A number of students at our Economics Grade Booster course this week asked if we could generate some extra 25-mark essay titles to help with their revision planning. Here we are!

Market Structures – Oligopoly

Context:

In 2023, the UK’s four largest supermarket chains held a combined market share of over 65%. Tesco alone accounted for around 27%, raising concerns about market concentration, pricing power, and barriers to entry for smaller competitors.

Question:

Evaluate the extent to which oligopoly leads to outcomes that are beneficial for consumers, using the UK supermarket industry or an industry of your choice.

Government Intervention – Indirect Taxation

Context:

Since its introduction in 2018, the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy has led to a 44% reduction in the total sugar content of soft drinks. However, obesity rates in the UK remain high, at around 28% of adults in 2022.

Question:

Evaluate the effectiveness of indirect taxation as a policy to correct market failures associated with unhealthy consumption, using the UK soft drinks industry or an industry of your choice.

Market Failure – Public Goods

Context:

The UK government spent £860 million on flood and coastal erosion risk management in 2023, a rise of 12% from the previous year. Many areas still face inadequate protection, especially in the north of England and Wales.

Question:

Evaluate the extent to which public goods, such as flood defences, justify government provision and funding, using the UK flood defence system or a public good of your choice.

Monopoly – Private Sector Dominance

Context:

In 2023, Google held over 90% of the UK search engine market, sparking investigations by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into possible abuse of market dominance and anticompetitive practices.

Question:

Evaluate whether monopoly power leads to market failure in the search engine industry or an industry of your choice.

Natural Monopoly – Utilities and Infrastructure

Context:

Thames Water, which supplies water to around 15 million people in the UK, has been criticised for poor service and underinvestment despite generating over £2 billion in revenue in 2022. Calls for renationalisation have intensified.

Question:

Evaluate whether natural monopolies are better managed in the public or private sector, using the UK water industry or an industry of your choice.

State Ownership and Nationalisation

Context:

The UK rail industry receives over £7 billion in government subsidies annually. In 2023, parts of it were brought back under public control due to repeated service failures and financial losses by private operators.

Question:

Evaluate the case for increasing state ownership in industries, using the UK rail industry or an industry of your choice.

International Businesses and Global Competition

Context:

Tesla, Apple, and Amazon are examples of multinational corporations with significant market power across borders. In 2022, Amazon UK generated £24 billion in revenue but paid just £781 million in direct taxes.

Question:

Evaluate the impact of large international businesses on domestic market competition and welfare, using the UK retail or technology industry or an industry of your choice.

Monopsony Power

Context:

Major UK supermarkets have been criticised for exerting strong bargaining power over farmers and suppliers. In 2023, the Groceries Code Adjudicator found that some suppliers were being paid below cost.

Question:

Evaluate the extent to which monopsony power distorts economic efficiency and welfare, using the UK supermarket industry or an industry of your choice.

Contestable Markets

Context:

The UK banking sector has seen the rise of digital challenger banks such as Monzo and Starling. However, traditional banks like Barclays and HSBC still hold over 60% of the current account market.

Question:

Evaluate whether increasing contestability improves economic efficiency in banking or an industry of your choice.