Unit 1: Negative externalities from gold mining in Nigeria

A deeply depressing report from Aljazeera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGleguEq_JI

a) Using economic theory, explain how the unregulated mining industry isfailing in Nigeria
b) Discuss alternative strategies the Nigerian government could take to reduce the market failure

Unit 1: The impact of the USA corn crop failing

....can be large, say Aljazeera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=139xi2a3c8Q

a) Using a S&D diagram, explain the likely effect of this drought on US corn prices
b) Using a S&D diagram, explain the effect on corn related proucts such as foodstuffs and biofuel

Unit 1: Alcohol ban on scottish trains

...according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18930963#

a) Using economic theory, explain why this ban has been put in place
b) Comment on the likely succes of the policy in reducing market failure

Unit 1: How far should the alcohol market be regulated?

As much as the tobacco industry? That appears to be the direction MP's are suggesting in this BBC video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18898242#

a) How does the free market for alcohol fail?
b) To what extent would these new proposals reduce the market failure?

Unit 2: How well is the Australian econmy doing?

A mixed picture behind the encouraging headline data, reports the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18896812#

Unit 2: The costs of unemployment

....as shown by NEETS in Huddersfield (BBC video)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18882588#

Unit 2: An investment boost for the UK economy?

Apparently so according to a Government announcement

http://news.sky.com/story/961586/uk-economy-is-given-50bn-investment-boost Sky
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18881927# BBC

...but this isn't the government spending; they're promising to underwrite projects, not pay for them

Unit 1: Laws to ensure e-waste is recycled

Thanks to tutor2u for finding this Aljazeera video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1TaDwPUu4c&feature=player_embedded

a) What is the market failure that has lead to the introduction of this EU law?
b) Comment on the likely success of the policy in reducing the market failure

Unit 2: UK inflation falls to a 31 month low

.....according to Sky news and the BBC

http://news.sky.com/story/961190/record-rainfall-helps-inflation-fall-sharply sky
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18867248# BBC article
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/18874387# BBC video

and timetric have the latest data visually

http://byline.timetric.com/2012/07/17/uk-cpi-inflation-continues-to-slow/

Unit 1: positive and negative externalities from rubbish

Nice clip from Aljazeera about rubbish disposable in Brazil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VzcsrZ5tDs

a) Using examples from the video clip, explain positive and negative externalities that arise from Rubbish disposal methods in Brazil

Test post to twitter

Unit 1: The economics of the milk industry

Thanks to tutor2u for this compilation of video clips regarding the milk industry

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-3-micro-economics-of-the-milk-industry?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:09:03:48Z

Unit 1: Increasing investment in the UK economy

The UK's factors of production will increase as BMW increases its investment in its UK Mini plant

http://www.channel4.com/news/bmw-to-invest-250-in-uk-mini-factories

a) Why is this an example of investment?
b) Explain the effect on the UK PPC of this investment and show this on a diagram
c) Comment on the extent to which this will increase  economic growth in the UK

Unit 2: The £ appreciates against the Euro

.....ta a 4 year high, according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18734851#

a) Using a suitable diagram, explain why the £ has appreciated against the Euro
b) Who benefits and who loses in the UK from this appreciation of the £?

Unit 2: China cuts interest rates

....according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18723170#

a) Explain how this cut in interest rates should lead to increased economic growth in China
b) Comment on how successful this policy is likely to be in achieving the objective

Unit 1: Economics and the death penalty

Regardless of the moral arguments, the economics of California operating a death penalty is under scrutiny, reports the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18735471#

a) Using the concept of opportunity cost, explain why some Californians might like to see the death penalty abolished

Unit 1: The PED for plastic bags in Wales

An interesting post from tutor2u on the impact of a 5p per bag charge on non-reusable plastic bags in Wales

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-micro-welsh-plastic-bag-charge-reduces-demand?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:06:49:27Z

a) To what extent does the demand for plastic bags in Wales appear to be price elastic?
b) Given this data, comment on whether the policy should be extended to the rest of the UK

Unit 2: Increasing duration of unemployment in the USA

A disturbing post from Planet Money

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/07/06/156196624/how-unemployment-has-dragged-on-in-three-charts?ft=1&f=93559255

a) Explain why this increasing length of unemployment  means unemployment is a growing problem for the US government
b) Comment on the most appropriate action the US government could take to reduce the number of long term unemployed

