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Absorption Approach to the Balance of Payments

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Abstract

The absorption approach to the balance of payments states that a country’s balance of trade will only improve if the country’s output of goods and services increases by more than its absorption, where the term ‘absorption’ means expenditure by domestic residents on goods and services. This approach was first put forward by Alexander (1952, 1959).

This chapter was originally published in The New Palgrave: A Dictionary of Economics, 1st edition, 1987. Edited by John Eatwell, Murray Milgate and Peter Newman

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Vines, D. (1987). Absorption Approach to the Balance of Payments. In: The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_129-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_129-1

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-95121-5

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Absorption Approach to the Balance of Payments
    Published:
    13 March 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_129-2

  2. Original

    Absorption Approach to the Balance of Payments
    Published:
    15 November 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_129-1