Vahetusbilanss

Vahetusbilanss, also known as the current account, is a key component of a country's balance of payments. It measures the net flow of money for a country's trade in goods and services, its net earnings on foreign investments, and its net transfer payments.

The vahetusbilanss is divided into several sub-accounts. The trade balance, the largest component, records the difference between a country's exports and imports of goods. A positive trade balance means a country exports more goods than it imports, while a negative balance indicates the opposite. The services balance tracks the exports and imports of services, such as tourism, financial services, and transportation.

Beyond trade, the vahetusbilanss also includes income from investments abroad, such as dividends and interest earned on foreign assets, and income paid to foreign investors. Additionally, it accounts for net transfer payments, which are one-way transactions like foreign aid or remittances sent by citizens working abroad.

A surplus in the vahetusbilanss signifies that a country is earning more from its foreign transactions than it is spending. Conversely, a deficit means a country is spending more abroad than it is earning. Persistent deficits or surpluses can have significant implications for a country's currency value, foreign debt levels, and overall economic health. Central banks and governments closely monitor the vahetusbilanss to understand a nation's economic position relative to the rest of the world.