AS WJEC Economics: Case Study Practical Exercises | AS WJEC 经济：案例分析实战演练

📚 AS WJEC Economics: Case Study Practical Exercises | AS WJEC 经济：案例分析实战演练

Welcome to this focused guide on mastering the case study component of the AS WJEC Economics examination. The ability to apply economic theory to real-world scenarios is at the heart of the specification, and this article will walk you through proven strategies, essential concepts, and hands-on practice with model answers. By working through the exercises that follow, you will sharpen your analytical and evaluative skills and feel fully prepared for the exam.

欢迎阅读这篇针对 AS WJEC 经济学考试案例分析题的专项指南。将经济理论应用于现实情境是该考规的核心要求，本文将通过行之有效的策略、核心概念以及配有标准答案的实战演练，带领你全面准备。完成下列练习后，你的分析与评估能力将得到显著提升，自信迎战考试。

1. Understanding the Case Study Question | 理解案例分析题目

Every WJEC case study question begins with a command word that signals the required depth of response. Words such as ‘explain’ require you to show how something works using chains of reasoning, while ‘evaluate’ demands a balanced assessment of relative importance, limitations and alternative viewpoints. Identifying the command word is the first step towards a high-scoring answer.

每道 WJEC 案例分析题都以一个指令词开头，该词提示了答案应有的深度。像 “explain”（解释） 这类词要求你用推理链条说明某机制如何运作；而 “evaluate”（评估） 则要求你对相对重要性、局限性和其他观点进行平衡评判。识别指令词是获取高分答案的第一步。

You must also be clear on the precise part of the specification being tested. The question will often include phrases such as ‘using the data’ or ‘with reference to Extract A’, which are explicit instructions to incorporate evidence from the provided material. Ignoring these is one of the most common reasons for lost marks.

你还必须清楚题目具体考查的是考规中的哪一部分。问题通常会包含 “using the data”（利用数据）或 “with reference to Extract A”（参考摘录A）等表述，这些是要求你明确结合所给材料的指示。忽视这些要求是失分最常见的原因之一。

Allocate your time wisely. In the AS paper, case study questions carry high weighting; plan the structure of your answer for a couple of minutes before writing. A short plan ensures that your response has a logical flow: definition, diagram, application, data reference, and evaluation.

合理分配时间。在 AS 试卷中，案例分析题分值很高；作答前花几分钟规划答案结构。简短的写作提纲能确保你的回答具备逻辑性：定义、图表、应用、数据引用与评估。

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2. Key Economic Concepts for AS WJEC | AS WJEC 关键经济概念

Before tackling any case study, you must have a solid command of the core topics. The table below summarises the concepts most frequently examined in AS WJEC Economics, along with brief definitions. Keep this checklist in mind when reading the stimulus material.

在处理任何案例分析前，你必须扎实掌握核心课题。下表汇总了 AS WJEC 经济学中最常考查的概念及其简要定义。在阅读背景材料时请时刻记着这份清单。

Concept	Concept in Chinese	Brief Definition	简要定义
Demand and supply	需求与供给	The quantity consumers are willing and able to buy, and producers willing and able to sell, at various prices.	在不同价格下消费者愿意且能够购买以及生产者愿意且能够销售的数量。
Elasticity (PED, YED, XED, PES)	弹性（需求价格弹性、收入弹性、交叉弹性、供给价格弹性）	Responsiveness of quantity demanded or supplied to changes in price, income or other prices.	需求量或供给量对价格、收入或其他价格变动的反应程度。
Market failure	市场失灵	A situation where the free market fails to allocate resources efficiently, e.g. externalities, public goods.	自由市场未能有效配置资源的情形，如存在外部性、公共物品时。
Government intervention	政府干预	Policies such as taxes, subsidies, regulation and state provision to correct market failure or achieve equity.	通过税收、补贴、监管和国家提供等政策来纠正市场失灵或实现公平。
Aggregate demand and aggregate supply	总需求与总供给	Total spending in an economy (C+I+G+(X−M)) and the total output firms are willing to produce at different price levels.	经济中的总支出（C+I+G+(X−M)）以及在不同价格水平下企业愿意生产的总产出。
Macroeconomic objectives	宏观经济目标	Goals such as low unemployment, stable prices, economic growth and a satisfactory balance of payments.	诸如低失业、物价稳定、经济增长和国际收支平衡等目标。

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3. Deconstructing the Case Material | 拆解案例材料

When you first encounter the case study extracts, resist the temptation to read them from start to finish in one go. Instead, skim the questions first. This primes your brain to search for specific pieces of evidence—numbers, percentages, mention of policy changes—as you read.

