📚 Case Study Practice Drill | 案例分析实战演练
Case studies are a wonderful way to apply economic ideas to real-world situations. In this practice drill, we will follow Alex, a Year 7 student, as he makes a tough decision between two summer job options. By analysing his choice, you will learn how to identify scarcity, weigh trade-offs, calculate opportunity cost, and use cost-benefit analysis – all key skills for CCEA Economics. Let’s get started!
案例分析是将经济学思想应用于真实情境的绝佳方法。在这次实战演练中，我们将跟随一名七年级学生 Alex，他在两个暑期工作选项之间做出艰难决定。通过分析他的选择，你将学会如何识别稀缺性、权衡取舍、计算机会成本以及运用成本收益分析——这些都是 CCEA 经济学的关键技能。让我们开始吧！
1. What is a Case Study? | 什么是案例分析？
A case study in Economics is a detailed investigation of a single person, group, or event. It allows you to apply economic theory to a situation with real constraints and choices. In an exam, you will often be given a short scenario and asked to explain the economic problem, identify options, and evaluate the best decision. The steps generally include describing the context, spotting the economic problem (usually scarcity), laying out alternatives, analysing opportunity costs, and making a reasoned recommendation.
经济学中的案例分析是对单个人物、群体或事件进行的详细调查。它让你能够将经济理论应用到具有真实限制和选择的情境中。在考试中，你通常会遇到一个简短的情景，并被要求解释经济问题、识别选项并评估最佳决策。步骤通常包括描述背景、发现经济问题（通常是稀缺性）、列出备选方案、分析机会成本，并提出有理由的建议。
Today’s case study centres on a typical Year 7 dilemma: Alex wants to earn money during the summer holidays to buy a new gaming console. He has limited time, limited energy, and two very different work opportunities. By working through his decision, you will practise every stage of a case study answer.
今天的案例研究围绕一个典型的七年级困境展开：Alex 想在暑假期间赚钱买一台新游戏机。他的时间和精力有限，并且面临着两种截然不同的工作机会。通过一步步完成他的决策，你将练习案例分析答案的每个阶段。
2. Setting the Scene: Alex’s Summer Job Decision | 场景设定：Alex 的暑期工作决策
Alex is 12 years old and has just finished Year 7. He has eight weeks of summer holiday. His main goal is to buy a newly released gaming console that costs £100. He currently receives £10 pocket money per week, but that alone would take ten weeks to save enough – and he would miss most of the holiday gaming time.
Alex 今年12岁，刚刚读完七年级。他有八周的暑假。他的主要目标是购买一台新发布的游戏机，售价为100英镑。目前他每周有10英镑零花钱，但仅靠零花钱存钱需要十周才能攒够——而且他会错过假期中大部分的游戏时间。
Two earning options have appeared. Option A: help at a busy beach ice cream stall, paying £50 per week but requiring about 20 hours of work per week and a 30-minute walk each way. Alex would need to spend £5 per week on sunscreen and snacks, and the long hours mean less time with friends. Option B: mow lawns for his neighbour Mr Smith, paying £30 per week for about 5 hours of work, no travel costs, and a very flexible schedule that leaves plenty of free time.
出现了两个赚钱选项。选项A：在繁忙的海滩冰淇淋摊位帮忙，周薪50英镑，但每周需要工作约20小时，并且单程步行30分钟。Alex 每周还需花费5英镑购买防晒霜和零食，长时间工作也意味着与朋友相处的时间减少。选项B：为邻居 Smith 先生修剪草坪，周薪30英镑，每周只需约5小时，没有交通成本，时间安排非常灵活，留有大量空闲时间。
Alex must decide. He can only do one job because both occupy the same weekday slots. This is a classic economic choice driven by scarcity of time and money.
Alex 必须做出决定。他只能选择一份工作，因为两者占据相同的平日上午时段。这是一个由时间和金钱的稀缺性驱动的经典经济选择。
3. Identifying the Economic Problem: Scarcity | 识别经济问题：稀缺性
Scarcity is the basic economic problem that exists because people have unlimited wants but only limited resources. Alex wants a gaming console, wants to spend time with friends, and wants to relax during the holidays. However, his resources – time (24 hours a day), energy, and current income – are limited. Therefore he cannot have everything he wants at the same time; he must make a choice. Whenever a choice is made, something must be given up.
