betalingsbalance

The betalingsbalance, or balance of payments, is a statistical record of all economic transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world over a specified period, usually a year or a quarter. It is compiled by the central bank or a national statistical agency. The betalingsbalance aims to provide a comprehensive overview of a country's financial and trade relationships with other nations.

The betalingsbalance is conventionally divided into two main accounts: the current account and the capital and financial account. The current account records trade in goods and services, net income from investments abroad, and net transfer payments. A surplus in the current account indicates that a country is exporting more than it imports, while a deficit suggests the opposite.

The capital and financial account records transactions involving assets and liabilities. This includes foreign direct investment, portfolio investment, and other investments, as well as changes in official reserve assets. A surplus in the capital and financial account means that a country is receiving more capital inflows than it is sending abroad.

The sum of the current account and the capital and financial account, along with a balancing item for errors and omissions, should theoretically equal zero. However, statistical discrepancies can arise. The betalingsbalance is a crucial tool for policymakers to understand a country's external economic position, identify potential vulnerabilities, and inform economic policy decisions related to exchange rates, trade, and international finance.