Government Provision | Model Answer
A-level Economics
Evaluate the case for the government's planned £50 million investment into new speed cameras on the roads.
The purpose of this post is for you to understand how to construct a good plan when answering a long answer 'evaluate' question.
Evaluate the case for the government's planned £50 million investment into new speed cameras on the roads.
Suggested Article for your Quote:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8718429/Do-we-need-speed-cameras.html
Model essay plan
DEFINITIONS
Market failure
Merit Goods
Government provision
Why should the government spend £50million on roads?
Speed cameras can be seen as a merit good. They help reduce speed and potentially deaths. Perhaps use a merit good diagram.
Some properties of speed cameras could also be seen as a public good. Because they are non-excludable/non-rival, it is unlikely they’d ever be supplied by the free market (unless firms were permitted to make money from issuing fines). So it means the government needs to supply it themselves. Missing market problem.
However, the major argument for speed cameras comes from the fact that they're merit goods and help reduce deaths.
Why shouldn’t the government spend £50 million on roads?
Are speed cameras a merit good or demerit good in reality? Do they really directly prevent deaths? Is there evidence to prove this? Use the article provided.
Do speed cameras solve the problem of speeding? Do they educate people so they just stop speeding themselves? Or do they prevent speeding in certain areas and people speed regardless when they’re not in a speed check zone?
What are the dangers of government provision? What are the benefits to society of spending £50 million on speed cameras? Will it bring about more than £50 million in benefit? Have the benefits been accurately calculated? Chance of government failure. Law of unintended consequences.
Opportunity Costs? What opportunity costs exist? Give some examples. Would spending on speed cameras be better?
Some final evaluation
What does it all depend on? What is the ideal scenario for the government provision to work? What is the reality?
Conclusion
Overall, what do you feel is the answer to the question?
IF YOU WANT GOOD GRADES FAST, BUY THESE BOOKS!
MACROECONOMICS MODEL ANSWER BOOK
10 Past Papers with Model Answers on the National Economy
Written by an experienced Economics tutor
Full model answers with diagrams
Suitable for all UK Economics exam boards
Physical booklet
£20.00
MICROECONOMICS MODEL ANSWER BOOK
10 Past Papers with Model Answers on Market Failure
Written by an experienced Economics tutor
Full model answers with diagrams
Suitable for all UK Economics exam boards
Physical booklet
£20.00