Category: Economics for Business: Ch 23
The surprise winner of the Nobel prize for economics this year was Paul Krugman: academic, writer and columnist for the New York Times. He is an economist with a gift for explaining economic principles and concepts in clear and simple terms. However, the award was given, not for his writing skills, but for his work on international trade theory and economic geography.
In praise of ….Paul Krugman Guardian (14/10/08)
Hotdog economics Guardian (13/10/08)
Nobel economics prize: And the winner is ….. Guardian (13/10/08)
Academic and columnist Paul Krugman wins Nobel Prize for Economics Times Online (13/10/08)
Bold strokes The Economist (16/10/08)
Questions
| 1. |
Write a brief paragraph summarising Krugman’s work on trade patterns. |
| 2. |
Define the term ‘economies of scale’. Explain why this concept was important to Krugman’s work on trade patterns. |
| 3. |
Assess the extent to which Krugman’s work has helped to explain the impact of free trade and globalisation. |
A recent report from the World Bank has suggested that developing countries need to grow significantly if they are to avoid high levels of poverty. The report suggested that without rapid and sustained growth up to 4 billion people could be living in abject poverty by 2050.
‘Choose growth or accept poverty for billions’ Guardian (22/5/08)
The Doha dilemma The Economist (29/5/08)
Questions
| 1. |
Summarise the main findings of the World Bank report. |
| 2. |
Is rapid economic growth (a) a necessary condition and/or (b) a sufficient condition for alleviating poverty in developing countries. |
| 3. |
Evaluate two policies that a developing country could adopt to raise levels of economic growth. |
Given the interdependence of the global economy, the economic slowdown in the West is likely to have worldwide knock-on effects. How serious will these effects be for the emerging economies of South East Asia? The following articles consider this question.
The decoupling debate The Economist (6/3/08)
Can Asia escape the effects of the downturn in the West? Times Online (17/3/08)
Just enough power to save themselves Times Online (25/3/08)
Questions
| 1. |
Explain the term emerging economy. |
| 2. |
Discuss the extent to which the economic performance of the emerging economies will help reduce the likelihood of recession in the UK. |
| 3. |
Discuss the extent to which the economic performance of the emerging economies is likely to be affected by recession in the USA. |
Research has indicated that communications technology can be a significant driver of GDP growth. In Africa it is possible that mobile phones and networks can provide opportunities for economic development and members of the GSM Association are proposing to invest £25bn in sub-Saharan Africa in the next five years.
Questions
| 1. |
Explain how improved communication technology can help create a higher level of economic growth. |
| 2. |
Assess the extent to which more extensive mobile networks will help to alleviate poverty. |
| 3. |
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of foreign direct investment in mobile technology for sub-Saharan Africa. |
Rapidly rising food prices have led to instability in many countries and have fuelled inflation in less developed economies where food spending is a greater proportion of overall consumer spending. A number of factors have contributed to this rapid rise in prices, but one important contributory factor is the move towards growing crops that can be used as bio-fuels in the developing world and this shift in production is having a knock-on effect in world food markets.
Big food companies accused of risking climate catastrophe Guardian (8/11/07)
An agricultural crime against humanity Monbiot.com (6/11/07)
Global food crisis looms as climate change and fuel shortages bite Guardian (3/11/07)
Questions
| 1. |
Identify the main factors that have led to rising world food prices. |
| 2. |
Assess the extent to which the move towards bio-fuels has contributed to the rise in world food prices. |
| 3. |
Explain how the impact of rising food prices differs in the developed and developing world. |
| 4. |
Discuss policies that governments could adopt to ameliorate the impact of rising food prices on the level of economic growth. |