Edexcel B · Theme 1: Markets, consumers and firms · 1.1 Scarcity, choice and potential conflicts

Edexcel B Economics past paper questions: Scarcity, choice and potential conflicts

Every Edexcel B question on Scarcity, choice and potential conflicts from 2018 to 2025: 2 essays, 12 data response questions and 2 short answer questions. It covers Enterprise, business and the economy, Productive efficiency, The economic cycle, Revenue, costs, profits and cash and Market failure and government intervention. Each question links to its paper, mark scheme and examiner report.

Filter these in the tool

SubtopicsEnterprise, business and the economy 4Productive efficiency 4The economic cycle 3Revenue, costs, profits and cash 1Market failure and government intervention 1Introduction to macroeconomic policy 1Global labour markets 1

Essay questions on scarcity, choice and potential conflicts

A-level Paper 3, June 2022, Q1(d)Evaluate20 marks

Case study: Why is the yuan’s exchange rate with the US dollar important?

Evaluate the extent of the trade-off between economic growth and negative externalities.

Question paper p.10 Mark scheme p.10 Examiner report p.18 Open in the tool Practise the negative externality diagram Practise the PPF diagram

A-level Paper 3, June 2019, Q2(d)Evaluate20 marks

Case study: Adidas’s high-tech factory brings production back to Germany

Evaluate the importance of the labour force when choosing a location for production.

Question paper p.24 Mark scheme p.19 Examiner report p.33 Open in the tool

Data response questions on scarcity, choice and potential conflicts

A-level Paper 3, June 2025, Q1(b)Assess10 marks

Case study: Diseconomies of Scale

Assess the extent to which the objectives of a firm and a consumer might conflict.

Question paper p.3 Mark scheme p.6 Insert Examiner report p.8 Open in the tool

A-level Paper 3, June 2025, Q2(b)Assess10 marks

Case study: UK national living wage increase: implications for employers

Assess the extent to which supply-side policies for reducing skills shortages may involve policy conflicts or trade-offs.

Question paper p.11 Mark scheme p.14 Insert Examiner report p.29 Open in the tool Practise the AD/AS diagram

A-level Paper 3, June 2025, Q2(c)Assess12 marks

Case study: UK national living wage increase: implications for employers

Assess the potential trade-off between inflation and unemployment.

Question paper p.13 Mark scheme p.16 Insert Examiner report p.33 Open in the tool Practise the Phillips curve diagram

A-level Paper 3, June 2024, Q2(b)Assess10 marks

Case study: Furniture firm Moko raises 786.6m Kenyan shillings (KES) to expand

Assess the possible economic impact of specialisation in agriculture for a country such as Kenya.

Question paper p.18 Mark scheme p.15 Open in the tool

A-level Paper 1, November 2021, Q1(d)Analyse6 marks

Case study: It has no high street shops and few people over the age of 40 will have even heard of

Analyse two advantages of division of labour to manufacturers in the clothing industry.

Question paper p.10 Mark scheme p.7 Open in the tool

A-level Paper 1, November 2021, Q1(g)Assess12 marks

Case study: It has no high street shops and few people over the age of 40 will have even heard of

Assess the extent to which enterprise is the most important factor of production for the success of Boohoo.

Question paper p.15 Mark scheme p.12 Open in the tool

A-level Paper 1, November 2021, Q1(h)Assess12 marks

Case study: It has no high street shops and few people over the age of 40 will have even heard of

Assess the extent to which there is a trade-off between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and profitability for a firm such as Boohoo.

Question paper p.17 Mark scheme p.14 Open in the tool

A-level Paper 3, November 2020, Q1(c)Assess12 marks

Case study: UK average house prices

Using Extract C, assess the extent of the trade-off between unemployment and inflation.

Question paper p.10 Mark scheme p.8 Insert Examiner report p.7 Open in the tool Practise the Phillips curve diagram

AS Paper 1, November 2020, Q1(e)Assess12 marks

Case study: D.A.P. Ltd. (DAP)

Assess the advantages of specialisation for a firm such as DAP.

Question paper p.8 Mark scheme p.8 Open in the tool

A-level Paper 3, June 2019, Q2(a)Discuss8 marks

Case study: Adidas’s high-tech factory brings production back to Germany

Discuss the benefits of division of labour for a manufacturer such as Adidas.

Question paper p.18 Mark scheme p.13 Insert Examiner report p.22 Open in the tool

A-level Paper 3, June 2019, Q2(b)Assess10 marks

Case study: Adidas’s high-tech factory brings production back to Germany

Assess the possible impact of this on the local labour force in Vietnam.

Question paper p.20 Mark scheme p.15 Insert Examiner report p.27 Open in the tool

Case study: Adidas’s high-tech factory brings production back to Germany

Assess the importance of having an ethical supply chain for a business such as Adidas or Intel.

Question paper p.22 Mark scheme p.17 Insert Examiner report p.30 Open in the tool

Short answer questions on scarcity, choice and potential conflicts

Case study: House prices rise at fastest rate since January, says Halifax bank

Using Extract C, explain the problem of scarcity.

Question paper p.12 Mark scheme p.11 Examiner report p.5 Open in the tool

Case study: Student bodybuilders bulked up by selling proteins to gym fans

Explain the opportunity cost for Elliot and Adam of setting up SSL.

Question paper p.4 Mark scheme p.5 Examiner report p.7 Open in the tool

Question text is quoted from the question papers, © Pearson Edexcel, for students’ private study. Open the official papers and mark schemes from the links on each question. Examiner insights are written with AI assistance and moderated by Finn.

Essay questions on scarcity, choice and potential conflicts

Data response questions on scarcity, choice and potential conflicts

Short answer questions on scarcity, choice and potential conflicts

More Edexcel B topics: Markets, consumers and firms