Components of the Current Account (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Economics)

Revision Note

The Current Account

  • The Balance of Payments (BoP) for a country is a record of all the financial transactions that occur between it and the rest of the world

  • The BoP has two main sections:

    • The current account: all transactions related to goods/services along with payments related to the transfer of income

    • The financial and capital account: which is not part of your syllabus

  • Money flowing into the country is recorded in the relevant account as a credit (+) and money flowing out as a debit (-)

  • A current account surplus occurs when the credits (money in) are higher than the debits (money out)

  • A current account deficit occurs when the credits (money in) are less than the debits (money out)

The current account of the balance of payments

  • The Current Account is often considered to be the most important account in the BoP

    • It records the net income that an economy gains from international transactions

An Example of the UK Current Account Balance for 2017

Component

2017

A. Net trade in goods (exports - imports)

£-32.9bn

B. Net trade in services (exports - imports)

£27.9bn

C. Sub-total trade in goods/services (A+B)

£-5bn

D. Net income (interest, profits and dividends)

£-2.1bn

E. Current transfers

£-3.6bn

Total Current Account Balance (C+D+E)

£-10.7bn

Current Account as a % of GDP

3.7%

  •  Goods are also referred to as visible exports/imports

  • Services are also referred to as invisible exports/imports

  • Net income consists of income transfers by citizens and corporations

    • Credits are received from UK citizens who are abroad and send remittances home

    • Debits are sent by foreigners working in the UK back to their countries

    • (Income credits - Income debits) are often referred to as net primary income

  • Current transfers are typically payments at government level between countries e.g. contributions to the World Bank

    • (Transfer credits - transfer debits) are often referred to as net secondary income 

  • The current account balance = net trade in goods + net trade in services + net primary income + net secondary income

Worked Example

Current Account Calculations

The table shows a selection of economic data for a country

Data

Value in Euros (€,000m)

Primary income (net income transfers)

150

Secondary income (net current transfers)

-50

Value of exported goods

100

Value of exported services

75

Value of imported goods

40

Value of imported services

45

Calculate the current account balance of this country?

Step 1: Recall the formula for calculating the current account balance

Net trade in goods + net trade in services + net income + net current transfers
 

Step 2: Substitute the appropriate values

Net trade in goods = (100-40) = 60

Net trade in services = (75-45) = 30

Net income transfers = 150

Net current transfers = -50
 

Step 3: Complete the calculation

60 + 30 + 150 -50 = 190
 

Step 4: Check the units and ensure your answer uses the correct units

€190,000m

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