Economics: Pearson Edexcel GCE
Economics: Pearson Edexcel GCE
Economics: Pearson Edexcel GCE
Surname
Other names
Pearson
Edexcel GCE
Centre Number
Candidate Number
Economics
Advanced
Unit 3: Business Economics and Economic
Efficiency
Tuesday 3 June 2014 Morning
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
You do not need any other materials.
Paper Reference
6EC03/01R
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
P43539A
2014 Pearson Education Ltd.
1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1
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Answer
Explanation
(3)
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2 The diagrams represent the revenue and cost conditions for an industry and one
individual profit maximising firm within the industry. You may annotate the diagrams in
your answer.
Costs and
revenues ()
Industry
S
Firm
Costs and
revenues ()
MC
AC
AVC
P1
MR=D=AR=P
D
T
Output
Output
Answer
Explanation
(3)
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3 The table gives information about the short run output, costs and revenue of a profit
maximising firm making playground equipment. Two columns have been left blank
for your own workings.
Output
per week
Total revenue
(000s)
Total cost
(000s)
10
20
14
38
19
54
28
68
42
80
63
90
93
Answer
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Explanation
(3)
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4 A firm producing car tyres sells the largest amount possible consistent with earning
normal profits. The short run objective of the firm is most likely to be
(1)
A revenue maximisation
B profit satisficing
C sales maximisation
D predatory pricing
E
Answer
Explanation
(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ ............................................................................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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5 Two petrol stations located on the same main road are struggling to stay in business
in the face of aggressive competition from local supermarkets. They tacitly agree not
to compete on price but offer loyalty schemes. Which one of the following conditions
would make their survival more likely?
(1)
A Increasing willingness of consumers to use loyalty schemes rather than respond
to price alone
B Tighter government regulation to prevent collusion
C Increasing monopsony power over petrol suppliers by local supermarkets
D Demand for petrol becoming more price elastic
E
Answer
Explanation
(3)
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6 Shoe repair firms are operating under conditions of monopolistic competition. Which
one of the following is most likely to exist in the long run?
(1)
A Allocative efficiency in the market
B Collusion between firms
C Productive efficiency in all firms
D High levels of regulation
E
Normal profits
Answer
Explanation
(3)
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39.9 %
15.7%
Others
21.9%
(Source: Echo Research data)
Answer
Explanation
(3)
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8 The following matrix shows the possible profit outcomes ( millions) of two firms
selling breakfast cereals.
Harker Ltd
High price
High price
Bensel Ltd
Low price
100
160
100
20
Low price
20
60
160
60
Initially, Harker Ltd. and Bensel Ltd. colluded to set a high price. However, Bensel
has just decided to break this agreement and under-cut the price. Which one of the
following is the most likely consequence of this? Harker will
(1)
A experience an increase in profits
B reduce its price and both firms will make lower profits
C charge low prices and Bensel will charge high prices
D experience an increase in producer surplus
E
Answer
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*P43539A01036*
Explanation
(3)
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Kone
Schindler
ThyssenKrupp
5
0
2002
04
06
08
10
12
12
*P43539A01236*
10%
Otis
2%
27%
4%
Hitachi
Kone
7%
9%
18%
10%
Schindler
Mitsubishi
13%
ThyssenKrupp
Figure 3 Product structure of $28 billion global elevator supply market, percentages
Modernisation
10%
Maintenance/Repairs
55%
35%
New Installations
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10
15
20
25
30
10
(Source: www.mondaq.com)
(a) Using the data in Figure 2, explain the market structure in the global market for
elevators.
(4)
(b) Assess the significance of barriers to entry into the global elevator market.
(8)
*(c) Using the data in Extract 1 and an appropriate diagram, examine the reasons why
ThyssenKrupp needs to get out of steel production. (Extract 1, line 1)
(12)
*(d) Evaluate the issues the competition authorities might face when attempting to
regulate the elevator industry.
(16)
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(a) Using the data in Figure 2, explain the market structure in the global market for
elevators.
(4)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ ............................................................................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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(b) Assess the significance of barriers to entry into the global elevator market.
(8)
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*(c) Using the data in Extract 1 and an appropriate diagram, examine the reasons why
ThyssenKrupp needs to get out of steel production. (Extract 1, line 1)
(12)
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*(d) Evaluate the issues the competition authorities might face when attempting to
regulate the elevator industry.
(16)
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10 Supermarkets
Extract 1 Tesco to open Harris + Hoole coffee shop in flagship store
Tesco is opening its first Harris + Hoole coffee shop inside one of its most important
London stores. The supermarket giant has secured planning permission to install a
branch of the coffee shop chain inside its lifestyle store near London Bridge station.
Harris + Hoole (H+H) promotes itself as an independent family business but is, in fact,
49% owned by Tesco.
H+H is also preparing to open another of its coffee shops next door to Tesco Express
in Imperial Wharf, west London, in a property owned by Tesco. A Tesco spokesman
said We think our customers will love Harris + Hooles freshly roasted coffee and
great quality cakes and pastries and look forward to its opening later this year.
H+H, named after coffee-loving characters in the Diary of Samuel Pepys, does not
mention Tescos ownership stake in stores or on its menus, and promotes itself as a
small, family run business.
10
(Source for text/image: adapted from Rupert Neate The Guardian, 5 February 2013
source: adapted from www.guardian.co.uk, 5 February)
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10
10
15
20
25
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(a) Explain the likely impact on average costs of surplus capacity in hypermarkets.
(4)
(b) Assess the benefits that the H+H business might gain through its Tesco
connection.
(8)
*(c) Using the data in Extract 3 and an appropriate diagram, assess reasons why
Tescos profits fell in 2012.
(12)
*(d) Evaluate pricing and non-pricing strategies that supermarket firms might use to
increase revenue.
(16)
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*P43539A02636*
(a) Explain the likely impact on average costs of surplus capacity in hypermarkets.
(4)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ ............................................................................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*P43539A02736*
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(b) Assess the benefits that the H+H business might gain through its Tesco
connection.
(8)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ ............................................................................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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*P43539A02836*
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*(c) Using the data in Extract 3 and an appropriate diagram, assess reasons why
Tescos profits fell in 2012.
(12)
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30
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*P43539A03136*
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*(d) Evaluate pricing and non-pricing strategies that supermarket firms might use to
increase revenue.
(16)
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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.
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