Economics Drq

SERANGOON JUNIOR COLLEGE H2 ECONOMICS LECTURE TEST 3 (TERM 2) Case Study Suggested Answer Outline & Markers’ Report
Extract 1: Global electronics sales will pass $1 trillion in 2012 Smartphones and tablet computers will help increase worldwide consumer electronics spending but growth is sluggish compared to last year, according to industry analysts. "Most product categories are slowing down or going into contraction. Really there are two main exceptions: tablets and smartphones," said Steve Bambridge, global business director for GfK Boutique Research. GfK and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) forecast that global spending on technology products will grow five percent in 2012 to $1.04 trillion compared to eight percent growth last year and $993 billion in sales. As demand slackens in the United States and Western Europe grapples with an economic crisis and wobbly euro, emerging markets such as Brazil, China and India will increase their share of spending on consumer electronics, GfK and CEA said. Adapted from New York Daily Times, 10 January 2012 Extract 2: New e-waste depot user pays A new facility where people can get rid of their old TVs, computer and other electronic waste opens in Bell Block next month. This electronic waste (e-waste) collection depot will be subsidised by the council and will be open on Saturday mornings for a one-year trial. "We know from previous one-off e-day collections that the public want an environmentally responsible way to dispose of their electronics, and now we have one that will operate throughout the year," council water and wastes manager Brent Manning said. The benefit is that all materials that can be reused will be recycled, and all materials will be disposed of properly. E-waste is one of the fastest growing categories of hazardous waste in the world. The situation is exacerbated by rapid technology change, low initial cost and planned obsolescence of consumer goods. Mr Manning said the council subsidy was to...