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Causes and impacts of differences in income; productivity; population growth; size of primary, secondary and tertiary sectors; saving and investment; education; and healthcare. Questions and suggested answers

7.7 Growth and survival of firms 7.7.1 reasons for different sizes of firms 7.7.2 internal growth of firms: organic growth and diversification 7.7.3 external growth of firms – integration (mergers and takeovers): • methods of integration: – horizontal – vertical (forwards and backwards) – conglomerate • reasons for integration • consequences of integration 7.7.4 cartels: • conditions for an effective cartel • consequences of a cartel 7.7.5 principal–agent problem arising from differing objectives of shareholders/owners and managers 7.8 Differing objectives and policies of firms 7.8.1 traditional profit-maximising objective of firms 7.8.2 an understanding of other objectives of firms: • survival • profit satisficing • sales maximisation • revenue maximisation 7.8.3 price discrimination – first, second and third degree: • conditions for effective price discrimination • consequences of price discrimination 7.8.4 other pricing policies: • limit pricing • predatory pricing • price leadership 7.8.5 relationship between price elasticity of demand and a firm’s revenue: • in a normal downward sloping demand curve • in a kinked demand curve video links to key topics

Floating and fixed systems. The demand for and supply of a currency in the foreign exchange market and the determination of the equilibrium foreign exchange rate. Including changes in demand for exports and imports, changes in the rate of interest, speculation, and the entry or departure of MNCs. The effects of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on export and import prices and spending on imports and exports via the PED. The difference between, and the advantages and disadvantages of, a floating foreign exchange rate and a fixed foreign exchange rate system. Questions and suggested solutions

Multi-national companies and the costs and benefits to their host and home countries. The benefits for consumers, producers and the economy in a variety of countries. Tariffs, import quotas, subsidies and embargoes. Questions and suggested solutions

Total cost (TC), average total cost (ATC), fixed cost (FC), variable cost (VC), average fixed cost (AFC), average variable cost (AVC). Calculation of TC, ATC, FC, VC, AFC and AVC. Definition, drawing and interpretation of diagrams that show how changes in output affect costs of production. Total revenue (TR) and average revenue (AR). Note: marginal revenue is not required. Calculation of TR and AR. The influence of sales on revenue. Survival, social welfare, profit maximisation and growth. *Unit 3 review Note: marginal cost (MC) not required. Questions with suggested solutions

The nature and causes of changes in the pattern of employment, for example increase in proportion of workers employed in the tertiary sector and formal economy as an economy develops; a greater proportion of women in the labour force due to changes in social attitudes; decline in the proportion employed in the public sector as a country moves towards a market economy. How unemployment is measured – claimant count and labour force survey – the formula for the unemployment rate. Frictional, structural and cyclical unemployment. The consequences of unemployment for the individual, firms and the economy as a whole. The range of policies available to reduce unemployment and how effective they might be. Review of Unit 4 Questions and suggested answers

4.4.1 The main factors influencing the location and relocation decisions of a business: • Factors relevant to the location decision of manufacturing businesses and service businesses • Factors that a business could consider when deciding which country to locate operations in • The role of legal controls on location decisions • Recommend and justify an appropriate location for a business in given circumstances Sample questions and answers

5.4.1 The main elements of a statement of financial position: • The main classifications of assets and liabilities, using examples 5.4.2 Interpret a simple statement of financial position and make deductions from it, e.g. how a business is financing its activities and what assets it owns, sale of inventories to raise finance (constructing statements of financial position will not be assessed) Questions and suggested answers*

6.2.1 Environmental concerns and ethical issues as both opportunities and constraints for businesses: • How business activity can impact on the environment, e.g. global warming • The concept of externalities: possible external costs and external benefits of business decisions • Sustainable development; how business activity can contribute to this • How and why business might respond to environmental pressures and opportunities, e.g. pressure groups • The role of legal controls over business activity affecting the environment, e.g. pollution controls • Ethical issues a business might face: conflicts between profits and ethics • How business might react and respond to ethical issues, e.g. child labour “including questions and suggested answers”

Wage and non-wage factors. The influences of demand and supply, relative bargaining power and government policy, including minimum wage. How changes in demand and supply, relative bargaining strengths, discrimination and government policy can all influence differences in earnings between workers whether they are: skilled/unskilled; primary/secondary/tertiary; male/female; private sector/public sector. Definition, drawing and interpretation of diagrams that illustrate the effects of changes in demand and supply in the labour market. Advantages and disadvantages for workers, firms and the economy. Questions with suggested solutions

Locally, nationally and internationally. Questions and suggested answers

Changes in interest rates, money supply and foreign exchange rates. How monetary policy measures may enable the government to achieve its macroeconomic aims Review of Unit 4 Questions and suggested answers

In terms of primary/secondary/tertiary sectors and private/public sector, and the relative size of firms. The advantages and disadvantages of small firms, the challenges facing small firms and reasons for their existence. Internal growth, for example increased market share. External growth, for example mergers. Examples, advantages and disadvantages of different types of mergers: horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate. How internal and external economies and diseconomies of scale can affect a firm/industry as the scale of production changes. *Unit 3 review Note: detailed knowledge of different types of structure of a firm is not required. Questions with suggested solutions

Measurement of inflation and deflation using the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). Causes of inflation: demand-pull and cost-push. Causes of deflation: demand-side and supply-side. The consequences of inflation and deflation for consumers, workers, savers, lenders, firms and the economy as a whole. The range of policies available to control inflation and deflation and how effective they might be. Review of Unit 4 Questions and suggested answers

How a market system works; including buyers, sellers, allocation of scarce resources, market equilibrium, and market disequilibrium. Establishing that the economic problem creates three key questions about determining resource allocation What, how, and for whom to produce? How the price mechanism provides answers to these key allocation questions. Questions and suggested solutions

Why people work and what motivation means • The benefits of a well-motivated workforce: labour productivity, reduced absenteeism and labour turnover • The concept of human needs, e.g. Maslow’s hierarchy • Key motivational theories: Taylor and Herzberg 2.1.2 Methods of motivation: • Financial rewards, e.g. wage, salary, bonus, commission and profit sharing • Non-financial methods, e.g. job enrichment, job rotation, teamworking, training, opportunities for promotion • Recommend and justify appropriate method(s) of motivation in given circumstances Sample questions and answers

3.1.1 The role of marketing: • Identifying customer needs • Satisfying customer needs • Maintaining customer loyalty • Building customer relationships 3.1.2 Market changes: • Why customer/consumer spending patterns may change • The importance of changing customer needs • Why some markets have become more competitive • How businesses can respond to changing spending patterns and increased competition 3.1.3 Concepts of niche marketing and mass marketing: • Benefits and limitations of both approaches to marketing 3.1.4 How and why market segmentation is undertaken: • How markets can be segmented, e.g. according to age, socio-economic grouping, location, gender • Potential benefits of segmentation to business • Recommend and justify an appropriate method of segmentation in given circumstances sample questions and answers