当你第一次阅读案例摘录时，避免从头到尾一气读完。相反，先快速浏览问题。这样能让你在阅读时大脑主动搜索特定证据——数字、百分比、政策变动提及——从而事半功倍。

Use a highlighter (or underline if working digitally) to mark data points that directly relate to each question. For instance, if a question asks about the effectiveness of a subsidy, look for figures on change in quantity consumed, government expenditure, or evidence of unintended consequences. This selective reading helps you build the ‘application’ component of your answer from the very beginning.

用荧光笔（或电子版的划线工具）标记与各问题直接相关的数据点。例如，若问题是关于补贴效果，就去寻找消费量变化、政府支出数据或意外后果的证据。这种有选择的阅读能帮助你从一开始就搭建起答案中的 “应用” 部分。

Pay close attention to the source and date of the material. A passage from an industry lobby group may carry a particular bias, while a table from an official statistics agency lends credibility. Acknowledging the nature of the source in your evaluation can demonstrate higher-order thinking.

密切留意材料的来源和日期。来自行业游说团体的段落的可能带有特定偏见，而来自官方统计机构的表格则更有可信度。在评估部分点明来源性质，能够展现高阶思维能力。

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4. Applying Economic Theory | 运用经济理论

Application is more than just quoting the extract: it means weaving the case facts into your economic logic. When you state a cause-and-effect relationship, always anchor it with a concrete detail from the case. For example, instead of saying ‘demand will fall because of the tax’, write ‘the 15% specific tax on plastic bags, as noted in Extract B, will shift the supply curve leftward, reducing quantity demanded by an estimated 12%’.

应用不仅仅是引用摘录内容：它意味着将案例事实编织进你的经济逻辑中。当你说出某个因果关系时，一定要用案例中的具体细节加以支撑。例如，与其说 “税收会导致需求下降”，不如写 “如摘录 B 所述，对塑料袋征收 15% 的从量税将使供给曲线左移，需求量预计减少 12%”。

Always define key terms early in your answer, but also immediately link that definition to the context. This shows the examiner you genuinely understand the concept, not just memorised a textbook sentence. A good approach is: ‘X is defined as… In the case of this market, this means…’

始终在答案中尽早定义关键术语，但要立刻将该定义与情境相联系。这向考官表明你真正理解了概念，而非只会背诵课本句子。一个好的方法是：”X 的定义为……就本市场案例而言，这意味着……”。

Try to use the economic vocabulary that appears in the stimulus material as a springboard. If the text mentions ‘external costs’, you should use the term ‘negative externality’ and illustrate it with the marginal social cost concept. This demonstrates both knowledge and a smooth integration of source material.

要试着以背景材料中出现的经济词汇为跳板。若文中提及 “外部成本”，你就应该使用 “负外部性” 这一术语，并用边际社会成本概念加以说明。这同时展现了知识掌握和对源材料的顺畅整合。

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5. Drawing Effective Diagrams | 绘制有效图表

A well-drawn, fully labelled diagram can earn up to 4 marks in a WJEC case study question. Always use a pencil and ruler, label both axes (price, quantity or price level, real GDP), and mark the initial equilibrium clearly. Curves must be labelled with their full names: ‘S1’ and ‘S2’ for supply shifts, not ambiguous abbreviations.

一个绘制规范、标注完整的图表在 WJEC 案例分析题中最多可获得 4 分。务必使用铅笔和直尺，标注好两个坐标轴（价格与数量，或价格水平与实际 GDP），清晰标出初始均衡点。曲线应该用全称标注：供给移动用 “S1” 和 “S2″，避免含义模糊的缩写。

Your diagram should illustrate the specific change described in the case. If the extract mentions a rise in consumer incomes, you must show a rightward shift of the demand curve, draw arrows indicating the direction of shift, and explain in your text why the shift occurred. A diagram without a written explanation will not secure full marks.

你的图表应能说明案例中所描述的具体变化。若摘录提到消费者收入上升，你必须画出一条需求曲线向右移动，用箭头标明移动方向，并在文中解释移动发生的原因。没有文字解释的图表无法拿到全部分数。

Practice drawing diagrams that are tool-ready for common scenarios: the effect of an indirect tax (shifting supply vertically by the amount of the tax), the impact of a subsidy, a negative externality diagram (with MSB and MSC curves), and an AD/AS diagram showing a recessionary gap. In the case study, you can then adapt these templates quickly.

