6EC03 01 Que 20130122
6EC03 01 Que 20130122
6EC03 01 Que 20130122
Surname
Other names
Centre Number
Candidate Number
Edexcel GCE
Economics
Advanced
Unit 3: Business Economics and Economic
Efficiency
Tuesday 22 January 2013 Morning
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
You do not need any other materials.
Paper Reference
6EC03/01
Total Marks
Instructions
Information
you should take particular care on these questions with your spelling, punctuation
and grammar, as well as the clarity of expression.
Calculators may be used.
Advice
P41642A
2013 Pearson Education Ltd.
1/1/1/1/1/1/1
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Answer
Explanation
(3)
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*P41642A0236*
2 Sallys farm grows and sells potatoes and she aims to maximise profit. She believes
that the market price of potatoes will not be affected by changes in her farms output.
She will
(1)
A sell as much as she can produce in the long run
B become a monopolist, because she can supply the whole market
C produce at the level of output where marginal cost equals price in the short run
D produce at the level of output where average cost equals price in the short run
E
produce at the level of output where average fixed costs equals marginal revenue
Answer
Explanation
(3)
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*P41642A0336*
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Answer
Explanation
(3)
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4 The diagram shows the supply, demand and marginal revenue schedules for parking
spaces in a local government car park.
Supply
Cost/revenue
per unit ()
W
G
H
AR = demand
Output
MR
What single price will ensure that the local government maximises total revenue?
(1)
A Zero
B 0J
C 0K
D 0F
E
0W
Answer
*P41642A0636*
Explanation
(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... ................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*P41642A0736*
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A university charges higher fees for Chemistry than for History undergraduate
degrees
Answer
Explanation
(3)
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*P41642A0836*
Price
Profit
No change
No change
No change
No change
No change
Fall
No change
Rise
No change
Fall
Rise
No change
Fall
Rise
Fall
Answer
Explanation
(3)
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*P41642A0936*
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7 A firm cuts the price of its product. As a result, total revenue falls and marginal cost
rises. Over this range of output, it can be inferred that
(1)
A the price elasticity of demand is relatively elastic and there are diseconomies of
scale
B the price elasticity of demand is relatively inelastic and there are diminishing
returns to a variable factor of production
C the price elasticity of demand is unitary and there are diseconomies of scale
D the firm's marginal profit would increase
E
Answer
Explanation
(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... ................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*P41642A01036*
Answer
Explanation
(3)
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*P41642A01136*
11
Turn over
Number of projects
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
1
0
0
1992
1995
2000
2005
2010
Figure 1
1992
1995
2000
2005
2010
Figure 2
*P41642A01236*
10
15
20
25
The total cost of the PFI schemes is often far more than the value of the assets. In
one example, a hospital in Bromley, south east London, will cost the NHS 1.2 billion,
more than 10 times what it is worth. As a result, Mr Lansley says, the 22 trusts cannot
afford to pay for their schemes, which in total are worth more than 5.4 billion.
The annual payments have risen sharply because PFI costs are linked to inflation.
There are increasing demands on the health service while NHS budgets are strictly
controlled.
10
Hospitals are having to make substantial cuts to pay the PFI costs. There is evidence
that waiting lists for non-urgent operations have begun to rise as hospitals delay
treatment to save money, and patient care has suffered. The NHS is abandoning its
12.7 billion computerised patient record and booking scheme project, the National
Programme for IT.
15
Companies who run PFI schemes earn profit margins of up to 71% on the projects,
in what some economists call an uncontestable market, once the contract is agreed.
Now there is growing pressure from MPs and ministers to return some of their
supernormal profits and renegotiate their PFI contracts.
20
(Source: adapted from The Telegraph Media Limited Robert Winnett, 21 Sep 2011)
(a) Using examples from the data, explain what is meant by the private finance
initiative (PFI), (Extract 1, line 1).
(4)
(b) Discuss how PFI operators can earn supernormal profits (Extract 2, line 22). Use a
monopoly diagram to support your answer.
(8)
* (c) In the light of the information provided, assess the likely benefits of PFI schemes
to consumers.
(12)
* (d) Apart from PFI, discuss ways in which government intervention might promote
economic efficiency in markets.
(16)
*P41642A01336*
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(a) Using examples from the data, explain what is meant by the private finance
initiative (PFI), (Extract 1, line 1).
(4)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... ................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
*P41642A01436*
(b) Discuss how PFI operators can earn supernormal profits (Extract 2, line 22). Use a
monopoly diagram to support your answer.
(8)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... ................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*P41642A01536*
15
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16
*P41642A01636*
* (c) In the light of the information provided, assess the likely benefits of PFI schemes
to consumers.
(12)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... ................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*P41642A01736*
17
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18
*P41642A01836*
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19
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* (d) Apart from PFI, discuss ways in which government intervention might promote
economic efficiency in markets.
(16)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... ................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
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24
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10
15
The research suggests that devising loyalty programmes, cutting prices or offering
short-term financial inducements to customers may consequently be a waste of
time. Customer loyalty is directly related to retaining employees says the research,
something which is within the control of the service manager or owner. Keep hold of
your good staff and you are far more likely to prevent the customers you cant afford
to lose from moving on, says Professor Lester Johnson.
10
(Source: adapted from The Financial Times Ltd, Linda Anderson, 12 February 2010)
76.1%
Hairdressers*
Less than 5%
*excluding franchise
(Source: The Press Association, Reproduced with Kind Permission)
(a) Using evidence from Extract 1, explain one reason for the takeover of
Dunnhumby by Tesco.
(4)
(b) In the light of the information provided in the first paragraph of Extract 2, assess
the likely profitability of a firm in the hairdressing industry. Use diagrammatic
analysis to support your answer.
(8)
* (c) With reference to an industry of your choice, examine strategies firms might use
to increase consumer loyalty. Use game theory to support your answer.
(12)
* (d) Assess the reasons why a few large firms dominate the food retailing industry but
not the hairdressing industry.
(16)
*P41642A02536*
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(a) Using evidence from Extract 1, explain one reason for the takeover of
Dunnhumby by Tesco.
(4)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... ................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26
*P41642A02636*
(b) In the light of the information provided in the first paragraph of Extract 2, assess
the likely profitability of a firm in the hairdressing industry. Use diagrammatic
analysis to support your answer.
(8)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... ................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*P41642A02736*
27
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28
*P41642A02836*
* (c) With reference to an industry of your choice, examine strategies firms might use
to increase consumer loyalty. Use game theory to support your answer.
(12)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... ................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*P41642A02936*
29
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30
*P41642A03036*
*P41642A03136*
31
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* (d) Assess the reasons why a few large firms dominate the food retailing industry but
not the hairdressing industry.
(16)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... ................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32
*P41642A03236*
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Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders to obtain their permission for the use of copyright
material. Edexcel, a product of Pearson Education Ltd. will, if notified, be happy to rectify any errors or omissions
and include any such rectifications in future editions.
36
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