Original post by JamesClark19I’m going to give u guys 10 questions from predicted papers I found. Brainstorm ur ideas here if you’d like?
1) Maximum prices are used by governments to correct market failures, often because the outcomes of particular markets are considered unfair. For example, in the UK the government already caps the price of household energy (gas and electricity) and water in a bid to ensure they are affordable. Campaigners have also suggested that they should consider a price ceiling for rented accommodation on the pay of highly paid workers such as chief executives.
Evaluate the effects of the implementation of price caps. Illustrate your answer with reference to markets of your own choice.
(Total for Question = 25 marks)
2) Should resources be allocated by market forces or through government planning or in a command economy? Some economies which were once
planned, such as China, are now much more market orientated. However, economies which are still largely planned, such as Cuba, still exist.
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of free market economies. Illustrate your answer with reference to examples of your own choice.
(Total for Question = 25 marks)
3) Governments have a range of tools for correcting market failure, including taxes, subsidies, direct state provision of services, regulation, the provision of information. However, there is not guarantee that intervening will always make things better and it is important to be mindful of the possibility of government failure.
Evaluate the causes of government failure when governments intervene in markets. Refer to interventions and or markets of your choice in your answer.
(Total for Question = 25 marks)
4) Economists often argue that markets work well, as scare resources are allocated to the uses in which they generate the most utility. One example of market failure occurs in the labour market and is seen in the immobility of labour between different regions and in different occupations. As well as
failure in the labour market itself, the immobility of labour can make it difficult for firms to respond to changes in consumer demand in product markets, this too causing market failure.
Evaluate the market failures associated with labour immobility. Illustrate your answer with examples of your own choice.
(Total for Question = 25 marks)
5) There is a shortage of medical staff in the UK. England for example has 28 doctors for every 10,000 people. In similar EU countries, there are 37 doctors per 10,000 people. The UK Government is considering expanding the list of shortage occupations to make it easier for doctors to enter and work in the United Kingdom. Evaluate possible solutions to a shortage of workers in an industry of your choice.
(25 marks)
6) With high inflation, some governments are resorting to price caps. This includes
a price cap on energy in the UK, with the difference between the price cap and
wholesale prices paid through government borrowing. Other European economies
have implemented similar schemes to cap oil and gas prices.
Evaluate the consequences of maximum prices. Refer to an industry or industries
of your choice. (25 marks)
7) The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found cases of collusion in the construction industry, but states that difficult market conditions are no excuse to break competition law.The CMA, in 2020, fined Vp and MGF over £15 million for
“sharing confidential information relating to current and future pricing and co-ordinating their commercial activities to reduce strategic uncertainty”. Evaluate the effects of collusion on firms and consumers (25 marks)
8) The UK has faced a series of strikes, including among nurses, doctors, railway
workers and postal workers. As a response to this, the UK Government has
promised to tighten legislation around trade union activities. The Trade Union Act
of 2016 required at least 50% of trade union members to vote in any strike ballot,
for a strike vote to be valid. Further restrictions to be introduced could include
requiring minimum levels of service for certain sectors while strikes are ongoing or
even banning strikes outright.
Discuss the microeconomic impacts of tighter restrictions on trade union activity.
Refer to an industry of your choice.
9) Several technology companies including Uber, Spotify and AirBnB have pursued
the so-called “blitzscaling” business model, focusing initially on maximising sales
and market share while making little in the way of profits. At the same time, more
firms are making environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives a key part
of their business goals, with over 30% of firms including ESG measures in their key
performance indicators in 2021.
Evaluate the advantages for firms of pursuing objectives that are not profit maximisation. Refer to an industry or industries of your choice (25 marks).
10) Since leaving the European Union, the UK Government has replaced the EU Emissions Trading Scheme with the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).. This covers power generation, industry and aviation, though some sectors do receive free permits. For the UK firms that participated in the EU ETS before the UK left the
EU, pollution fell from 236 million tonnes per CO2 equivalent to just under 130 million tonnes per CO2 equivalent. Evaluate the effectiveness of tradable pollution permits in improving welfare (25
marks).