Recognise and calculate the next best alternative forgone when scarce resources force individuals, firms and governments to choose between competing uses.
Read the source material carefully before answering Question 1.
Source material: Changes in the Danish economy
Denmark is a high-income, North European country. The Danish population have high living standards and enjoy relatively long hours of leisure time. They spend this time in a variety of ways including cycling, jogging and playing golf.
Danish workers are employed in a range of industries. Denmark used to be a leading shipbuilding country but now the industry is in decline. Ships have substitutes in other forms of transport. Also, it may be possible to postpone the purchase of ships, they take a long time to produce and they are expensive to store. In contrast to the shipbuilding industry, the Danish toy industry has grown in recent years.
Denmark's shipbuilding and toy industries are in the private sector. Denmark's economic performance is also influenced by changes in the public sector. Table 1.1 shows Danish government spending and GDP over the period 2015 to 2021.
Table 1.1 Danish government spending and GDP 2015-2021
Denmark is heavily involved in international trade. It usually has a surplus on the current account of its balance of payments. International trade affects the availability of products in the country and the country's foreign exchange rate. It also affects the country's GDP and level of employment.
How people work in Denmark, as in most countries, has changed in recent years. More people now spend at least some of their working hours working from home. This change is expected to affect productivity and help firms keep their workers. Households may be encouraged to move out of cities and to buy larger homes. There may also be changes in demand for transport, demand for food sold in city centres and firms' need for office space.
Identify two possible opportunity costs of a Danish person using their leisure time to cycle.
Washington State is the state which grows the most apples in the US. In 2019, apple production increased in Washington State but the market was in disequilibrium. Apple farming is a labour
intensive industry because apples are picked by hand. The market for apples in the US is competitive.
Explain opportunity cost and how it can influence a farmer's decision to grow apples.