Unit 2: The London Olympics and the multiplier effect

.....................as explained by Sky

http://news.sky.com/story/955358/olympics-to-give-uk-economy-16-5bn-boost

and this BBC video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18838527#

and this BBC audio clip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9735000/9735320.stm#

a) Explain how the hosting of the Olympics will have a multiplier effect on the economy
b) Discuss how will this effect the Governments 4 macroeconomic objectives

Unit 2: GDP per capita in Europe

Anforme have this great comparative data showing the huge disparity in GDP per capita within the EU

http://www.anforme.co.uk/blog/?p=2694

Unit 1: Australia launches a carbon tax

Thanks to tutor2u for this post with links to 2 further BBC stories

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-micro-australia-launches-carbon-tax

and from Aljazeera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k21F2V2An8M


a) Discuss the pros and cons of introducing a carbon tax to reduce the failings of the free market

Unit 1: Regulation to overcome information failure: Car tyres

Interesting clip from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18663023

Unit 1: Negative externalities from diesel use

Pretty bad, according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18420990#

but maybe there's hope for the future, according to Aljazeera (in this tutor2u post)

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-miro-greener-fuels-for-improved-public-health

Unit 2: Should central banks have an inflation target?

A nice pros/cons summary from economicshelp

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/5397/inflation/inflation-targetting-pros-and-cons/

Unit 2: Cutting interest rates in China to stimulate economic growth

A great clip from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18363065#

a) Using the AD formula, explain the slowdown in economic growth in China
b) Explain how decreasing interest rates should stimulate economic growth
c) Why might additional growth not occur?

Unit 2: Australia cuts interest rates

....reports the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18327769#

a) Explain why this action has been taken and comment on the likely success of this policy

Unit 1: Legislation to reduce the negative externalities from soda consumption

Great article from the Guardian about the plan of NY mayor Michael Bloomberg to ban the selling of supersize drinks

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/31/new-york-mayor-soda-obesity

a) What negative externalities could arise from the free market sale of supersize drinks?
b) What alternative policies could the Mayor have used instead of an outright ban?
c) Comment on the likely success of the ban in reducing the market failure

Unit 1: The opportunity cost of logging and mining in Tasmania

Nice clip from Aljazeera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK8C9_l4QDg

a) How can the concept of opportunity cost be used to explain the choices to be made?
b) Using a PPC, show and explain the opportunity cost of increasing mining in Tasmania

Unit 1: The negative externalities associated with drink driving

...as shown in this sad interview on the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18289878#

Unit 2: GDP and GDP per capita visualised

For visual learners, a great post from Planet Money

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/05/30/153950742/the-worlds-richest-countries-and-biggest-economies-in-2-graphics?ft=1&f=93559255

Unit 2: A cost of rapid Chinese economic growth

.. in Beijing records the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-18245040#

a) What is the cost of growth identified?
b) Explain one other cost from the rapid expansion of Beijing

Unit 2: critisisms of GDP

.....from one of my heroes as I was growing up, Robert Kennedy (if you're too young and the name means nothing, google him or go to Wikipedia), courtesy of the guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/may/24/robert-kennedy-gdp

Unit 1: Which policies could promote economic growth?

A fantastic summary of how fiscal, monetary and supply side policies could help achieve economic growth from economicshelp

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/5272/economics/policies-for-economic-growth/

Unit 2: The components of Aggregate Demand

Explanation and data from tutor2u

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/5301/economics/components-of-aggregate-demand/

Unit 1: Supply and Demand: Revision powerpoint

....from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-micro-revision-presentation-on-the-price-mechanism?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:16:23:21Z

Unit 2: Youth unemployment in the UK and across the OECD

Get the data for different regions of the UK from the Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2011/nov/16/youth-unemployment-map

and comparisons across the OECD

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/may/16/youth-unemployment-europe-oecd

a) How equitably is youth unemployment spread across
1.the UK?
2. the OECD?

