Unit 2: UK's worst ever trade figures

...report Sky news http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/UK-Goods-Trade-Gap-Widens-To-Highest-Ever-Level-While-Fourth-Quarter-GDP-Revised-Up-To--05/Article/201103415962136?f=rss ...and a commentary and graph from anforme http://www.anforme.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2

Unit 2: The multiplier in action: The Ryder Cup's effect on Wales

Nice example of the multiplier effect from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12834078

Unit 2: UK budget 2011 - 12

A summary from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12836708

A great interactive guide from the guardian showing income, expenditure and borrowing

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/interactive/2011/mar/23/budget-tax

This one shows the sources of income from various taxes

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/interactive/2011/mar/24/budget-2011-interactive-tax-guide

...and this one cuts the speech in to chunks related to topics; excellent

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/interactive/2011/mar/23/budget-2011-interactive-presentation

...and a commentary from anforme

http://www.anforme.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2

Unit 2: CPI infation rises to 4.4%

A clear explanation as to why from this BBC clip

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12821852

and more analysis

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12817476

Unit 1: Carbon taxes; pros and cons

Thanks to economicshelp for this

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/economics/carbon-tax-pros-and-cons/

Unit 1: Specialisation in car production

A great post from tutor2u which shows how car production has changed

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/model-t-ford-and-mercedes-benz-specialisation-across-the-ages/

Unit 2: UK interest rates

Thanks to tutor2u for this link to UK interest rates

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/uk-economy-nominal-and-real-interest-rates/

Unit 2: UK unemployment data

...courtesy of the guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/interactive/2009/jun/22/unemployment-and-employment-statistics-recession

Unit 2: Supply side policies: Reduced red tape

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12782433

Unit 2: Tariff imposed on ceramic tiles

..says the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12780151

a) Why has this tariff been imposed?
b) Is the tariff to the benefit of UK consumers?

Unit 2: Macroeconomic objectives data

Tutor2u have got timetric data on all 4 which should update

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/keeping-track-of-uk-macro-objectives/

Unit 2: Continuing rising UK unemployment

As reported by the BBC; Youth unemployment is particularly bad

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12759753

Unit 2: What ends a recession?

A useful evaluative post from economicshelp; note the evaluation of how likely the reason is to occur

http://econ.economicshelp.org/2011/03/what-causes-recessions-to-end.html

Unit 2: Macro data for Europe

Fantastic resource from the guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/14/new-europe-statistics-interactive

Unit 2: Economic growth data

The top graph in this post from economicshelp is great

http://econ.economicshelp.org/2011/03/causes-of-economic-cycles.html

a) Decribe the pattern of economic growth for the time period illustrated

Unit 2: Changes to the "basket of goods"

The latest update of "in" and "out" items is in this BBC article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12744400

and from Sky

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/The-Basket-Of-Goods-And-Services-To-Calculate-Inflation-Updated-To-Include-Dating-Firm-Fees/Article/201103315952703?f=rss

and tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/gcse-economics/comments/iphone-in-shoulder-of-pork-out/

a) Why do the ONS have this annual update of the goods and services in the basket?

Unit 2: Unemployment compared across countries

Thanks to tutor2u for this graphic

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/timetric-unemployment-rates-for-selected-countries/

a) Using the graph for part of your answer, discuss how much of a problem unemployment is for the UK economy

Unit 2: How important is consumption expenditure for the UK economy?

Thanks to tutor2u, we know the answer is "increasingly so"

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/timetric-uk-consumption-as-a-share-of-gdp/

UNit 2: Investment revision

All you need to know from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/as-macro-revision-investment-spending/

Unit 2: Ireland's economic growth and unemployment rate

....is clearly shown in this graphic from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/ireland-mass-unemployment-and-shrinking-gdp/

a) Describe the link between changes in irish GDP and the Irish unemployment rate

Unit 1: Further restrictions on tobacco sales

..this time from proposals to ban displays

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12680815 article
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Article/201103115948614 article and video

and the case against from the manufacturers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12691348

a) To what extent do you believe this measure will reduce the market failure associated with the tobacco market?

Unit 2: Data on long term unemployment

....thanks to tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/timetric-long-term-unemployment-in-the-uk/

Unit 1: The costs and benefits of a London to Birmingham (and beyond) high speed rail link

A nice look at both sides of the argument from Roger Harrabin at the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12613039

Unit 1: Should Brazil build a hydro-electric dam in the amazon region?

A series of BBC articles may help you form an opinion; The first is the oldest and lthe last one listed the most recent

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8373504.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8633786.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12295662
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12586170
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12643261

Want to know more about the dam?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belo_Monte_Dam
http://amazonwatch.org/work/belo-monte-dam

a) List the private costs and benefits of constructing the dam and
b) the external costs and benefits (ie positive and negative externalities)

Unit 2: China aims for sustainable growth

The BBC reports

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/12643690

Unit 2: Balance of Trade data

....from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/timetric-uk-trade-in-goods-and-services/

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/timetric-uk-trade-in-goods-and-services/

Unit 2: Unemployment data

...from tutor2 u on

Duration by gender http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/timetric-long-term-unemployment-in-the-uk/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:22:33:00Z

By region http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/timetric-regional-unemployment-in-the-uk/

Unit 2: Fiscal policy in China

The BBC repots a proposed tax cut

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12618201

a) How is this an example of Fiscal policy?
b) Using ad AD/AS diagram, explain the likely effect on the Chinese economy
c) In what way might the outcome have undesirable consequences?

Unit 2: Monetary policy in Brazil

Brazil raises its main interest rate again says the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12630315

a) Using an AD/AS diagram, explain is the state of the Brazilian economy and what this interest rate rise is meant to achieve

Unit 2: Australia holds interest rates

A nice summary of the Australian economy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12605302
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12605475

Unit 2: UK economic growth data

Thanks to economicshelp for this data

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/economics/data-on-economic-growth-in-uk/