Environment and Business QP & MS june 2024
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PAPER 3: The economic environment and business
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P75862A
©2024 Pearson Education Ltd.
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, Answer ALL questions.
SECTION A
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Read the following extracts (A to D) before answering Question 1.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
Extract A
Tesla
In early 2022, Tesla upgraded its Shanghai factory in China. This increased the factory’s
output capacity to 88,000 electric vehicles (EVs) per month.
In September 2022, Tesla produced 83,135 EVs, the highest monthly output for the
factory since production began there in December 2019. 5
(Source: adapted from: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/996196/
tesla-cuts-prices-for-its-vehicles-in-china-by-up-to-9-report-996196.html)
Extract B
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Risk of Global Recession in 2023
According to a study by the World Bank, the world may be moving toward a global
recession in 2023. Central banks around the world have been simultaneously raising
interest rates this year, a trend that is likely to continue into 2023, according to the report.
The global economy is now in its steepest slowdown since 1970. Global consumer 5
confidence has already suffered a much quicker decline than in the run-up to previous
global recessions. The world’s three largest economies – the United States, China and the
euro area – have all been slowing sharply.
(Source: adapted from: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/09/15/risk-
of-global-recession-in-2023-rises-amid-simultaneous-rate-hikes)
Extract C
Starbucks invests $1bn in enhancing employee experience, training and pay
Starbucks is to spend $1bn on improving conditions for its employees. This will include
increased pay, benefits and training. From June 2022, there will be increased wages and
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further increases for long-service employees. All new baristas and new shift supervisors
will have their training time doubled and training programmes will be enhanced. 5
Other planned benefits include opportunities to increase sick leave and advice on
student loans and finance.
Starbucks’ Chief Financial Officer, Rachel Ruggeri said: “We are confident the investments
we are making in our employees, will deliver significant returns, resulting in accelerated
long-term growth.”
(Source: adapted from: https://www.hcamag.com/nz/news/general/starbucks-invests-1-
billion-in-enhancing-employee-experience-training-and-pay/404655)
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, Extract D
Super Mario and the return of supply‑side economics
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When Mario Draghi, the previous Prime Minister of Italy, took office in 2021 he made
clear that supply-side policies were his priority for Italy. Closing the growth gap between
Italy and the euro area was to be achieved through a combination of structural reforms –
taxation, public administration and justice – and a broad public investment plan focused 5
on education, digitisation and infrastructure.
These supply-side policies were very different from the demand-side policies that
had been launched in the previous year to keep economies afloat during the global
health crisis.
(Source: adapted from https://www.omfif.org/2021/03/super-mario-and-the-return-of-
supply-side-economics/)
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