Question

If the trade deficit of the United States increases, how is the current account balance affected?

Short answer

In summary, an increase in the trade deficit of the United States leads to a decrease in the current account balance. This is because the trade deficit is a part of the current account balance, and a larger trade deficit translates to a lower trade balance, ultimately resulting in a reduced current account balance.

Step-by-step solution

Define trade deficit and current account balance

: Trade deficit (also referred to as net exports) is the difference between a country's total exports and its total imports. If imports are greater than exports, there is a trade deficit. Hence, the trade deficit formula is: Trade Deficit = Imports - Exports. Current account balance is a measure of a country's net income from international transactions. It includes three components: trade balance (exports minus imports), net income from abroad (including income from investments), and net unilateral transfers (like foreign aid or remittances). Therefore, the current account formula is: Current Account Balance = Trade Balance + Net Income from Abroad + Net Unilateral Transfers.

Analyze the effect of an increase in the trade deficit on the current account balance

: When the trade deficit (Imports - Exports) increases, it means that the country is importing more than it is exporting, which leads to a decrease in the trade balance. Since the trade balance is a part of the current account balance, an increase in the trade deficit will affect the current account balance. To see this effect, we can analyze the current account balance formula to evaluate the impact of the change in the trade deficit: Current Account Balance (after trade deficit increase) = (Trade Balance - Increase in Trade Deficit) + Net Income from Abroad + Net Unilateral Transfers.

Conclusion

: When the trade deficit of the United States increases, the current account balance is negatively affected because an increase in the trade deficit decreases the trade balance, which is one of the components of the current account balance. In other words, when the US imports more than it exports, it causes a decrease in the current account balance.