Unit 1: Elasticity: Revision posts from tutor2u

Price ED

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-micro-price-elasticity-of-demand?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:11:40:29Z

and powerpoint

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-micro-revision-presentation-on-elasticity-of-demand?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:16:38:21Z

Income ED

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-micro-income-elasticity-of-demand

Price ES

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-micro-price-elasticity-of-supply

and powerpoint

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-micro-revision-presentation-on-elasticity-of-supply

Unit 1: What will be the effect of a minimum alcohol price?

This Guardian article shows how prices will be effected

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/may/14/scotland-minimum-alcohol-price-effect

and this article from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/gcse-economics/comments/demand-and-supply-in-action-minimum-price-on-alcohol

Unit 2: Revision: Supply side policies

Revision from tutorhttp://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-2-macro-revision-notes-on-supply-side-policies?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:16:00:29Z2u

Unit 2: Macro data: May 2012

Great data from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/macro-revision-key-statistics-on-the-uk-economy?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:07:23:14Z

Unit 1: Are youngsters suffering from information failure about alcohol?

Great clip from the BBC about youngsters in the North East

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17983721#

Unit 1: Negative externalities from excessive alcohol consumption in Australia

Just the same as in the UK, reports Aljazeera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOKWKBItuCg

Unit 2: Youth unemployment; the problem and possible solutions

A nice summary, including comparative EU data, from economicshelp

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/5245/economics/how-to-deal-with-youth-unemployment/

Unit 2: Macroeconomic data: May 2012

Latest data thanks to tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/macro-revision-key-statistics-on-the-uk-economy?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:07:23:26Z

Unit 1: The fall in demand for Nintendo products

....acording to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17853764#

a) Using the determinants of demand, explain the fall in demand for Nintendo products

b) Draw a diagram to show what has happened to the demand curve for Nintendo products

Exam technique

2 posts from economics help

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/5198/economics/preparing-for-economics-exam/ on preparing for the exam, and
http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/542/economics/evaluation-for-exams/ on evaluation

Unit 1: Is water a factor of production?

If it is, then many African countries have more resources than they thought according to this report from Aljazeera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-fOi0iBUL8

a) Using a PPC, explain the effect on a country that suddenly finds it fop have increased

Unit 2: The problem of measuring the true rate of unemployment

A good article for some unemployment figures evaluation from anforme in the form of the rising number of people underemployed

http://www.anforme.co.uk/blog/?p=2615

Unit 1: VAT on static caravans

...reports the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17769636#

a) Using a S&D diagram, explain the likely effect on the static caravan market of imposing VAT on static caravans

Unit 2: Preparing for the macro exam

Fantastic, data packed revision aid from tutor2u, BUT, note that it's not OCR specific and so if there are things in here you don't think we've covered, they're most likely not specifically needed for OCR

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/preparing-for-the-as-economics-macro-paper-2012

Unit 1: The falling demand for CD's

The BBC reports a plunge in CD sales

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17754328

a) Using the list of the determinants of demand, explain why the demand for CD's is falling
b) Show this effect on a demand diagram

Unit 1: Should we have a fat tax to tackle the problem of obesity?

Great argument in favour from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17755788#

Unit 1: Logo free cigarette packets in Australia

...are proposed, says the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-17751922#

a) How likely are such packets to reduce the market failure in the tobacco market?

Unit 1: D&S in action: Bullet proof cars in Brazil

Fantastic clip from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17750790#

a) Using a S&D diagram and the determinants of S&D, explain the rapid rise in sales of bullet proof cars in Brazil

Unit 2: UK inflation creeps up

....according to these BBC video clips

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17743702#
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17747009#

a) Using an AD/AS diagram explain the cause of this increase in inflation

Unit 1: Allocative efficiency in the milk market

Sky have this good example of allocative eficiency in the use of scarce resources

http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16210193

a) Why does this story reflect the concept of allocative efficiency?