稀缺性是基本的经济问题，因为人们的欲望是无穷的，但资源却是有限的。Alex 想要游戏机，想要和朋友一起玩，还想要在假期里休息。然而，他的资源——每天24小时的时间、精力和现有收入——是有限的。因此，他不可能同时拥有所有想要的东西；他必须做出选择。只要做出选择，就必须放弃某些东西。
In a case study answer, you should always start by naming the scarcity that forces the decision. Here, the scarcity is Alex’s limited time during the holiday weeks and his limited weekly budget. Even the job opportunities are scarce because he can only accept one at a time.
在案例分析答案中，你应该首先指明迫使决策的稀缺性是什么。在这里，稀缺性表现为 Alex 在假期中有限的时间以及他有限的每周预算。甚至连工作机会本身也是稀缺的，因为他一次只能接受一个。
4. Analysing Choices and Trade-offs | 分析选择与权衡
Once scarcity is identified, you list the available alternatives and their trade-offs. A trade-off means accepting less of one thing to get more of another. Alex faces several trade-offs between money, free time, and convenience.
一旦确定了稀缺性，你就需要列出可用的备选方案及其权衡。权衡意味着接受某一方面的减少以换取另一方面的增加。Alex 在金钱、空闲时间和便利性之间面临几种权衡。
Option A – Ice cream stall: higher income (£50 gross, £45 net) but requires long working hours (20 h/week), a daily commute, and upfront expenses. Trade-off: more money for less leisure and social time.
选项A – 冰淇淋摊位：收入更高（毛收入50英镑，净收入45英镑），但需要长时间工作（每周20小时）、每日通勤以及前期花费。权衡：更多的金钱换取更少的休闲和社交时间。
Option B – Lawn mowing: lower income (£30 net) but only 5 hours of work per week, no expenses, and easy to schedule around football and friends. Trade-off: less money for much more free time and less effort.
选项B – 修剪草坪：收入较低（净收入30英镑），但每周仅需工作5小时，没有额外花费，且容易安排足球和与朋友相处的时间。权衡：较少的金钱换取更多的空闲时间和较少的精力消耗。
When writing, compare the options using a simple table. This helps you see the trade-offs clearly and is often rewarded in CCEA assessments.
书写时，可使用简单的表格比较选项。这有助于你清楚地看到权衡，并常在 CCEA 评估中得到认可。
| Factor | Ice Cream Stall (冰淇淋摊位) | Lawn Mowing (修剪草坪) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Income (周收入) | £50 | £30 |
| Expenses (支出) | £5 (sunscreen, travel) | £0 |
| Net Weekly Income (每周净收入) | £45 | £30 |
| Time Required (所需时间) | 20 hours per week | 5 hours per week |
| Weeks to Save £100 (攒100英镑所需周数) | approx. 3 weeks (约3周) | approx. 4 weeks (约4周) |
| Social Time Lost (失去的社交时间) | High (high sacrifice) | Low (flexible hours) |
5. Understanding Opportunity Cost | 理解机会成本
Opportunity cost is the value of the next best alternative that you give up when making a choice. It is not just the money you lose; it includes the benefit of the forgone option. For Alex, the opportunity cost of picking the ice cream stall is the £30 net income from lawn mowing plus the 15 extra hours of free time he would have enjoyed. In other words, by choosing the ice cream stall, Alex sacrifices the easier, more flexible job.
机会成本是你在做出选择时所放弃的次优选择的价值。它不仅仅是你损失的钱，还包括被放弃选项所能带来的好处。对于 Alex 来说，选择冰淇淋摊位的机会成本是修剪草坪的30英镑净收入，加上他本可享受的额外15小时空闲时间。换句话说，选择了冰淇淋摊位，Alex 就牺牲了那份更轻松、更灵活的工作。
If Alex chooses lawn mowing instead, the opportunity cost is the £45 net income from the ice cream stall minus the extra free time he gains. Both choices carry an opportunity cost. Economic thinking requires you to weigh what is gained against what is lost. In a case study answer, always calculate and state the opportunity cost explicitly.
如果 Alex 选择修剪草坪，机会成本则是冰淇淋摊位的45英镑净收入，减去他获得的额外空闲时间。两种选择都伴随着机会成本。经济学思维要求你权衡所得与所失。在案例分析答案中，务必明确计算并陈述机会成本。
6. Factors Influencing Decisions | 影响决策的因素
Besides money, many factors affect economic decisions. Alex’s personal preferences matter a great deal. If Alex values gaming very highly and wants the console as soon as possible, he might lean toward the ice cream stall because it reaches the £100 target faster. If he values time with friends and a relaxed summer more, the lawn mowing job becomes more attractive.
