Moodle!

Hi All,

Big news in the Economics department - I'm moving from using a blog to using a moodle. If that means nothing to you, don't worry - it's all pretty self-explanatory. It means that there will be a secure site for you to upload work, find worksheets and resources and catch up on material.

Register on:

http://toast.ninehub.com

You will need a key to be able to register on the course, which is ecp

Look forward to seeing you there!

Mr W

Yr 6 - Listening to development

I know after today's lessons you'll be better at listening. Why not use your new-found ability to listen to. They're all good and about economics, but the first few the most relevant to what we're studying:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2007/12/071227_dollar_a_day_1.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/6246041.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/6656923.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/4725554.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/4104164.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1113_the_aids_crisis/index.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2008/08/080812_why_dying_congo_one.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/6501077.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2008/09/080905_desert_capitalists_one.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/6609141.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2008/07/080722_better_health_two.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/4104164.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2008/11/081105_world_without_cows.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2008/11/081112_world_without_copper.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2008/07/080710_worlds_shifting_balance.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/7086750.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2008/07/080704_health_for_all_prog2.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2008/06/080625_health_for_all.shtml

Economist Carbon Trading Debate

Have a look at the economist debates. The one on carbon trading should be very useful for year 5 this week.

http://www.economist.com/debate/debates/archive/page:1

Zambia Trade

Have a look at the worksheet below and look at the effect of commodity prices on Zambia's terms of trade

http://www.bized.co.uk/virtual/dc/works/trade.htm

Balance of payments data

http://www.econstats.com/index.htm

Have a look at a country's balance of payments and compare this with its exchange rate data.

Interest rates, exchange rates and Balance of Payments

Let's make sure the basic understanding of the effect of interest rates is sound:

http://www.bized.co.uk/learn/economics/govpol/macropolicies/interest/exchange/index.htm

Exchange rate quiz

Have a look at this to help

http://www.bized.co.uk/virtual/bank/economics/markets/foreign/quiz.htm

Inflationary / Deflationary Output Gaps

http://tutor2u.net/economics/content/topics/macroeconomy/outputgap.htm

Year 5 - Inflation

Could you have a look at the following quiz on how inflation is measured:
http://www.bized.co.uk/virtual/bank/economics/mpol/inflation/causes/quiz2.htm
If you have finished that, move on to look at this quiz. You may need to look at the notes for some of the theories involved:
http://www.bized.co.uk/virtual/bank/economics/mpol/inflation/causes/quiz1.htm

Have fun!

Mr W

Past Paper Links

To all of you who claim you can't find the links to past papers and mark schemes,

Look at the links on the right hand side and you should be able to view all my uploaded items on Google Base

Mr W

Effects of EU on Business

http://www.bized.co.uk/educators/16-19/business/external/lesson/euenviron.htm
Tasks 2 + 3, not task 1

Year 4 - WTO and Trade

Let's find out about the WTO!

http://www.bized.co.uk/current/mind/2003_4/031103.htm

Questions are at the bottom of the sheet

Yr 4 - updated links for worksheet

Hi All,

Have a look at these links for the Global strategy:

http://www.us.tuv.com/news/newsletters/MarketAccessTUV_marapr08.pdf
http://www.commercial.hsbc.com.hk/1/2/commercial/home
http://www.hrcomply.com/newsletter/111302/8.html
http://www.pwchk.com/webmedia/doc/1073457835400_cntax_facts&figures.pdf

Year 4 Worksheet

If you haven't got a copy of the worksheet, you can find it at:

http://base.googlehosted.com/base_media?q=hand5957486903613101152&size=8

Mr W

Year 4 - More T5

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/29/cnba129.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/04/06/cnba106.xml

Year 4 Opportunity cost

Today we'll be having a look over the work you did last week on Heathrow.

Then I want you to have a look at the theory of opportunity cost. It is important when looking at absolute advantage and comparative advantage.

• What is it?
• Why is it applicable to the theory of comparative advantage which we looked at?
• In his recent book, The Three Trillion Dollar War – The True Costs of the Iraq Conflict,
• Joseph Stiglitz says that the Iraq War costs $3 Trillion Dollars. He adds up all the costs of soldier in Iraq, loss of GDP growth, increase in oil price etc. Using the theory of opportunity cost, explain how these numbers, whilst correct in accounting terms are not correct in economics terms (hint: what was the alternative to the Iraqi War?)
  

Year 4 - Heathrow Terminal 5

Apologies guys for not being there this morning. Could you have a look at the following:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7322453.stm

"Dozens of flights in and out of Heathrow Airport's brand new £4.3bn Terminal 5 have been cancelled and staff are dealing with a backlog of 15,000 bags and unhappy as the baggage-handling system broke down."

Who are British Airways stakeholders? How have they been affected? What responsibilities does British Airways have? What strategy would you propose to deal with the crisis?

Mr W

2007 Past Papers

Hi All (particularly),

For your revision, have a look at:

http://base.google.com/base/a/1543614/D6653599756567587448

and

http://base.google.com/base/a/1543614/D1191878590905879118

Have a good Easter and happy revising! - Year 6, it would be very good to see you after the break...

Mr W

Big Bear

Do you know about Bear Stearns? If not look at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7299938.stm

Once you do know about it have a look at:

http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2008/03/bearly_afloat.cfm
Importantly, look at the comments below.

The Ethics!

Should governments help out failing companies? Why?
Is this a form of nationalisation and socialism? What does that mean? Do you agree with it?

Vodafone report

Could you have a look at:

Vodafone report

Mr W