Unit 1: More actions to reduce smoking

...reports Aljazeera as the display ban comes in to force in large stores

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfWIlbLXKWM

....and this 2 sided discussion on Sky

http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16207897

a) How does the free market for tobacco fail?
b) Evaluate the extent to which this ban is likely to reduce the market failure

Unit 2: Revision and data: Balance of Payments

All you need to know with supporting data

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-2-macro-the-uk-balance-of-payments-in-2011

Unit 2: Revision: Inflation

Another great slideshow from tutor2u

http://www.slideshare.net/tutor2u/buss4-inflation?ref=http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-2-macro-inflation-and-the-business-environment

Unit 2: Revision: Economic growth, AD and GDP

Great revision presentation from tutor2u

http://www.slideshare.net/tutor2u/buss4-business-cycle-economic-growth?ref=http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-2-macro-how-the-economic-cycle-affects-businesses?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:16:05:10Z

Unit 2: Real v nominal data

Thanks to tutor2u for this

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-2-macro-revision-on-real-economic-data

Unit 2: Unemployment : Data and hysteresis

Thanks to tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-4-macro-unemployment-scarring-effects

Unit 2: Real disposable income and Consumption

Nice revision piece with data from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-2-macro-revision-on-real-disposable-income

Unit 1: Rising Air Passenger Tax

....reports the BBC

http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16200200
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17576620

a) What market failure is the tax meant to reduce?
b) Using a S&D diagram, explain how likely this tax will be to (1) reduce the market failure and (2) increase government revenue

Unit 2: What determines the level of capital investment by firms?

Nice summary from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-2-macro-revision-on-capital-investment

Unit 1: The rising price of coffee

Great clip from Aljazeera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6iqNEiAI1lY

a) Using a S&D diagram, explain the paid rise in the price of coffee. Think how you will draw both the D and S curves; do you think D and/or S will be price elastic or inelastic?

Unit 2: Actions to reduce youth unemployment

Some good data in this article from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/blanchflower-calls-for-more-action-to-address-youth-jobless-crisis

Unit 2: Updated macro data

...from tutor2u covering GDP and consumption (amongst others)

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/life-in-the-slow-lane-uk-growth-in-2011-lags-the-euro-area

Unit 1: Is the demand for postage stamps price elastic or inelastic?

We'll soon find out as Royal Mail hikes its prices

http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16197145 sky news video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17522500 BBC article
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17530049 BBC video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17522683 BBC interview

a) Why has Royal mail decided to increase its prices?
b) What does that tell you about their perception of the PED for stamps?
c) Using the list of factors that determine whether D is elastic/inelastic, explain why this might, and might not, be the case

Unit 2: Raising the school leaving age: How successful would this supply side policy be

A nice evaluation from economicshelp

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/5097/economics/should-school-leaving-age-be-raised-to-18/

Unit 2: Who do we trade with?

The second half of this article from economicshelp shows our major trading partners

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/5083/economics/what-does-the-uk-produce/

Unit 2: Are there any benefits of inflation?

Some, says economicshelp

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/1357/economics/benefits-of-inflation/

Unit 1: Pros and cons of a fat tax

Thanks to economicshelp for this summary

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/5056/economics/pros-and-cons-of-fat-tax/

Unit 1: Why has the price of petrol risen....again

It's all down to S&D reports the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17495151

Unit 2: What determines consumer confidence?

Nice clip from the BBC explaining how the Nationwide survey does it

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17487689

Unit 1: Should there be a minimum unit price for alcohol?

The proposal is for 40p per unit. The government position is in this clip

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17487194 video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17485951 video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17482035 article

These tutor2u posts have some of the adv/disadv summarised

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/the-minimum-alcohol-price-debate?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:16:49:41Z

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/minimum-beer-prices-may-not-be-the-solution-for-binge-drinking1

Why's such a measure needed? Rising liver deaths says the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17471790

But the big retailers aren't happy

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16194599 Sky

..and an MP arrested for assaulting 3 people in the Houses of Parliament whilst drunk thinks the minimum price is unfair on equality grounds

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17496257

Unit 2 International inflation rates

A good source of up to date data

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/inflation-rates-list-by-country

Unit 2: What's the budget all about?

A nice clip from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17438647

Unit 2: Budget 2012

A nice summary from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17460451 video

and great data from the Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/mar/21/budget-2012-key-data
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/oct/18/deficit-debt-government-borrowing-data
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/mar/21/budget-2012-spending-tax-visualised#zoomed-picture Govt income and expenditure by catagory diagram
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/mar/21/budget-2012-all-the-data

Unit 2: Tariff wars: The USA/China tit for tat tariff war continues

....according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17454885

Unit 2: Why does the rate of inflation change?

