A report by the European Union EU, found that on average UK car prices were 10% higher than in EU. In some cases, the difference in price could be much greater. Some people have taken advantage of this price difference to buy a new car on the continent. [BBC report] OCR exam question: Discuss factors …
(b) Discuss whether high profits and the dominant market share in the banking sector suggests that there should be more government intervention – either through windfall taxes or regulation of prices. (30) British banks are highly profitable. They made a combined profit of £42 bn in 2007. Despite effects of credit crunch, banks have seen …
Readers Question: This one is about flexibility in the labour market. I am wondering why globalisation has made a contribution to the increase in flexibility. Is it because firms face fierce competition so they have to hire workers only when they need them? Increased competition is certainly one factor. If a firm has a domestic …
OK, I have a question for you. This was the example which popped to mind as I was reading your entry. (price elastic products) Here in my Middle Eastern country, sheep are sold for meat. Each year, prior to the Festival of the Sacrifice (Muslim holiday where every family buys a sheep to butcher at …
Readers Question: When would you want to own a business that sells price-elastic products? Why? Price elastic products mean that if there is an increase in price, there will be a bigger % fall in demand. Therefore, with elastic goods, there is little incentive to increase the price because there will be a bigger % …
An interesting development is Microsoft’s bid to buy Yahoo. This would be one of the biggest mergers, and change the nature of the internet. It is rather ironic that Google, have filed a complaint on the ground the new firm would have too much market power. It is interesting because it was Microsoft who was …
But, do they deserve it? Last year, Shell made profits of $27.6bn (£14bn). This equates to profits of about £1.5 million per hour – which by any stretch of the imagination is not a bad hourly earning. The profits have been criticised by trades unions, environmentalists and motoring organisations. Motoring organisations claim that petrol is …
Reader’s Question: What are the importance of economics to a business student? There is a strong overlap between business and economics. A Business student needs to take into account these various aspects of Economics. At various times I have taught Business Studies in addition to Economics. Several topics are the same. These are the key …