3.5.4

Impact of Economic Growth

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Costs and Benefits of Economic Growth

Economic growth has many potential positives and negatives for individuals, the economy and the environment.

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Benefits of economic growth

  • Economic growth has many potential positives for individuals, the economy and the environment. These include:
    • Rising incomes leads to better living standards.
    • Better job prospects.
    • Less unemployment.
    • Affordability of goods and services.
    • Better access to healthcare and education.
    • Higher tax revenue (“the fiscal dividend”), which can be spent on merit goods such as hospitals and schools, as well as public goods such as infrastructure.
    • Higher international competitiveness.
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Dangers of economic growth

  • Some negatives include:
    • Environmental concerns: growth can give rise to negative externalities, such as pollution.
    • Unsustainable: growth at the expense of future generations by using up natural resources, such as minerals.
    • Wealth and income inequality: rapid growth can benefit cities more than rural areas, or more skilled workers who have negotiating power with wages.
    • Inflation: rapid growth can put pressure on resources and lead to prices rising too quickly (inflation).

Jump to other topics

1Introduction to Markets

2Market Failure

3The UK Macroeconomy

4The UK Economy - Policies

5Business Behaviour

6Market Structures

7A Global Perspective

8Finance & Inequality

9Examples of Global Policy

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