A nice clip from the BBC explaining the upward and downward pressures in the "basket" betwen Jan and Feb 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17444899

Latest data from anforme

http://www.anforme.co.uk/blog/?p=2573

Unit 1: The price of driving in Shanghai

.....is rising, according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17441369

a) Using a S&D diagram, explain why the price of a licence has risen
b) Show and explain what the authorities could do to lower the price

Unit 1: How to reduce the market failure from plastic bags

A great summary article from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17027990

a) In what way does the market for plastic bags fail?
b) Discuss the extent to which any single measure outlined in the article couild reduce the market failure

Unit 1: The impact of indirect taxes on beer production

Nice video from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17399301

Unit 2: Unemployment resource from Ch4

They call it the jobs report and it's got a variety of links

http://www.channel4.com/news/channel-4-jobs-report-how-to-create-2-5-million-jobs/

Unit 2: Latest unemployment data: March 2012

Great data from the Guardian, including by region

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/nov/17/unemployment-and-employment-statistics-economics

and youth unemployment

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2011/nov/16/youth-unemployment-map

...and a video clip from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17365218

...and how women have been hit hardest rom this BBC clip

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17368769

Unit 2: Enterprise zones: A supply side policy

One of the major drawbacks of supply side policies is that they take time to have an efffect on the economy. This Sky clip shows that in spades

http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16188250

Unit 2: The UK's largest coal mine to close?

Possibly, reports Sky

http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16188709

a) What type of unemployment would result from this closure? Explain your answer

Unit 2: 2012 updates to the basket of goods

A nice clip from Sky where an ONS spokesman explains what the basket is all about

http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16187767

Great data from the Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/mar/13/inflation-basket-goods-2012-full-list?newsfeed=true

...and a BBC article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17350861

Unit 1: The price of eggs

Interesting clip from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17336478

a) Using a S&D diagram, explain why the price of eggs has risen

Unit 2: Policies to promote economic growth

Fantastic post from tutor2u that could be used for excellent evaluation

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-2-macro-policies-to-drive-economic-recovery?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:19:24:51Z

Unit 2: Unemployment data by ethnicity

Great data from the BBC

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/mar/09/black-unemployed-young-men

and Ch4

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16185997

Unit 2: Barriers to trade in China

Here's an example of a potential barrier to trade in China

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17297006

a) To what extent would this policy be likely to improve China's Balance of Payments position?

Unit 1: Externalities arising from fracking

The highly debatable method of extracting natural gas known as fracking is heading to Ireland, according to Aljazeera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDM9HI7NTdw

a) What are the private costs and private benefits of such a scheme?
b) What are the positive and negative externalities of such a scheme?
c) What role does regulation have in this industry?

Unit 1 Smoking's decline over the past 50 years

A post from tutor2u including a Ch4 video clip, and historical interviews by the BBC

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-micro-50-years-of-anti-smoking-campaigns-and-awareness?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:21:17:24Z

a) What actions have ben introduced to reduce smoking?
b) Comment on the success of these mesures in reducing the consumptoion of this demarit good

Unit 2: How to increase the Aggregate Supply/Potential output of a country

A typical answer would be to have a supply side policy to improve the skills of the workforce.

This worrying clip from the BBC suggests the skills required by a lot of workers are fairly basic

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17229792

and

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17224600

a)How would increasing the numeracy skills of a country's workforce increase the potential output /AS of a country?

Unbit 1: Why has the price of petrol risen again to an all time high?

Because of factors effecting supply, according to this BBC clip

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17234745 video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17231140 article

and Sky

http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16180946

Unit 3: Competition: Market share in the coffee and supermarket markets

Good data on

coffee market http://www.channel4.com/news/wake-up-and-smell-the-rise-of-the-coffee-shop-in-britain

and supermarkets http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/gcse-economics/comments/delicious-data-supermarket-market-share

Unit 2: Eurozone unemployment rises again

From the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17219160

a) Assess how much of a problem unemployment is for the UK in the light of the data

Unit 1: Increasing demand for nail bars

....according to this clip from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17204558

a) Using the list of the determinants of demand, explain the increase in demand for nail bars