Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments

Choose the Correct Answer

Correct Answer : Option b

Explanation
Statement 1 is not correct: The balance of trade is the difference between a country's exports and imports of goods and services, while the balance of payments is a record of all international economic transactions made by a country's residents, including trade as well as financial capital and financial transfers.

Statement 2 is correct: The balance of trade is a part of the balance of payments and is represented in the current account, which also includes income from investments and transfers such as foreign aid and gifts. The capital account, which is another part of the balance of payments, includes financial capital and financial transfers.

Statement 3 is correct: A country can have a positive balance of trade (a trade surplus) and a negative balance of payments (a deficit) if it is exporting more goods than it is importing, but it is also losing financial capital or making financial transfers. Conversely, a country can have a negative balance of trade (a trade deficit) and a positive balance of payments (a surplus) if it is importing more goods than it is exporting, but it is also receiving a large amount of financial capital or receiving financial transfers.