要练习绘制能应对常见情境的 “工具性” 示意图：间接税的影响（供给曲线按税额垂直上移）、补贴的影响、负外部性图示（含 MSB 与 MSC 曲线），以及显示衰退缺口的 AD/AS 图。在案例分析中，你就能迅速对这些模板进行适应性调整。

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6. Evaluation Techniques | 评估技巧

Evaluation is what separates a good answer from an excellent one. In WJEC economics, evaluation means weighing up the evidence, considering different stakeholder perspectives, and discussing the short-run versus long-run effects. Begin your evaluative paragraphs with phrases like ‘The success of this policy depends on…’ or ‘However, it could be argued that…’.

评估是区分良好答案与优秀答案的关键。在 WJEC 经济学中，评估意味着权衡证据、考虑不同利益相关者的视角，以及讨论短期与长期效应。用 “The success of this policy depends on…” 或 “However, it could be argued that…” 这样的短语来开启你的评估段落。

Always consider the assumptions that underpin your analysis. For instance, a price ceiling may seem beneficial to consumers if supply is perfectly inelastic in the short run, but it could lead to shortages and black markets if supply becomes more elastic over time. Mentioning such temporal dynamics strengthens the evaluation.

始终要考虑支撑你分析的假设条件。例如，若短期内供给完全无弹性，价格上限看似对消费者有利；但随着时间推移，供给若变得更有弹性，价格上限就可能导致短缺和黑市。点明此类时间动态能增强评估力度。

Link your evaluation back to the context of the case. If the government’s objective is to reduce obesity, evaluate whether a sugar tax alone can achieve this, given the availability of substitutes, consumer habits, and cross-border shopping. A context-rich evaluation is precisely what examiners reward.

将你的评估与案例情境相挂钩。若政府目标是减少肥胖，就应结合替代品可得性、消费习惯和跨境购物等因素，来评估单靠糖税能否实现该目标。充满情境细节的评估正是考官所青睐的。

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7. Practice Case Study 1: The Sugar Tax | 实战案例1：糖税

Extract: “The government has introduced a sugar tax of 18 pence per litre on soft drinks with more than 5g of sugar per 100ml. Sales data show that following the tax, average price of targeted drinks rose by 12% and quantity purchased fell by 8%. Meanwhile, sales of bottled water increased by 15%. Critics argue that the tax is regressive and that firms have simply reduced package sizes.”

摘录：“政府已对每100毫升含糖超过5克的软饮料征收每升18便士的糖税。销售数据显示，征税后，目标饮料的平均价格上涨了12%，购买量下降了8%。与此同时，瓶装水销量增长了15%。批评者认为该税具累退性质，且厂商只是减少了包装容量。”

Question (a): Using a demand and supply diagram, explain the effect of the sugar tax on the market for sugary soft drinks.

问题 (a)：使用需求与供给图，解释糖税对含糖软饮料市场的影响。

Response to (a): The sugar tax is an indirect tax levied on producers, which increases their costs of production. In a demand and supply diagram, the supply curve shifts vertically upwards by the amount of the tax (18p per litre). This is shown by a leftward shift from S1 to S2. As a result, the equilibrium price rises from P1 to P2, and the equilibrium quantity falls from Q1 to Q2. The data confirms this: price increased by 12% and quantity by 8%, indicating that demand is price inelastic, since the percentage change in quantity is smaller than the percentage change in price.

(a) 回答：糖税是一种向生产者征收的间接税，增加了其生产成本。在需求与供给图中，供给曲线按税额（每升 18 便士）垂直上移，表现为从 S1 到 S2 的左移。结果，均衡价格由 P1 升至 P2，均衡数量由 Q1 降至 Q2。数据印证了这一分析：价格上涨 12%，数量下降 8%，表明需求缺乏价格弹性，因为数量的百分比变动小于价格的百分比变动。

Question (b): Evaluate the effectiveness of the sugar tax in reducing obesity.

问题 (b)：评估糖税在减少肥胖方面的有效性。

Response to (b): The sugar tax may be partially effective because it lowers consumption of sugary drinks, as shown by the 8% fall in quantity demanded. However, its impact on obesity depends on substitution effects. The 15% rise in bottled water sales suggests some consumers switched to healthier alternatives, which strengthens the tax’s health benefits. On the other hand, the tax is regressive, taking a larger proportion of income from low-income households; if these households continue to buy the drinks despite higher prices, the health impact may be limited. Moreover, firms reducing package sizes without lowering the price per litre means the price signal is weakened. Overall, while the tax is a useful tool, it must be combined with education and broader food regulations to significantly reduce obesity rates.

