PDF
Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Tuesday 12 May 2026
Morning (Time: 1 hour 30 minutes) Paper
reference 8EC0/01
Economics A
Advanced Subsidiary
PAPER 1: Introduction to Markets and Market Failure
You must have: Total Marks
Source Booklet (enclosed)
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
•• There are two sections in this question paper.
Answer all questions in Section A.
•• InAnswer
Section B, answer all of questions 6(a) to 6(e) and one question from 6(f) or 6(g).
the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 80.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• Calculators may be used.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79810A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1
*P79810A0124*
, SECTION A
Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Some questions must be answered with a cross in a box . If you change your mind about an
answer, put a line through the box and then mark your new answer with a cross .
You are advised to spend 25 minutes on this section.
Use the data to support your answers where relevant. You may annotate and
include diagrams in your answers.
1 The United States operates an economic system known as a ‘mixed economy’. The
proportion of government spending relative to GDP was 36.8% in 2022.
(a) With reference to the information provided, explain one role of the state within a
mixed economy.
(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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(b) Which one of the following is an advantage of a free market economy?
(1)
A All goods are produced at the social optimum position
B Maximisation of social welfare through central planning
C Signalling allows markets to allocate resources efficiently
D Under-provision of public goods
(Total for Question 1 = 4 marks)
2
*P79810A0224*
, 2 Olive oil is seen as a necessity in Italy. Global production of olive oil is forecast to
fall to 2.4 million tonnes, as a result of extreme weather. This is less than last year’s
harvest and well short of global demand of about 3 million tonnes.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(a) Which one of the following is an effect of rationing in the price mechanism?
(1)
A To remove a shortage therefore prices fall
B To remove a shortage therefore prices rise
C To remove a surplus therefore prices fall
D To remove a surplus therefore prices rise
(b) With reference to the information provided, explain whether the demand for olive
oil within Italy is likely to be price elastic or price inelastic.
(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................... ................................................................................................................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Total for Question 2 = 4 marks)
3
*P79810A0324* Turn over
Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Tuesday 12 May 2026
Morning (Time: 1 hour 30 minutes) Paper
reference 8EC0/01
Economics A
Advanced Subsidiary
PAPER 1: Introduction to Markets and Market Failure
You must have: Total Marks
Source Booklet (enclosed)
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
•• There are two sections in this question paper.
Answer all questions in Section A.
•• InAnswer
Section B, answer all of questions 6(a) to 6(e) and one question from 6(f) or 6(g).
the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 80.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• Calculators may be used.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79810A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1
*P79810A0124*
, SECTION A
Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Some questions must be answered with a cross in a box . If you change your mind about an
answer, put a line through the box and then mark your new answer with a cross .
You are advised to spend 25 minutes on this section.
Use the data to support your answers where relevant. You may annotate and
include diagrams in your answers.
1 The United States operates an economic system known as a ‘mixed economy’. The
proportion of government spending relative to GDP was 36.8% in 2022.
(a) With reference to the information provided, explain one role of the state within a
mixed economy.
(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) Which one of the following is an advantage of a free market economy?
(1)
A All goods are produced at the social optimum position
B Maximisation of social welfare through central planning
C Signalling allows markets to allocate resources efficiently
D Under-provision of public goods
(Total for Question 1 = 4 marks)
2
*P79810A0224*
, 2 Olive oil is seen as a necessity in Italy. Global production of olive oil is forecast to
fall to 2.4 million tonnes, as a result of extreme weather. This is less than last year’s
harvest and well short of global demand of about 3 million tonnes.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(a) Which one of the following is an effect of rationing in the price mechanism?
(1)
A To remove a shortage therefore prices fall
B To remove a shortage therefore prices rise
C To remove a surplus therefore prices fall
D To remove a surplus therefore prices rise
(b) With reference to the information provided, explain whether the demand for olive
oil within Italy is likely to be price elastic or price inelastic.
(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................... ................................................................................................................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Total for Question 2 = 4 marks)
3
*P79810A0324* Turn over
