CURRENT ACCOUNT SURPLUS: An imbalance in a nation's balance of payments current account in which payments received by the country for selling domestic exports are greater than payments made by the country for purchasing imports. In other words, imports (of goods and services) by the domestic economy are less than exports (of goods and services). This is generally a desireable situation for a domestic economy. However, in the wacky world of international economics, a current account surplus is often balanced by a capital account deficit, which is generally considered an undesireable situation. If, however, the capital account does not balance out the current account, then a current account surplus contributes to a balance of payments surplus. See also | current account | balance of payments | balance of payments surplus | current account deficit | capital account | capital account deficit | domestic | foreign | international economics | international finance | foreign exchange |