除了金钱，许多因素都会影响经济决策。Alex 的个人偏好至关重要。如果 Alex 非常看重游戏，希望尽快拿到游戏机，他可能会倾向于冰淇淋摊位，因为它能更快达到100英镑的目标。如果他更重视与朋友相处的时间和轻松的暑假，那么修剪草坪的工作就变得更有吸引力。
Family influence is another factor. Alex’s parents might prefer the safer, local lawn mowing job as it keeps him close to home. Peer pressure could also play a part: friends might encourage him to take the job that leaves more time for hanging out. Even the weather forecast could influence his choice – a hot summer might mean higher tips at the ice cream stall, which adds a monetary incentive.
家庭影响是另一个因素。Alex 的父母可能更喜欢更安全、离家近的修剪草坪工作，因为这能让他待在家附近。同龄人的压力也可能起作用：朋友们可能会鼓励他选择那份额外时间更多的工作。甚至天气预报也可能影响他的选择——炎热的夏季可能意味着冰淇淋摊位能获得更多小费，从而增加金钱激励。
All these factors are qualitative (non-monetary) alongside the quantitative (monetary) data. A strong case study answer addresses both.
所有这些因素都是定性（非货币）的，与定量（货币）数据并存。一个优秀的案例分析答案会涉及这两方面。
7. Evaluating Incentives | 评估激励因素
An incentive is something that motivates a person to act in a certain way. Positive incentives encourage an action, while negative incentives discourage it. In Alex’s case, the positive incentive of the ice cream stall is the higher pay and the thrill of working at the beach. The negative incentives are the long hours, physical tiredness, and missing out on social activities.
激励是促使人们以某种方式行动的因素。正向激励鼓励某一行为，负向激励则阻碍某一行为。在 Alex 的案例中，冰淇淋摊位的正向激励是较高的报酬和在沙滩工作的新鲜感。负向激励则是长时间工作、身体疲惫以及错过社交活动。
For lawn mowing, the positive incentives include a gentle workload, being outdoors in a quiet environment, and having lots of free time. The main negative incentive is the lower income, which delays the console purchase. Recognising these incentives helps you understand why rational people might make different choices. Alex is not just a robot maximising money; he is a person with feelings and a social life.
对于修剪草坪，正向激励包括轻松的工作量、在安静环境中户外劳动以及拥有大量空闲时间。主要的负向激励是收入较低，这会推迟购买游戏机的时间。认识到这些激励因素有助于你理解为什么理性人可能会做出不同的选择。Alex 不仅仅是一个最大化金钱的机器人，他是一个有情感、有社交生活的人。
8. Supply and Demand in Alex’s Options | Alex 选项中的供求关系
Although this is a personal case study, basic supply and demand ideas can still be applied. The ice cream stall’s demand for workers depends on customer demand for ice cream. On sunny, hot days, demand for ice cream rises, so the stall might need more help and could even offer bonuses. However, if the summer is rainy, the stall might cut Alex’s hours. This introduces uncertainty into Option A.
虽然这是一个个人案例分析，但基本的供求概念仍然可以应用。冰淇淋摊位对工人的需求取决于顾客对冰淇淋的需求。在晴朗炎热的日子里，冰淇淋的需求上升，摊位可能需要更多帮助，甚至可能提供奖金。然而，如果夏天多雨，摊位可能会削减 Alex 的工作时间。这给选项A 带来了不确定性。
Lawn mowing, on the other hand, has a more stable demand. Grass grows regardless of the weather, and Mr Smith may rely on Alex weekly. This makes Option B’s income more predictable. Thinking about supply and demand helps explain why the ice cream job pays more – it requires more hours and carries more risk, so the wage compensates for that. A case study answer that mentions supply and demand shows deeper economic reasoning.
