Unit 1: Cuba moves from central planning

...according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13585353

a) In which way is this a move away from central planning?

Unit 1: Russian drinkers and price elasticity of demand

....appear to be drinking more beer and less vodka, depite tax increases according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/13576896

a) In economic terms, what are beer and vodka?
b)Given the increase in price and fall in sales mentioned, do you believe the PED for beer to be elastic or inelastic?
c) Explain why this is the case using economic theory

Unit 2: Do tariffs work?

An intriguing answer form tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/do-tariffs-actually-reduce-imports/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:01:31:00Z

Unit 1: Overcoming information failure: Fuel consumption labels in the USA

Thanks to tutor2u for this

Would you buy a car knowing how much more (or less) than the average car you would spend on fuel? That's what's happening in the USA

http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/25/autos/new_fuel_economy_labels/index.htm?iid=HP_River

a) What is the market failure this action is trying to reduce?
b) To what extent do you think the policy will reduce the market failure?

Unit 1: Public and private goods; revision

A nice one sheet revision from tutor2u which can be accessed half way down this post

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/as-micro-revision-public-and-private-goods/

Unit 1: The external cost oif alcohol consumption

....continues to rise according to the latest figures from these BBC posts

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13559455 article, and
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13568846 video

a) Why is rising alcohol consumption a problem for the UK economy?
b) Using a S&D diagram, explain why thr free market in alcohol is failing
c) Comment on the ideaa that raising the price of alcohol would reduce this market failure

Unit 2: the state of the UK economy

Great post with data from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/macro-revision-putting-things-in-context/

Unit 2: Would the better life index be a more accurate measure of the standard of living than real gdp per capita?

Decide for yourself by following the links in this tutor2u post

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/as-and-a2-macro-the-pursuit-of-happiness-and-the-better-life-index/

Unit 2 revision: supply side policies

A nice post from tutor2u, but not all of it is needed for OCR AS

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/as-economics-revision-supply-side-policies/

Unit 1: More legislation to reduce smoking....in NY

A nice BBC clip

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13538166

a) Why is NY banning smoking in parks?
b) Comment on the likelyhood that this ban will reduce the consumption of demerit goods like cigarettes

Unit 2: Inflation revision help

Three good posts from tutor2u on inflation :

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/as-macro-key-term-inflation/ on inflation,
http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/as-macro-key-term-cost-push-inflation/ on causes and cures for cost push inflation, and
http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/as-macro-key-term-demand-pull-inflation/ on causes and cures for demand pull inflation

Unit 1: Legislation to reduce UK carbon emissions

...is outlined by this BBC video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13432564

a) Discuss the benefits and costs to the UK of introducing this policy

Unit 2: The unequal effect of rising unemployment

Female unemployment is rising at a faster rate than male unemployment according to Ch4

http://www.channel4.com/news/unemployment-hits-women-hardest Ch4

Different groups are being hit differently

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13447535 BBC

....and the latest figures

http://www.channel4.com/news/unemployment-falls-but-claimaint-figures-up

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13436252

Unit 2: Latest unemployment data

...fron anforme

http://www.anforme.co.uk/blog/?p=2156

Unit 1: The price of strawberries

This Sky video is interesting

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Strawberry-Crop-Warm-Weather-Produces-Biggest-and-Best-Bumper-English-Strawberries-in-20-Years/Article/201105215988234?lpos=UK_News_First_Buisness_Article_Teaser_Region_6&lid=ARTICLE_15988234_Strawberry_Crop%3A_Warm_Weather_Produces_Biggest_and_Best_Bumper_English_Strawberries_in_20_Years

a) Why has the supply of English strawberries increased?
b) Given the increase in supply, explain why the price has not decreased

Unit 2: Macro data for 2011

Thanks to tutor2u for this great data source

http://www.tutor2u.net/economics/presentations/ukeconomymay2011/handout.pdf

Unit 1: Obesity and government intervention

Thanks to tutor2u for finding this video on the American experience

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/as-micro-fast-food-fat-profits-obesity-in-the-usa/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:12:11:00Z

Unit 1: Negative externality photos; Gulf oil spill

Thanks to tutor2u for finding these

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/04/gulf_oil_spill_one_year_later.html

Unit 2: Australian economy data

Thanks to tutor2u for this

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/australia-booming-ahead/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:21:34:00Z

Unit 2: How inflation is measured

Although this is US data, it is for CPI and so should be similar for the UK

http://flowingdata.com/2011/04/27/how-much-more-we-pay-for-stuff-now-than-we-did-last-year/

a) Why was US inflation only 2.7% when gasoline went up 27.5%? Surely everybody buys petrol?

Unit 2: What are the effects of a surplus on the BOP current account?

A nice summary from economicshelp

http://econ.economicshelp.org/2011/04/surplus-on-current-account-balance-of.html