(b) 回答：糖税可能具有一定效果，因为它降低了含糖饮料消费（需求量下降 8%）。然而，其对肥胖的影响取决于替代效应。瓶装水销量增长 15% 表明部分消费者转向更健康的替代品，这增强了该税的健康效益。另一方面，该税具有累退性，低收入家庭收入中用于该支出的比例更大；若这些家庭即便价格上涨依然购买，健康影响可能有限。此外，厂商在不降低每升单价的情况下缩小包装容量，意味着价格信号被削弱。总体而言，糖税虽是有用工具，但必须与教育和更广泛的食品监管相结合，才能大幅降低肥胖率。

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8. Practice Case Study 2: House Prices in the UK | 实战案例2：英国房价

Extract: “UK house prices have risen by an average of 7% per annum over the last three years. The increase is driven by low mortgage interest rates and a persistent shortage of new housing supply. The government has announced a £5 billion fund to support housing associations in building 50,000 affordable homes over the next five years.”

摘录：“过去三年，英国房价年均上涨 7%。这一增长由低抵押贷款利率和持续的新房供给短缺所驱动。政府已宣布设立 50 亿英镑基金，以支持住房协会在未来五年内建造 50,000 套经济适用房。”

Question (a): Using a demand and supply diagram, explain why UK house prices have risen.

问题 (a)：使用需求与供给图，解释英国房价为何上涨。

Response to (a): The rise in house prices can be explained by simultaneous shifts in both demand and supply. Low mortgage interest rates reduce the cost of borrowing, which increases the demand for houses—shifting the demand curve rightward from D1 to D2. At the same time, the shortage of new housing supply means the supply curve is relatively inelastic and may have shifted leftward from S1 to S2 due to rising construction costs or planning restrictions. The combined result is a higher equilibrium price P2. Because supply is price inelastic in the short run, any increase in demand leads to a proportionately larger rise in price, which is consistent with the 7% annual increase.

(a) 回答：房价上涨可由需求与供给的同时移动来解释。低抵押贷款利率降低了借贷成本，增加了住房需求——使需求曲线从 D1 右移至 D2。同时，新房供应短缺意味着供给曲线相对缺乏弹性，且可能因建筑成本上升或规划限制而从 S1 左移至 S2。两者共同导致均衡价格升至 P2。由于短期内供给缺乏价格弹性，任何需求增加都会导致价格更大比例地上涨，这与年均 7% 的涨幅吻合。

Question (b): Assess the likely impact of the government’s house-building fund on the housing market and on the wider economy.

问题 (b)：评估政府房屋建设基金对住房市场及更广泛经济可能产生的影响。

Response to (b): The £5 billion fund will increase the supply of affordable homes, shifting the supply curve to the right and moderating upward pressure on prices. Lower housing costs can improve labour mobility, as workers are more able to move to areas with job opportunities, enhancing the economy’s productive potential. The construction activity itself creates jobs and generates a multiplier effect, boosting AD. However, the impact on prices may be limited if demand continues to grow faster than supply, for instance due to population growth. Furthermore, there is a time lag before the homes are completed, so the short-run effect is muted. An evaluation must also note that building on greenfield sites may create negative externalities such as loss of countryside. Overall, the policy is likely to have a modest positive effect on housing affordability and economic growth, but its full benefits depend on complementary planning reforms.

(b) 回答：这笔 50 亿英镑基金将增加经济适用房供给，使供给曲线右移，缓解价格上涨压力。降低住房成本能提升劳动力流动性，因为工人更易迁往有就业机会的地区，从而增强经济的生产潜力。建筑活动本身能创造就业并产生乘数效应，推动总需求增长。然而，若需求（如人口增长）持续快于供给，其对价格的抑制作用可能有限。此外，房屋建成存在时间滞后，因此短期效果不明显。评估还须指出，在郊区绿地建设可能产生破坏田园风光等负外部性。总体而言，该政策可能会适度改善住房可负担性并促进经济增长，但其充分效果有赖于配套的规划改革。

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9. Practice Case Study 3: Unemployment and Fiscal Policy | 实战案例3：失业与财政政策

Extract: “The UK economy grew by only 0.2% last quarter, and the unemployment rate has climbed to 6.1%. The government is considering a £20 billion infrastructure investment programme focused on transport and green energy projects. The opposition argues that this will lead to higher government borrowing and rising inflation.”

