicity,calculations in tables 1-4 are based on = 0.taxation of capital gains.Combining the previous discussions of the costs of debt and equity finance, the total real cost of funds, , is given by: = w + w , where w and w denote the shares of debt andd de e d e equity in total finance, respectively. These weights will be treated as empirical constants.We now present the main empirical calculations of our paper. They are summarized in tables 1-4, which show the user cost of capital per dollar invested (see equation 3) at inflation rates ranging from zero to 10 percent per annum and under different assumptions about tax and economic service lives. The keyparameter values used in the benchmark calculations are: r = .02; = .06; = 0.35; = 0.45; w = 0.4; w = 0.6.i p d e 2The tables provide support for the basic points of thispaper. First, they implicitly reveal the possibility that (∂z ′/∂T) < 0, where z' = ∂z/∂ and z is the present discounted value of depreciation allowances on one dollar invested inpersonal property under current U.S. tax law. For example, the second column of table 1 shows that the user cost of equipment capital with a 5-year economic and tax service life rises from 26.6 percent to 31.1 percent--a 4.5 percentage point rise--as inflation increases from zero to 10 percent. The final columnAlgebraically, this follows by differentiation of 3equation 2, holding and constant, i.e., ∂[∂(C/q)/∂]/∂T = -[/(1-)][(+)(∂z /∂T)]. However, in table 1, there is a 'relatively small increase in from roughly 5 percent to 6percent per annum as inflation varies over its entire range. A large adds a bit to the value of the above expression (that is, -[/(1-)][(∂/∂)(∂z/∂T)] is added to the above expression,noting that a ceteris paribus increase in the tax service life reduces the present value of depreciation allowances). Also note that, in the example of table 1, ( + )T is less than 1.8, the critical value derived in the previous section.shows that over the same range of inflation rates the user cost of equipment with the same 5-year economic life, but a 7-year tax service life, rises 4.9 percentage points. And, an increase in the inflation sensitivity of the user cost as the tax life rises,for a given and , can only occur if the inflation sensitivity of z declines with service life. The same result also holds in 3table 2.By contrast, in tables 3 and 4, the inflation sensitivity of the user cost of structures declines as service life rises from 27 and 39 years (the two service lives currently available for structures under U.S. tax law). This implies that the inflation sensitivity of depreciation allowances necessarily increases with service life (i.e., ∂z ′/∂T > 0) even though structures aresubject to straight-line depreciation. Evidently, for ourbenchmark parameter values, there is not a small enough positive value of inflation for which the condition, ( + )T < 1.8,holds in the case of assets with 39-year tax service lives. However, for property placed in service prior to May 1993, the service life is 31 years; in this case (not shown in tables) the condition does hold, but only at very low inflation rates (lessthan 1 percent per annum).The foregoing discussion thus strongly suggests that the basic proposition of the last section--which, strictly speaking, applies to assets subject to straight-line depreciation--can be illustrated only by a comparison of tables 1 and 2, which are applicable to producers' durable equipment. Indeed, comparisonof the benchmark values in the third column of table 1 with those in the second column of table 2 shows that the inflationsensitivity of the user cost of assets with a 5-year economiclife and 7-year tax life is greater (just) than the corresponding inflation sensitivity of assets with a 3-year economic and taxlife over the full range of included inflation rates. In this case, inflation encourages the substitution of short-lived for long-lived equipment.A key factor underlying this result is that the tax service life changes by more than the economic life (both expressed in years). This implies that the inflation sensitivity of the user cost of capital with a 3-year economic and tax service life is less than the corresponding sensitivity of capital with a 7-year tax life and any economic life between 3 and 5 years (not shownin tables).Conversely, inflation does not encourage the substitution of short-lived for long-lived equipment when the tax and economic lives increase by the same amount, as seen by comparing the benchmark figures in the third columns of tables 1 and 2. Thisis true also in the special case of = 1/T. This can be seen,for example, by comparing the second columns of tables 1 and 2:inflation raises the user cost of equipment with a 3-year economic and tax life more than it raises the user cost of equipment with a 5-year economic and tax life.Because economic and tax service lives can differ in our setup, we also can explore the effects of changes in the rate of economic depreciation (), holding the tax service life fixed. Results, in the case of equipment with a 5-year tax life, can be seen by comparing the benchmark figures in column 2 of table 1 to those in column 3 of table 2. The inflation sensitivity of the user cost is greater for the equipment with a 3-year economiclife than for that with a 5-year life. The user cost of less economically durable structures