A-Level Economics and IGCSE Business at St. Lawrence College, Athens

Here is a good article about the fining of 4 of the largest manufacturers of flat glass who have been found guilty of acting as a cartel, fixing price. It was covert collusion. Those naughty firms! You’d think they would know by now that crime doesn’t pay…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7116770.stm

Here is a link to a useful article from the Economist on mergers and takeovers in the car industry – something we were talking about in class with respect to the past paper question on Jan 2007 module 4 exam on the car industry.

http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10180729

Enjoy.

This is a hot topic for Module 4:Industrial Economics. The report was published at the very end of October 2007 and I think it could well be used by examiners in the near future. Probably January 2008 is too soon – but look out for it in June 2008! That’s a prediction. I can foresee questions on contestability, market dominance and the need for government regulation. We’ve seen it all before and this latest (4th) report from the CC has been controversial as it has mostly let Tesco, Asda et al off the hook. Read through the following articles for a flavour of the report itself (1st link) and reaction to it. Watch out for industry specific issues such as ‘landbanking’and ‘restrictive covenant land sales’. The last link – if it works – is to a video for you to watch.

http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/ref2006/grocery/groceries_inquiry_news.htm  

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/nov/01/supermarkets

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2202704,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/nov/01/supermarkets.viewpointcolumn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7070719.stm  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3681938.stm   

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3681938.stm

For Upper VI pupils – here are links to a few articles on trade unions which deserve to be read as they go well with the notes I have already given you. Don’t stop here – this is just a selection!

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/TradeUnions/index.htm

This is the government’s own site on what union membership means – rights of members, types of industrial action and so on.

http://www.bized.co.uk/compfact/tuc/tucindex.htm  And this link is for the TUCs views and info on the same matters.

Here are some downloadable revision notes for grade 10 and 11 pupils preparing for the November exams. Watch out grade 10 – not all these notes are for you!

business-studies-revision-notes-1.doc

business-studies-revision-notes-2.doc

business-studies-revision-notes-3.doc 

business-studies-revision-notes-4.doc

business-studies-revision-notes-5.doc

business-studies-revision-notes-7.doc

business-studies-revision-notes-14.doc

business-studies-revision-notes-15.doc