2. You have the answer, what was the question?
Economic Growth, Low Inflation, Low unemployment and a Balance of Payments
Gross Domestic Product
Per quarter (i.e. every three months)
A general rise in the price level
The value of all UK imports is equal to the value of all UK exports
what are the 4 main goals of the coalition government
What does GDP stand for? How do we measure economic growth?
How often do we measure economic growth/GDP?
What does inflation mean?
What is meant by a BOP?

3. 1.1 Government Objectives
GCSE ECONOMICS: UNIT 12
Managing the economy
1.1 Government Objectives

4. Aims of today’s lesson …
Identify the key economic objectives set by governments
Analyse UK economic performance against the economic targets set by the government
Evaluate the economic success of the UK government in the last 10 years

5. Government Economic Objectives: Economic Growth
Economic growth looks at how fast national income grows over a period of time
This is normally measured using GDP over one year, although the data in the UK is also calculated on a quarterly basis
Governments want economic growth to be high and sustainable, targeting 2 to 3% per year, because high growth adds to national income, which leads to higher incomes and better standards of living
However if economic growth is too high and unsustainable it can difficult to achieve other government objectives such as stable prices
For example, a feature of high growth is high consumer spending and this often causes rising prices

6. Assessment Objectives
Recall, select and communicate their knowledge and understanding of concepts, issues and terminology
Apply skills, knowledge and understanding in a variety of contexts
Analyse and evaluate evidence, make reasoned judgements and present appropriate conclusions

7. Government Economic Objectives: Stable Prices
The government would prefer that prices are generally stable (i.e. that prices neither rise nor fall)
This does not mean that no prices change at all, but that the average price level is stable
A period when prices are continually rising is known as inflation
The coalition government in the UK targets an inflation rate of 2% per annum using CPI, which the Bank of England attempts to maintain within a +/-1%
Mention that the BOE must explain to the government the reasons why inflation is not on target

8. Government Economic Objectives: Full Employment
Unemployment refers to those of working age who are currently not working and not in full time education
Governments want to achieve full employment (this is not the same as zero unemployment)
Full employment is achieved when those actively seeking work can find employment
Whilst there is usually no explicit target for unemployment, the preference for low unemployment, usually 4 to 5% or less, is desirable
As with targeting economic growth conflicts can arise when pursuing full employment
A low level of unemployment for example, means workers have income to spend, which can lead to unstable prices
Use claimant count and the labour force survey

9. Government Economic Objectives: Balance of payments
The balance of payments (BOP) refers to financial transactions between the UK and all other foreign countries over a period of time
The government would prefer to see the BOP at a level where exports is equal to imports
If the value of imports was greater than the value of exports then more money would be leaving the country than flowing in, meaning savings are spent and more money needs to be borrowed by the government to finance these imports
Ideally there should be a small surplus on the BOP account

10. Ethical issues & government objectives
Q. What are ethics?
Ethics are an informal code of how we should behave – decisions we all make about what is morally right or wrong
The UK government believes that it is ethically right to minimise poverty and income inequalities
This is done through the tax and welfare benefits system – leading to a fairer outcome
However poverty still exists within the modern economies including the UK

11. Ethical issues & government objectives
Having equal incomes may sound idealistic however this situation would de-motivate people to work hard, long hours - Imagine if after all his hard work Sir Alan Sugar was paid the same as everyone else
This begs the question – how wide should the gap between the richest and poorest members of society be?
Watch the following video on income inequality – it raises a number of important issues concerning the consequences of income inequalities
Income inequality harms societies: Ted Wilkinson

12. Plenary: Interactive Questions
You will be asked 5 key questions from Today’s lesson
Read each question carefully
Choose the correct answer and then click on ‘Submit’
Be prepared to discuss your answers
1. Which one of the following is not one of the main objectives which the UK government targets for the economy?
Economic Growth, Low Unemployment, Stable House Prices, A Balance of Payments, Stable Prices
2. 0.7% per quarter is the answer; what was the question?
What is the UK's target for economic growth?, What is the UK's target for inflation?, What is the UK's target for trade growth?
3. Which two government economic objectives are the most difficult to achieve together?
Economic Growth & Low Unemployment, Economic Growth & a Balance of Payments, Economic Growth & Stable Prices
4. If the rate of inflation was 4% which of the following statements would be true?
The inflation target would have been exceeded, The BOE would need to explain the excessive rate to the government, The value of money would be eroded by 4%, All of the above
5. Which situation is more favourable to the UK government and the UK economy?
A Balance of Payments Surplus, A Balance of Payments Deficit

13. Aims of today’s lesson …
Identify the key economic objectives set by governments
Analyse UK economic performance against the economic targets set by the government
Evaluate the economic success of the UK government in the last 10 years