2S_Englisch Vocabulary - Economics/Marketing

the portion of depositors' balances banks must have on hand as cash //// The central bank kept the cash reserve ratio for banks unchanged at 4 percent. * the desired/required reserve ratio

requirements regarding the amount of funds that banks must hold in reserve against deposits made by their customers //// The Swiss National Bank was considering steps to raise reserve requirements on mortgage loans. * binding reserve requirements * to impose/set reserve requirements * to meet reserve requirements

a factor used in production //// Britain's mineral/natural resources include coal and gas deposits. * constrained/limited/scarce resources * to conserve/deplete resources

the use of trade barriers against another country in response to protectionist policies //// Australia must either bring its laws into conformity or face retaliation in the form of increased duties. * in retaliation for * retaliation against someone for something * to provoke/threaten retaliation

an adjustment of a country's exchange rate //// A disastrous revaluation of the national currency wiped out the savings of millions.

the search for greater uncertainty in exchange for anticipated higher returns //// World leaders agreed to reform executive compensation and reduce risk-seeking behaviour. * a risk-seeking person/personality

the desire to avoid uncertainty //// The government’s risk aversion is suppressing the availability of loans. declining/growing risk aversion * high/low risk aversion * a level of risk aversion

a person, group or organization competing with others for the same thing or in the same area; to be as good or important as someone or something else //// Our airline is now a serious rival to many of the bigger companies. * This latest design has few/no rivals. * This small restaurant rivals any that you will find in the city. * an arch/main/nearest/old rival * a rival bid/claim/offer * a rival company/product/firm * a rival in consumption

suitable for sale //// These cars, just a few years ago, would not have been saleable in markets like ours. * She casually wondered whether the idea was commercially marketable. * a saleable commodity * saleable assets * in saleable condition * marketable products/skills/securities

(of or relating to) the number of goods, products, or services that a company sells within a certain time period //// Sales have dropped/risen by 10 %. a sales campaign/promotion * after-sales service/support * to boost sales * a sales assistant/force/rep(resentative) * a sales call/drive/pitch/talk

two boards with advertisements that people hang over their shoulders and walk around in public //// People dressed in/wearing sandwich boards were advertising fire-sale prices for concert tickets.

credit unions and mutual savings banks that provide a variety saving and loans services //// Specialized task forces helped win cases against those who looted savings and loans in the 1990s. * a savings and loan association/institution

available in small supply //// Many of those workers were abused in from countries where jobs are scarce. * a scarce commodity * scarce resources * to be in scarce supply

the creation and marketing to investors of financial instruments which are created by combining other financial assets //// Deep flaws remain in the mortgage securitization machine and investors are wary. * the securitization of debt/liabilities/receivables

a problem that cures itself if allowed to do so //// The economic market is a self-correcting mechanism that does not need regulation by government.

(a method) to give a product or service to someone in exchange for money //// This product is so good it will sell itself. * The book sold well and was reprinted many times. * a hard/soft sell * to sell something at/for £50, $ 1.50, etc.* to sell off * to be sold out

a particular quality of a product which will make people want to buy it //// Small classes are a selling point for private schools.

the financial intermediaries involved in the creation of credit across the global financial system, but whose members are not regulated //// The failure to regulate the shadow banking system was one of the causes of the financial crisis.

a situation where commodity demand exceeds the available supply //// Builders have been complaining about an acute shortage of labour and materials. * a chronic/severe shortage * an energy/food/water shortage * a labour/skills/staff shortage * to create/produce a shortage * to face a shortage

a short easily remembered phrase, especially one used in advertisements //// The idea is right, but the advertising/campaign slogan should be more prominent.

form of compensation provided by a government for elderly, disabled, or unemployed people //// Germany has a social insurance scheme which pays for treatment in privately-run hospitals. * a social insurance programme * a social insurance number * to expand social insurance

a method of production where a business focuses on the production of a limited scope of products or services in order to gain greater degrees of productive efficiency within the entire system of businesses or areas //// Germany, given its high degree of openness and specialization, cannot prosper alone. * an area/degree of specialization * increased/increasing specialization

a condition of slow economic growth and relatively high unemployment, accompanied by a rise in prices //// The oil shock helped tip the US into stagflation with prices rising 13% a year.

a small temporary structure where products can be marketed, usually outside or in a large public building //// Could we meet at our stand at the Bologna Fair? * to construct/dismantle a stand

the current situation //// Many entrenched interest groups want to defend/maintain/restore the status quo. * to challenge the status quo

a type of security signifying ownership in a corporation //// A technical problem caused trading in Nasdaq-listed stocks to be halted. * The company’s stocks are falling/rising. * a joint-stock/stock company * a stock certificate/price/option * a stock exchange/index/market * to invest in stocks and bonds * to trade stocks and shares

a type of loan offered at a higher rate to individuals who do not qualify for prime rate loans //// The bank announced that it had ceased making subprime loans in 2008. * The starting point for this now global problem was the subprime loan crisis emanating from the US markets.

a government payment to the private sector //// Chinese makers of solar glass may benefit from illegal government subsidies. * agricultural/trade subsidies to someone * to abolish/pay/receive subsidies

(to use) a product or service in place of the one that you usually have //// The local bus service was a poor substitute for their car. * They have substituted silicon for a more flexible material. * a poor substitute for

a cost incurred that cannot be recovered //// The simplest option is to walk away, but companies that have huge sunk costs may find it difficult to do. * to incur/recover sunk costs

(to make) an amount of goods and services available for use //// Across the economy, it seems that demand for viable CEO candidates exceeds supply.* They supply parts to the automotive industry. * excess supply * a limited/unlimited supply of * the money supply * a supply chain/curve/price * supply-side economics * to ensure/boost/restrict the supply of

(to ask a particular group of people) a set of questions to find out their attitudes or behaviour //// A recent survey found/revealed/showed that 75% of those questioned were in favour of the plan. * Of the 100 companies surveyed, 10 per cent had a turnover of £50m to £99m. * to conduct/carry out/do a survey * a survey of

a tax imposed on imported goods and services //// The US has imposed/set/reduced tariffs on chocolate from Brazil. * agricultural/industrial tariffs * customs/export/import tariffs * high/low/steep tariffs * an increase/a reduction in tariffs * tariff barriers/protection/rates * to cut/eliminate/remove tariffs

the activity of selling a product and taking orders by phone //// People who believe they are victims of telemarketing fraud/scams should call our Consumer Protection Division.