Floating and fixed systems. The demand for and supply of a currency in the foreign exchange market and the determination of the equilibrium foreign exchange rate. Including changes in demand for exports and imports, changes in the rate of interest, speculation, and the entry or departure of MNCs. The effects of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on export and import prices and spending on imports and exports via the PED. The difference between, and the advantages and disadvantages of, a floating foreign exchange rate and a fixed foreign exchange rate system. Questions and suggested solutions

6.3.1 The importance of globalisation: • The concept of globalisation and the reasons for it • Opportunities and threats of globalisation for businesses • Why governments might introduce import tariffs and import quotas 6.3.2 Reasons for the importance and growth of multinational companies (MNCs): • Benefits to a business of becoming a multinational and the impact on its stakeholders • Potential benefits to a country and/or economy where a MNC is located, e.g. jobs, exports, increased choice, investment • Potential drawbacks to a country and/or economy where a MNC is located, e.g. reduced sales of local businesses, repatriation of profits 6.3.3 The impact of exchange rate changes: • Depreciation and appreciation of an exchange rate • How exchange rate changes can affect businesses as importers and exporters of products, e.g. prices, competitiveness, profitability Questions and suggested answers

Changes in interest rates, money supply and foreign exchange rates. How monetary policy measures may enable the government to achieve its macroeconomic aims Review of Unit 4 Questions and suggested answers

Economic growth, full employment/low unemployment, stable prices/low inflation, balance of payments stability, redistribution of income. Reasons behind the choice of aims and the criteria that governments set for each aim. Possible conflicts between aims: full employment versus stable prices; economic growth versus balance of payments stability; and full employment versus balance of payments stability Review of Unit 4 Questions and suggested answers

The effect of having a high number of firms on price, quality, choice, profit. Characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of monopoly. *Unit 3 review Note: diagrams are not required. Note: the theory of perfect and imperfect competition and diagrams are not required Questions with suggested solutions

The nature and causes of changes in the pattern of employment, for example increase in proportion of workers employed in the tertiary sector and formal economy as an economy develops; a greater proportion of women in the labour force due to changes in social attitudes; decline in the proportion employed in the public sector as a country moves towards a market economy. How unemployment is measured – claimant count and labour force survey – the formula for the unemployment rate. Frictional, structural and cyclical unemployment. The consequences of unemployment for the individual, firms and the economy as a whole. The range of policies available to reduce unemployment and how effective they might be. Review of Unit 4 Questions and suggested answers

In terms of primary/secondary/tertiary sectors and private/public sector, and the relative size of firms. The advantages and disadvantages of small firms, the challenges facing small firms and reasons for their existence. Internal growth, for example increased market share. External growth, for example mergers. Examples, advantages and disadvantages of different types of mergers: horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate. How internal and external economies and diseconomies of scale can affect a firm/industry as the scale of production changes. *Unit 3 review Note: detailed knowledge of different types of structure of a firm is not required. Questions with suggested solutions

6.1.1 Business cycle: • Main stages of the business cycle, e.g. growth, boom, recession, slump • Impact on businesses of changes in employment levels, inflation and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 6.1.2 How government control over the economy affects business activity and how businesses may respond: • Identify government economic objectives, e.g. increasing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) • Impact of changes in taxes and government spending • Impact of changes in interest rates • How businesses might respond to these changes Questions and suggested answers

6.2.1 Environmental concerns and ethical issues as both opportunities and constraints for businesses: • How business activity can impact on the environment, e.g. global warming • The concept of externalities: possible external costs and external benefits of business decisions • Sustainable development; how business activity can contribute to this • How and why business might respond to environmental pressures and opportunities, e.g. pressure groups • The role of legal controls over business activity affecting the environment, e.g. pollution controls • Ethical issues a business might face: conflicts between profits and ethics • How business might react and respond to ethical issues, e.g. child labour “including questions and suggested answers”

Real GDP per head and the Human Development Index (HDI). The components of real GDP and HDI. The advantages and disadvantages of real GDP and HDI. Reasons for differences in living standards and income distribution within and between countries. Questions and suggested answers

The difference between absolute and relative poverty. The causes of poverty including unemployment, low wages, illness and age. Policies including those promoting economic growth, improved education, more generous state benefits, progressive taxation, and national minimum wage. Questions and suggested answers

Possible supply-side policy measures include education and training, labour market reforms, lower direct taxes, deregulation, improving incentives to work and invest, and privatisation. How supply-side policy measures may enable the government to achieve its macroeconomic aims. Review of Unit 4 Questions and suggested answers