摘录：“英国经济上季度仅增长 0.2%，失业率攀升至 6.1%。政府正考虑一项 200 亿英镑的基础设施投资计划，聚焦于交通与绿色能源项目。反对党则认为这会导致政府借贷增加和通胀上升。”

Question (a): Using an aggregate demand and aggregate supply diagram, explain how the infrastructure programme may reduce unemployment.

问题 (a)：使用总需求与总供给图，解释该基础设施计划如何降低失业。

Response to (a): Increased government spending on infrastructure is an injection into the circular flow of income, directly boosting aggregate demand. In the AD/AS diagram, the AD curve shifts rightward from AD1 to AD2. Assuming the economy is operating below full capacity (a negative output gap), this rise in AD leads to an increase in real GDP from Y1 to Y2 and only a modest rise in the price level. Higher real output requires more labour, so firms hire additional workers, reducing cyclical unemployment. The initial spending may also generate a multiplier effect, as those employed in construction spend their incomes, further shifting AD to the right.

(a) 回答：政府增加基础设施支出是对收入循环流的注入，直接推动总需求。在 AD/AS 图中，AD 曲线从 AD1 右移至 AD2。假设经济在当前处于产能未充分利用（负产出缺口），这一 AD 增长将使实际 GDP 从 Y1 升至 Y2，且价格水平仅温和上升。更高的实际产出需要更多劳动力，因此企业增雇工人，降低了周期性失业。初始支出还可能产生乘数效应，因建筑从业人员会花费其收入，使 AD 进一步右移。

Question (b): Evaluate the possible macroeconomic consequences of such a policy.

问题 (b)：评估该政策可能带来的宏观经济后果。

Response to (b): While the infrastructure programme can stimulate growth and reduce unemployment in the short term, it carries risks. Higher government borrowing may crowd out private investment if it pushes up interest rates, dampening the initial expansionary effect. If the economy is closer to full capacity than assumed, the increased AD could be inflationary, especially if the AS curve is relatively inelastic. There is also a time lag between announcing the programme and its actual implementation, which could limit its counter-cyclical effectiveness. On the other hand, well-targeted green energy projects may improve long-run aggregate supply by reducing energy costs and enhancing productivity, helping to offset inflationary pressure. The success of the policy ultimately depends on the size of the output gap, the speed of implementation, and the type of spending undertaken.

(b) 回答：尽管该基础设施计划能在短期内刺激增长并降低失业，但也存在风险。政府借款增加若推动利率上升，可能挤出私人投资，弱化初始的扩张效应。若经济比设想的更接近充分产能，增加的 AD 可能导致通胀，尤其在 AS 曲线相对缺乏弹性时。项目宣布与实际实施之间存在时间滞后，这可能削弱其反周期效果。另一方面，针对性强且得当的绿色能源项目或能通过降低能源成本与提升生产率来改善长期总供给，有助于抵消通胀压力。该政策的成功最终取决于产出缺口的大小、实施速度以及支出类型。

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10. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them | 常见错误及避免方法

One frequent error is confusing movement along a curve with a shift of the curve. Remember: a change in the good’s own price causes a movement along the demand or supply curve; a change in any other determinant (income, costs, number of firms) causes a shift. Always ask yourself, ‘Has the price of this specific product changed, or is something else at play?’

常见错误之一是混淆沿曲线移动与曲线本身的移动。谨记：商品自身价格变化导致沿需求或供给曲线的移动；其他任何决定因素（收入、成本、企业数量）的变化都会导致曲线移动。始终自问：”是该特定产品的价格变了，还是其他因素在起作用？”

Many students fail to use data from the extract, writing generic textbook answers. The remedy is to practise under timed conditions using past WJEC papers. Highlight every percentage and statistic in the insert and force yourself to mention at least two specific data points in each paragraph of your answer.

许多学生未能运用摘录中的数据，写出的是泛泛的教科书式答案。纠正方法是在限时条件下使用以往的 WJEC 试卷进行练习。将插页中每一个百分比和统计数字都高亮标记，并强制自己在答案的每一段中至少提及两个具体数据点。

In evaluation, avoid one-sided conclusions. A mark-banded evaluation expects you to present a ‘however’ argument and then make a judgement about which factor is most significant based on the context. Structuring your final paragraph as ‘While X is important, the overriding factor is Y because…’ is a simple technique that consistently earns top evaluation marks.

在评估部分，避免一边倒的结论。按评分等级要求，评估应呈现出 “然而” 类论证，然后基于情境就哪个因素最为重要作出判断

Published by TutorHao | AS Economics Revision Series | aleveler.com

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