December 1, 2015 

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INDEX: A measure of the relative average of a group of items compared to a given base value. Index measures are commonly used in economics to combine and compare diverse measures. One common type of index measure is for prices, such as the Consumer Price Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average of corporate stock prices. Another noted type of index measure is to track macroeconomic activity, especially the index leading economic indicators. Indexes are usually weighted averages rather than simple arithmetic means that are measured relative to a base value or period. The Consumer Price Index, for example, measures the prices of consumer good, weighted by the quantities purchased. The value of a given period is then stated relative to a base year value, which generates a pure, "unitless" number in the range of 100 (give or take).

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A change in aggregate expenditures on real production, especially net exports from the foreign sector, that results because a change in the price level alters the relative prices of exports and imports. The net-export effect, also termed the international-substitution effect, is one of three effects underlying the negative slope of the aggregate demand curve associated with a movement along the aggregate demand curve and a change in aggregate expenditures. The other two are real-balance effect and interest-rate effect. The net-export effect is somewhat analogous to the substitution effect underlying the negative slope of the market demand curve.
The net-export effect is one of three basic effects that indicate why aggregate expenditures are inversely related to the price level. The net-export effect works like this: A higher price level increases the relative price of domestic exports to other countries while decreasing the relative price of foreign imports from other countries. This results in a decrease in exports and an increase in imports and thus a decrease in net exports. A lower price level has the opposite affect, causing a decrease in the relative price of domestic exports to other countries while increasing the relative price of foreign imports from other countries. This results in an increase in exports and a decrease in imports and thus an increase in net exports.

Along the Curve
Along the Curve

Before examining the details of the net-export effect, consider the specifics of what it does. A typical aggregate demand curve is presented in the exhibit to the right. The negative slope of the aggregate demand curve captures the inverse relation between the price level and aggregate expenditures on real production.

When the price level changes, the net-export effect is activated, which is what then results in a change in aggregate expenditures and a movement long the aggregate demand curve. To illustrate this process, click the [Change Price Level] button.

Aggregate demand is the demand for domestic production--goods and services produced by the domestic economy. A change in the price level is a change in the price of this domestic production. Other countries in the foreign sector produce goods and services, too. If the price level increases in one country, then the production in other countries becomes relatively cheaper.

If the domestic price level increases, then buyers in other countries (the foreign sector) are discouraged from buying as many exports from the domestic economy, switching instead to their own production or maybe exports from another country. In addition, domestic buyers (including the household, business, and government sectors) are motivated to switch from the now more expensive domestic production to the now relatively cheaper foreign imports.

This comparison of prices among different countries gives rise to the net-export effect. In particular, an increase in the price level increases imports and decreases exports, which results in a decrease in net exports. A decrease in the price level has the opposite effect on imports, exports, and net exports.

Suppose, for example, that Duncan Thurly has a daily craving for cheese that is satisfied by purchasing good ol' American-made cheese produced in the American state of Wisconsin. This daily purchase is, of course, an expenditure on domestic production. How might Duncan react if the domestic economy's price level increases, and with it the price of Wisconsin cheese? He might satisfy his cheese-craving with the imported variety, probably Swiss cheese from Switzerland. If so, then his expenditures on domestic production (Wisconsin cheese) falls as his purchase of foreign production (Swiss cheese) increases. The end result is that Duncan has become a living, breathing, cheese-eating application of the net-export effect.


Recommended Citation:

NET-EXPORT EFFECT, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia,, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2015. [Accessed: December 1, 2015].

Check Out These Related Terms...

     | slope, aggregate demand curve | interest-rate effect | real-balance effect | change in aggregate expenditures | change in aggregate demand | aggregate demand shifts |

Or For A Little Background...

     | aggregate demand curve | aggregate demand | aggregate expenditures | price level | aggregate demand determinants | aggregate demand and market demand | aggregate supply | gross domestic product | consumption expenditures | investment expenditures | government purchases | net exports |

And For Further Study...

     | AS-AD analysis | aggregate market | business cycles | circular flow | Keynesian economics | monetary economics | personal consumption expenditures | gross private domestic investment | government consumption expenditures and gross investment | net exports of goods and services |

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July 2015
10.4% Down a little
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