Saturday, August 31, 2013

Unit 1: Positive externalities from waste incineration?

Possibly, according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23908360#

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Monday, August 12, 2013

Unit 2: Government spending on capital infrastructure: Cycle networks

Nice example (said the cyclist) from the BBC, possibly leading to positive externalities for the ecponomy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23663257#

Unit 1: Payday loans: A demerit good?

It appears some people think so as councils move to limit advertising of these loans and access to payday loan sites from council computers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23663590#

Friday, August 09, 2013

Thursday, August 08, 2013

Unit 2: YTA training: A supply side policy

Thanks to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23611570#

a) Why is this an example of a supply side policy?
b) To what extent do you think such training schemes are likely to help the government meet its macroeconomic objectives for the economy?

Unit 1: The effect of GM crops on an agricultural PPC

An interesting article from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/gm-foods-will-be-vital-in-feeding-the-future-world

a) Assuming the argument and figures to be correct (and there are strong opposition arguments), draw a PPC diagram to show the effect on output of introducing these GM crops. Label one axis "GM crops" and the other axis "traditional crops"
b) Explain why you have drawn the change as you have

Sunday, August 04, 2013

Unit 1: Sun beds; an example of a market with information failure?

Nice clip from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23513739#

a) Is more regulation required?
b) What other approaches to reducing the market failure could be used?

Thursday, August 01, 2013

Unit 2: Latest UK macro data

Thanks to tutor2u for this slideshow jam packed with up to date data

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/developments-in-the-uk-economy3

Unit 1: How much of the cigarette price is tax?

Some great data from the Guardian showing the $ cost per pack across various countries and the % of that price that is tax

http://www.theguardian.com/society/datablog/2013/aug/01/australia-cigarettes-expensive-tax

This analysis shows prices relative to incomes as it shows how many minutes the average worker has to  work to buy a packet of cigarettes

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/price-pack-of-cigarettes-around-the-world-2012-10