Question

A country finds itself in the following situation: the government budget surplus is 2% of its GDP; private savings is 30% of GDP; and physical investment is 33% of GDP. Based on the national saving and investment identity, if private savings fall to zero, what will happen to this country's current account balance?

Answer 1

Answer:

The current account deficit will increase from 1% to 31% of GDP.

Explanation:

National saving and investment identity helps in understanding the determinants of trade and current account balance. The current account is in balance when the quantity demanded of financial capital is equal to the quantity supplied of financial capital.  

Here, the government saving or surplus and private savings are the supply of financial capital and investment indicates demand for financial capital.

The current account balance is

= Supply of capital - Demand for capital

= (30 + 2)% - 33%

= 32% - 33%

= -1%

So the current account is in deficit by 1% of GDP.  

If the private savings becomes zero, the current account balance will be

= Supply of capital - Demand for capital

= 2% - 33%

= -31%

The current account will be in deficit by 31%.