Unit 1: A ban on bulk buy booze discounts in Scotland

So says the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15135000 video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15125064 article
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15123533 article

a) To what extent is such a ban likely to reduce the negative externalities associated with excessive alcohol consumption

Unit 1: A charge for plastic bags

As ever, Wales is ahead of the game!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15129197

and the response of consumers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15137706

a) Why is such a charge on bags needed?
b) To what extent di you think this scheme islikely to decrease the consumption of plastic bags? Include a S&D diagram in your answer

Unit 1: More regulation on cigarette sales

This time, a ban on selling cigarettes from vending machines

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15132529

a) As ever, the question is "Comment on the likely success of this policy in reducing the market failure arising from the cigarette market"

Unit 1: How to reduce deaths from drink driving: More regulation or more information

Thanks to tutor2u for this post on 2 approaches. The video is quite sobering (and no pun is intended)

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/unit-1-micro-drink-driving-and-government-intervention/

a) what is the market failure from drink driving?
b) Why does this occur?
c) Discuss the relative likely success of (1) increasingly tighter regulation and (2) providing more information as in the hard hitting adverts

Unit 2: What's the effect of a cut in interest rates?

A nice summary from economics help. I particularly like the evaluation section, some of which could be useful in an essay

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/3417/interest-rates/effect-of-lower-interest-rates/

Unit 2: What is GDP? Revision

Thanks to tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/study-note-introduction-to-gdp/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:10:12:00Z

Unit 2: Circular flow of income :Revision

Thanks to tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/study-note-the-circular-flow-of-income/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economics_news+%28tutor2u+Economics+Blog%29#When:10:04:00Z

Unit 2: The state of the UK economy

A nice, depressing summary from Anforme

http://www.anforme.co.uk/blog/?p=2336

a) Summarise, in terms of the Governments 4 macroeconomic objectives, the state of the UK economy

Unit 2: The economic cycle in pictures

Interesting activity from tutor2u

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/activity-the-economic-cycle-in-images/?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Economics+Update+100911

Unit 2: What is the effect on the UK of a 50%tax rate?

The argument about abolishing the 50% rate continues according to the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14821741

a) Discuss the effectiveness of a top tax rate of 50% for UK taxpayers earing over £150,000

Unit 1: A policy to overcome information failure in wales?

Interesting video from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14826965

a) What is the market failure the policy is meant to reduce?
b) What is the opportunity cost of this policy?
c) To what extent do you believe this policy will be successful

Unit 2: Can you spend your way to full employment?

A nice post from economicshelp

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/economics/spending-your-way-to-full-employment/

Unit 1 The factors of production needed to build a ball park

Thanks to tutor2u for this clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HQv0WWhoZnI#!

Unit 2: Information failure resolved?

Interesting posts from Sky news and the BBC explaining how McDonald's is now offering the calorie content of its meals

http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16062739
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14784015

a) What is the information failure in the market?
b) From the evidence in the video and your own knowledge, what do you think the likely effect of Mcdonald's stating the calorie content of its meals will be?
c) What other actions could the government take to reduce the market failure asociated with fast food? Do you think these measures are likely to be more or less effective than the calorie information?

Unit 2: The effect of the depreciating pound on holidaymakers

An interesting post from anforme

http://www.anforme.co.uk/blog/?p=2277

a) Using the information provided, explain why more foreign tourists are coming to the UK, and fewer British citizens holidaying overseas
b) Explain why a recession in the UK leads to fewer UK citizens holidaying overseas
c) What, in general terms, can you say about the income elasicity of demand for overseas holidays? What type of good would you therefore classsify foreign holidays as?

Unit 1: Hungary's plan to impose a tax on unheathy food

The BBC reports the plan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14016993

a) What is the economic reason for this proposal?
b) To what extent do you think this action will reduce the market failure?
c) What other policies could the Hungarian government introduce to achieve its objective?

Unit 1: Restrictions on smoking in Iceland

What about if you needed a prescription to aquire cigarettes? Thats the proposal in Iceland

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14104546

Unit 2: Inflation; what is it and who wins loses?

A great summary from the BBC's Declan Murphy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14115829

Unit 1: Taxing negative externalities in Australia

A big step by the Australian government to internalise external costs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14096750

a) Comment on the likely succes of this policy in reducing the market failure associated with CO2 emissions

Unit 1: The demand for Tennents lager

Nice story from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-13958687

a) Why has the demand risen?
b) Given the statement " revenue from sales of Tennent's grew faster than the volume of sales a result of price rises, would you expect the demand for Tennents to be elastic or inelastic? Explain your answer
c) Given your answers to a) and b), draw a S&D diagram to show the effect of the increase in demand on the market for Tennents