另一方面，修剪草坪的需求更加稳定。不论天气如何，草都会生长，Smith 先生可能每周都需要 Alex 的服务。这使得选项B 的收入更具可预测性。思考供求关系有助于解释为什么冰淇淋摊位的工作薪水更高——它需要更多工时并承担更多风险，因此工资作为补偿。在案例分析答案中提及供求关系能展示更深层的经济推理。
9. Making a Decision: A Cost-Benefit Approach | 做出决定：成本收益法
A cost-benefit analysis lists all the positive and negative outcomes of each option, then compares them. For the ice cream stall, benefits include high income (£45 net per week), faster console purchase, and a new work experience. Costs include loss of 15 hours of free time, physical fatigue, travel costs, and less flexibility.
成本收益分析列出每个选项的所有正面和负面结果，然后加以比较。对于冰淇淋摊位，收益包括高收入（每周净赚45英镑）、更快购买游戏机以及全新的工作体验。成本包括损失15小时空闲时间、身体疲劳、交通花费以及灵活性降低。
For lawn mowing, benefits are abundant free time, no commute, low stress, and a steady income. The main cost is the lower weekly pay, meaning the console arrives later. Alex must decide which set of benefits outweighs the costs according to his own values.
对于修剪草坪，收益是充足的自由时间、无需通勤、压力小以及稳定的收入。主要的成本是每周收入较低，这意味着游戏机会晚些到手。Alex 必须根据自己的价值取向决定哪一组收益胜过成本。
A rational decision could be: if Alex’s top priority is buying the console quickly, pick the ice cream stall; if his top priority is a relaxing holiday with friends, pick lawn mowing. There is no single right answer – economics gives you the tools to justify the choice.
一个理性的决定可能是：如果 Alex 的首要目标是尽快购买游戏机，那就选择冰淇淋摊位；如果他的首要目标是和朋友们度过轻松的假期，那就选择修剪草坪。不存在唯一正确的答案——经济学为你提供了证明选择合理性的工具。
10. Writing a Case Study Answer | 撰写案例分析答案
In a CCEA Year 7 assessment, you must structure your answer clearly. Follow these six steps. First, describe the context and state the scarcity. Second, list the available options with their key features. Third, identify the opportunity cost for the chosen option. Fourth, present a cost-benefit comparison (a table can be very effective). Fifth, explain which factors influenced the final decision. Sixth, conclude with a justified recommendation.
在 CCEA 七年级评估中，你必须清晰地组织答案。遵循以下六个步骤。第一，描述背景并说明稀缺性。第二，列出可用选项及其主要特征。第三，指出所选选项的机会成本。第四，展示成本收益比较（表格非常有效）。第五，解释哪些因素影响了最终决策。第六，以有理由的推荐作为结论。
For Alex, a strong answer might say: ‘Alex faces the scarcity of time and money. He can work in an ice cream stall or mow lawns. Choosing the ice cream stall gives him £45 net weekly income but costs him 15 leisure hours; opportunity cost is £30 plus lost free time. Due to his strong desire for the console, the ice cream stall offers the better net benefit.’ Always use economic vocabulary like ‘scarcity’, ‘trade-off’, ‘opportunity cost’, and ‘incentive’.
对于 Alex，一个强有力的答案可能是：’Alex 面临时间和金钱的稀缺性。他可以在冰淇淋摊位工作或修剪草坪。选择冰淇淋摊位可以为他带来每周45英镑的净收入，但会消耗15小时闲暇；机会成本是30英镑加上失去的空闲时间。由于他对游戏机的强烈渴望，冰淇淋摊位提供了更好的净收益。’ 务必使用经济学术语，如”稀缺性”、”权衡”、”机会成本”和”激励”。
11. Common Mistakes to Avoid | 常见错误避免
Many students forget to mention the non-monetary aspects of a choice. Do not only talk about money; always include time, effort, and personal satisfaction. Another mistake is ignoring the next best alternative when calculating opportunity cost – simply stating ‘the opportunity cost is the other job’ is not enough; you must specify its value. Also, some pupils write long descriptions of the scenario without analysing the economic problem. Focus on the economic logic: scarcity, choice, and opportunity cost.
许多学生忘记提及选择的非货币方面。不要只谈论金钱；始终要把时间、精力以及个人满足感纳入考虑。另一个错误是在计算机会成本时忽略了次优选择——仅仅说”机会成本是另一份工作”是不够的，你必须指明其价值。此外，一些学生花费大量篇幅描述情景却没有分析经济问题。务必聚焦于经济逻辑：稀缺性、选择和机会成本。
Finally, avoid being vague. Instead of ‘the ice cream job is better’, write ‘the ice cream job provides a
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