新高中經濟科新高中經濟科

課程宗旨 (a) 培養從經濟學角度探究人類行為及社會議題的興 趣； (b) 掌握經濟學的基礎知識，了解身處的世界； (c) 藉著培養經濟分析的能力，具備對不同議題進行 推論及理性選擇的能力，以加強終身學習的能 力； (d) 成為有識見和負責任的公民，參與現代民主社會 的決策過程。

課程目標 (a) 經濟學術語和概念，及基本的經濟學理 論； (b) 個人和社會所面對的基本經濟問題，及處理 有關問題的不同方法； (c) 影響個人、廠商、機構和政府決定的潛在考 慮因素和原因； (d) 不同經濟界別的相互影響； (e) 香港的經濟及其與內地和世界其他經濟體系 的關係。

課題 必修部分 1 基本經濟概念 2 廠商與生產 3 巿場與價格 4 競爭與巿場結構 5 效率、公平和政府的角色 6 經濟表現的量度

課題 必修部分 7 國民收入決定及價格水平 8 貨幣與銀行 9 宏觀經濟問題和政策 10 國際貿易和金融

課題 選修部分 1 壟斷定價, 反競爭行為及競爭 政策 或 2 貿易理論之延伸, 經濟增長及 發展

評核 形式試卷考核範圍比重時限 公開考試 卷一 ( 多項選擇題 ) 必修部分 30% 1 小時 卷二 甲部： 短題目 必修部分 70% 2 小時 15 分 乙部 : 結構 / 文章式試題 必修部分 丙部 : 結構 / 文章式試題 選修單元部分

( 於 2018 年全面試行 ) 形式試卷試卷必修 / 選修 比重時限 校本評核 (SBA) 課業為本評核 ( 時事評論或 文章 / 報告 ) ///

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Sample Task: Level 5

Question: Some Hong Kong politicians have strongly demanded legislation which would introduce a minimum wage for low income earners, such as security guards and cleaning workers.

(a) Consider an industry without unemployment when there is no minimum wage. With the aid of a diagram, explain how the introduction of an effective minimum wage would affect

(a) (i) the number of workers employed in that industry. (4 marks) (ii) the total wage earnings of the workers in that industry. (7 marks)

Sample Answer (a) (i) Wage Labour D S Minimum wage level ︷ unemployment W2W2 W1W1 Q2Q2 Q1Q1 + _ After the introduction of an effective minimum wage, the wage rate increases from W 1 to W 2, the number of workers employed in that industry decreases from Q 1 to Q 2.

(ii) The total wage earnings of the workers may increase, decrease or remain unchanged. It depends on the price elasticity of demand. If the demand for workers in the industry is inelastic, the percentage decrease in quantity demanded would be smaller than the percentage increase in wage, the total wage earnings of the workers in that industry increase. Meanwhile, if the demand for workers in the industry is elastic, the percentage decrease in quantity demanded would be greater than the percentage increase in wage, the total wage earnings of the workers thus decrease.

(b)“ A minimum wage should be introduced to protect the interests of low-income workers. ” Evaluate this proposal.

Sample Answer (b) (b) If a minimum wage is introduced, the number of workers employed will decrease (by (a)(i)). So, introduction of a minimum wage would lead to unemployment problem. The interest of low-income workers cannot be protected. Considering the total wage earnings of the workers, after the introduction of a minimum wage, by (a)(ii), the total wage earnings may decrease when the demand for the labour is elastic. So, the interest of those workers cannot be protected.

Even if the total wage earnings increase under the case of inelastic demand, with a higher wage, the employers may choose to employ workers with higher productivity or higher education level, the lower-skilled people such as teenagers cannot find jobs and get working experience easily. This also leads to unemployment and other serious social problems. To conclude, the minimum wage cannot protect the interests of low-income workers.

Comments The candidate is able to apply economics concepts accurately to explain the effects of introducing an effective minimum wage. He manages to integrate all relevant economic terms, concepts and relationships in his analysis. Also, he presents an accurate supply-demand diagram as a tool to help with his job. The analysis is logically consistent and comprehensive. He also demonstrates informed judgment and evaluation of the proposal of introducing an effective minimum wage from different perspectives such as the possibility of a reduction in the total wage earnings and the undesirable consequences of unemployment.

Do you agree? In Hong Kong, New Senior Secondary education is free of charge. Students may think that they have no cost to study in Hong Kong since there is no need for them to pay for the education. Do you agree with them?

Economics can help you answer this question.

In Economics, you will study “ opportunity cost ”. Actually, opportunity cost is involved when they choose to receive education instead of working in the society. They have to forgo the wage income earning from working. The wage income is the private cost. Meanwhile, the society have to pay for the education. Taxpayers have to pay tax to support the education. The tax has alternative use. These is the social cost. The private cost and the social cost will become the opportunity cost of having the new senior secondary education.

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