Which of the following international accounts records the purchase and sale of financial assets and real estate between the United States and other nations? a. The balance of trade account b. The current account c. The capital account d. The balance of payments account

International accounts are used to measure and record the economic transactions between a country and the rest of the world. There are different types of accounts that serve various purposes in recording these transactions. Understanding the purposes of these accounts will help us select the correct answer.

Before identifying the correct account for recording the purchase and sale of financial assets and real estate, let's define and understand each type of international account given in the options: a. The balance of trade account: It records the difference between a country's imports and exports of goods and services. It does not involve transactions of financial assets or real estate. b. The current account: It records the transactions related to goods, services, incomes, and current transfers between a country and the rest of the world. Like the balance of trade account, it also does not cover financial assets or real estate transactions. c. The capital account: This account records the transactions related to capital transfers (such as debt forgiveness or transfers of ownership) and the purchase and sale of non-produced, non-financial assets like land and natural resources between countries. d. The balance of payments account: It is a comprehensive account that covers all transactions between a country and the rest of the world. It includes the current account, the capital account, and the financial account, which records transactions of financial assets and liabilities, such as the purchase and sale of financial assets and real estate.

Now that we understand the purpose of each account, we are able to identify the correct account type for recording the purchase and sale of financial assets and real estate between the United States and other nations. We can see that the balance of payments account (option d) is the most appropriate option since it includes transactions of financial assets and real estate. So the correct answer is: d. The balance of payments account