Macroeconomics

Definition

• Looking at the economy as a whole, particularly the interaction of its various components with one another.

Synonyms
national productivity, general economic factor

Related Terms and Acronyms

• Bank Rate — Definition,
  • Closely related to the overnight rate, the bank rate is the interest rate the Bank of Canada charges to banks and other major financial institutions for one-day loans.
• Deflation — Definition,
  • An actual decline in the general level of prices in the economy.
• Depreciation — Definition,
  • The gradual loss of value of a building or other property because of age or natural wear.
• Economic Indicators — Definition,
  • Statistics that help determine how the economy is faring. They include the Consumer Price Index, housing starts, and unemployment rates, among others.
• Fiscal Policy — Definition,
  • The use of government spending and taxation policies to influence the economy.
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) — Acronym,
  • The total value of all the goods and services produced by the Canadian economy in a single year.
• Index — Definition,
  • A table of yields or interest rates being paid on debt (such as Treasury notes or bank deposits) that is used to determine interest-rate changes.
• Inflation — Definition,
  • A rise in the average level of prices in the economy.
• Microeconomics — Definition,
  • Looking at the individual parts of the economy, with emphasis given to the market process and how it works.
• Monetary Policy — Definition,
  • The Bank of Canada's ability to influence the economy through changes in short-term interest rates and the money supply.
• Overnight Rate — Definition,
  • The interest rate banks use to lend or borrow funds from each other.
• Recession — Definition,
  • A prolonged period (popularly defined as two successive quarters) in which economic activity shrinks.