Economics Model Essays
Economics Cafe provides economics model essays which are not confined to use by students taking economics tuition at the learning centre. They have been written by the Principal Economics Tutor, Mr. Edmund Quek, for everyone who can benefit from them. As the essays were written with the examination time constraint in mind, every essay has room for improvement in the absence of time constraint. However, they are certainly among the best essays that students can produce within the examination time constraint in the Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘A’ Level Economics examination. Many economics teachers give very long answers to essay questions that are virtually impossible to produce within the examination time constraint. In my view, these answers may do students more harm than good as students may not be able to distinguish the more important economic theories and concepts from the less important details, thus missing out some important points in their answers due to lack of time. The key to achieving a good grade for the Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘A’ Level Economics is not producing the best economics essays leisurely in the examination, but producing good economics essays within the examination time constraint. For more economics model essays, you can refer to ‘A’ Level Microeconomics Model Essays (Economics Cafe) and ‘A’ Level Macroeconomics Model Essays (Economics Cafe) which are available in all Public Libraries and Popular Bookstore. The two books, which were written by Mr. Edmund Quek, are best-selling economics essays books with the highest sales volume in Singapore where over 26000 copies have been sold. They are recommended readings in many junior colleges and economics tuition centres in Singapore. Economics Cafe also provides economics lecture notes written by Mr. Edmund Quek.
Economics Model Essay 1
(a) Distinguish between the concepts of price elasticity of demand, income elasticity of demand and cross elasticity of demand. [10]
(b) Discuss the usefulness of the concepts of elasticity of demand to a firm that produces a fashionable product. [15]
Economics Model Essay 2
After reaching a rate of 8.3 percent in 2010, GDP growth in Asia is projected to average nearly 7 percent in both 2011 and 2012, according to the IMF. However, due to the growing unrest in the Middle East sparked by the Egyptian Revolution that began on 25 January 2011, oil prices have started to rise. Discuss how the market for private cars and its related markets in Asia may be affected by the above events. [25]
Economics Model Essay 3
Findings from a variety of studies show that routine consumption of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin and sucralose may lead to higher likelihood of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure. Some countries such as the United States and France have imposed a tax on non-diet soft drinks to fight obesity. A rise in the price of sugar has led to an increase in the demand for artificial sweeteners and this has pushed up the prices.
Discuss how the above events would affect consumer expenditure on diet soft drinks and non-diet soft drinks. [25]
Economics Model Essay 4
The production of petrol should be left to market forces. In spite of this, some governments subsidise petrol while others impose a tax on it. Discuss. [25]
Economics Model Essay 5
Discuss the economic effects of a redirection of government subsidy from petrol to education. [25]
Economics Model Essay 6
Discuss whether an increase in savings in Singapore would lead to problems in the economy. [25]
Economics Model Essay 7
Discuss the view that Singapore has few policies to deal with an external shock. [25]
Economics Model Essay 8
“A fall in the terms of trade is undesirable for the economy.” Discuss the statement. [25]
Economics Model Essay 9
Discuss whether globalisation would benefit firms and households. [25]
Economics Model Essay 10
Discuss whether increasing labour productivity in Singapore would be desirable for the economy. [25]
Economics Model Essay 11
(a) Explain how the different characteristics of the market structures of monopolistic competition and oligopoly affect pricing and output decisions. [10]
(b) Discuss whether the behaviour of oligopolistic firms is consistent with the objective of profit maximisation. [15]
Economics Model Essay 12
(a) Explain whether the demand for private cars is elastic or inelastic in Singapore with respect to price and income. [10]
(b) Discuss the effects of a sharp rise in the prices of Certificates of Entitlement in Singapore on expenditure by consumers on different types of cars. [15]
Economics Model Essay 13
(a) Compare the characteristics of the market structures of monopolistic competition an oligopoly. [10]
(b) Discuss whether firms in a highly competitive market are more vulnerable than firms in a less competitive market in a recession. [15]
Economics Model Essay 14
Discuss whether the concepts of elasticity of demand are useful to the government for discouraging the use of private cars. [25]
Economics Model Essay 15
Discuss whether a shift from reliance on foreign workers to improving labour productivity in Singapore would lead to an increase in international competitiveness. [25]
Economics Model Essay 16
(a) Explain why the government subsidises education. [10]
(b) Discuss whether a reduction in the subsidy on education is justified. [15]
Economics Model Essay 17
Discuss whether austerity measures in the European Union would adversely affect the Singapore economy. [25]
Economics Model Essay 18
Discuss whether a shift from direct taxes to indirect taxes would improve the current and future standards of living in Singapore. [25]
Economics Model Essay 19
(a) Explain why Singapore chooses to use the exchange rate rather than interest rates as the policy instrument of its monetary policy. [10]
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Answers To Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘A’ Level Economics Examination Questions
Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘A’ Level Economics Essay Mark Scheme
Economics Tuition Singapore @ Economics Cafe
Principal Economics Tutor: Mr. Edmund Quek