also is more sensitive to inflation, as seen by comparing the second columns of tables 3 and 4.We also have considered the effects of different values for the personal income tax rate, . Because of the difficulty inpidentifying the marginal investor in debt instruments, the valuechosen for is controversial. As an alternative to thep(combined federal and state) benchmark value of 0.45, we also consider a value of 0.21, based on an update of the average marginal tax rate in Prakken, Varvares, and Meyer (1991). The effects of inflation (not shown) on the user cost are uniformly smaller than those reported in Tables 1-4. However the basicinter-asset distortions are qualitatively the same.Finally, we also have explored the effects of changes in thecomposition of financing of investments. In particular, we consider the case in which all investment is financed with debt on the margin. In addition, we assume that the Fisher effect holds so that the real before-tax rate of interest is invariantto changes in the inflation rate. In this case, the real cost of funds simplifies to , which as shown above, is inverselydrelated to inflation when the Fisher effect holds. For example, if the market interest rate on debt (R) is 5 percent per year when inflation is zero, then the real cost of funds declines from roughly 3 percent when inflation is zero to about zero when inflation is 10 percent. Indeed, the reduction in the real cost of funds more than offsets the reduction in the presentdiscounted value of nominal depreciation allowances as inflation rises.Thus, as shown in tables 1-4 by the figures in parentheses, higher inflation reduces the user cost of capital. Moreover, as revealed by tables 1 and 2, higher inflation reduces the usercost of equipment with relatively long economic life more than it reduces the user cost of equipment with relatively short economic life in all the cases examined. Thus, higher inflation, in the all debt-finance case, encourages the substitution of long-lived for short-lived capital equipment. Similar results hold in the case of structures, as shown in tables 3 and 4. Clearly, the question of which Fisher effect holds, which has receivedrelatively little attention in public finance circles, is of fundamental importance.V. ConclusionThe conventional wisdom is that inflation--in the presenceof a nominal based tax depreciation structure--biases the choice of asset durability in favor of relatively long-lived capital goods. We have established that the crucial assumptionsunderlying this result are that depreciation allowances accorded assets reflect actual economic depreciation in the absence of inflation and that capital services decay exponentially. Indeed, we show analytically that when tax depreciation is lessaccelerated (relative to straight-line) than economic depreciation, higher inflation may well, although notnecessarily, encourage the substitution of short-lived for long-lived capital assets. Finally, under current U.S. tax law, we demonstrate that higher inflation--in line with the conventional wisdom--favors relatively long-lived structures. By contrast, we also show that higher inflation favors relatively short-lived equipment in many cases, but only minimally.ReferencesReferencesAbel, Andrew B. "Comment on Feldstein." Mimeograph, Wharton School, January 1996.Auerbach, Alan J. "Inflation and the Choice of Asset Life."Journal of Political Economy 87 (1979a): 621-638.Auerbach, Alan J. "Inflation and the Tax Treatment of Firm Behavior." American Economic Review 71 (May 1981): 419-423.Auerbach, Alan J. "Share Valuation and Corporate Equity Policy,"Journal of Public Economics 11 (June 1979b): 291-305.Auerbach, Alan J. "Taxation, Corporate Financial Policy, and the Cost of Capital," Journal of Economic Literature 21(September 1983): 905-940.Cohen, Darrel, Kevin Hassett, and R. Glenn Hubbard. "Inflation and the User Cost of Capital: Does Inflation Still Matter?"Working Paper No. 6046, National Bureau of Economic Research, May 1997.Feldstein, Martin. "The Costs and Benefits of Going from Low Inflation to Price Stability." Working Paper No. 5469,National Bureau of Economic Research, February 1996.Hall, Robert E., and Dale W. Jorgenson. "Tax Policy and Investment Behavior." American Economic Review 57 (June1967): 391-414.Prakken, Joel L., Chris P. Varvares, and Laurence H. Meyer. "Tax Reform and Potential Output: A Retrospective Analysis ofthe Tax Reform Act of 1986," Carnegie-Rochester ConferenceSeries on Public Policy 35 (1991): 113-180.TABLE 1USER COST5-year economic life ( = 1/5)inflation rate 5-year tax life 7-year tax life0 .266 (.252) .271 (.256).02 .276 (.248) .282 (.253).04 .285 (.244) .292 (.249).06 .294 (.240) .302 (.245).08 .302 (.235) .311 (.241).10 .311 (.230) .321 (.236)TABLE 2USER COST3-year economic life ( = 1/3)inflation rate3-year tax life 5-year tax life0 .401 (.387) .409 (.393).02 .412 (.384) .422 (.391).04 .422 (.381) .434 (.389).06 .432 (.377) .446 (.387).08 .441 (.373) .457 (.384).10 .450 (.369) .468 (.380)Notes to Tables 1 and 2: Key parameter values are =.35; = .45; c = .10; w = .4; w= .6. Also, the real after-taxp d erate of return on debt, r, is assumed invariant toinflation; r = .02.Also, figures in parentheses correspond to the case in which all investment is financed by debt on the margin (w = 1) and thedFisher effect holds in before-tax terms (dR/d = 1).。