A/A* Guarantee

7 Day Money-Back
Guarantee

Home > Wednesday Wisdoms: Newsletter > Be Very Proud of Yourselves 🎓👏

Welcome to the 44th edition of Wednesday Wisdoms by EdGenie!

Every Wednesday I send out actionable tips, tricks and real-world application insights from my 13-year experience coaching students to achieve As and A* in their Economics and Business A Levels.

Jump to Section:


Be Very Proud of Yourselves 🎓👏

Hey Genies,

As we approach the final stretch of your exams, take a moment to reflect on how far you've come. You've put in the hard work, stayed dedicated, and shown incredible resilience. You should be very proud of yourselves. 🌟

A lot of you will be sitting your final exams this month, whether it's Paper 3, AS Levels, or Year 12 end-of-year exams.

You've done a lot this last year or two! 📚


I'm sure you've had ups and downs, high grades and low grades, excellent support and poor support.
But at the end of the academic year, you can say that you've tried your best. 💪

Be very proud of this.


I always say A-Levels are the hardest exams you will do, and here's why:

Intense Subjects: A lot of intense subjects crammed into two years (and then 3 weeks of exams). 📘

Less Support: You get less support than any other age group (not sure why). 🤔

Quality of Education: The quality of education at this level, especially in STEM and Economics, leaves much to be desired. 🔬📈

And yet, here we are. You have persevered. 🎉

Those endless hours of content learning, exam practice, and listening to me every day and every week (if you have EdGenie) are all steps towards your success. I'm sure you've made it count. 🕒

That's why I say you should be proud! 🙌

Take the learnings, the discipline, the consistency, and the application with you into next year. Your future self will thank you! 🌟

Remember, this journey has shaped you into someone capable of great things. Keep believing in yourself and stay committed to excellence. Your hard work and determination will pay off. 💪📚

Best of luck with your exams. You've got this! 🌠

Best,
​Emre

Copper surges towards record highs amid optimistic demand outlook

Summary

📈 Surge in Copper Prices: Copper prices are climbing towards record highs, driven by optimistic demand forecasts, reaching $5 per pound, the highest since March 2022.

🌍 Renewable Energy and AI Demand: The growth in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and AI is significantly boosting demand for copper.

🚗 Impact of Electric Vehicles: The rise of electric cars and the shift towards green energy are crucial factors contributing to the increased demand for copper.

⛏️ Mining Sector Attention: BHP's takeover bid for Anglo American highlights the flourishing copper mining industry, amidst concerns of underinvestment.

🇨🇳 China's Economic Stimulus: China's plans to issue ultra-long bonds worth 1 trillion yuan for infrastructure has spiked copper prices, reinforcing its role as a major player in the copper market.

📉 Supply Chain Concerns: A production cut agreement among Chinese smelters and a decline in the US dollar have led to soaring copper prices, exacerbated by speculative buying.

🌱 Clean Energy Transition: The global industrial shift towards cleaner energy and technology predicts a doubling of copper demand by 2035, especially from the US, China, Europe, and India.

🤖 AI's Role in Demand: The AI boom, particularly for data centre construction, is expected to increase copper demand by a million metric tons by 2030.

📊 Forecasted Price Increase: Predictions suggest copper prices may rise to $5.44 per pound by 2026 due to a combination of supply shortages and growing demand.

🔍 Future Mining Challenges: Investment in copper mining is down, and disruptions, especially in Latin America, might lead to a further supply deficit starting in 2024.

A Level Economics Questions:

Q: Explain how China's economic measures, such as issuing ultra-long bonds for infrastructure, can affect global copper prices.
A: China's economic measures, like issuing ultra-long bonds, boost infrastructure spending, which increases the demand for copper used in construction and manufacturing. As China is a significant consumer of copper, increased demand from these projects can lead to higher global copper prices due to the intensified competition for limited copper supplies.

Q:Discuss the role of exchange rates in commodity pricing, using the decline in the US dollar's value and its impact on copper prices as an example.
A: Exchange rates can significantly influence commodity prices. For example, a decline in the US dollar makes commodities priced in dollars cheaper for foreign investors. This increased affordability can lead to higher demand and subsequently higher prices. In the case of copper, when the US dollar weakened, copper prices rose because it became more cost-effective for investors holding other currencies.

Q:Evaluate the potential economic impacts of BHP's takeover offer to Anglo American on the copper market.

A: BHP's takeover of Anglo American could lead to increased market consolidation, potentially decreasing competition in the copper market. This might lead to higher efficiency and increased copper production capacity in the long term. However, it could also lead to higher prices if the consolidated entity uses its market power to reduce supply or increase prices.

Q: Using supply and demand theory, predict the potential long-term effects of a global shift towards renewable energy and AI on the copper market.
A: The global shift towards renewable energy and AI is expected to significantly increase the demand for copper, used extensively in renewable energy technologies and AI infrastructure. According to supply and demand theory, if the supply of copper does not increase at the same pace as demand, this will lead to higher prices. Long-term, this could encourage more investments in copper mining, although it may take time for new supplies to enter the market.

Possible A Level Economics 25 Marker Question

Evaluate the impacts of volatile commodity prices on countries that are major exporters.

Infographic of the Week

Comparative Analysis of the US and China's Economic Metrics

In 2024, the U.S. and China together accounted for 43.2% of the global economy, with the U.S. GDP at $28,780 billion and China's at $18,530 billion, showing an increasing American share in global GDP over the years. In equity markets, the U.S. holds a dominant 61% of the global market cap, far surpassing China’s 2.8%, reflecting disparities in market maturity and corporate governance. FDI figures reveal the U.S. as the top recipient with $10.5 trillion and China following with a significant growth in FDI to $3.8 trillion since 1990, despite regulatory and geopolitical challenges. These metrics underscore the distinct economic strengths and international influence of both nations.

Chart of the Week

Africa's Top Economies by GDP Per Capita

In 2023, the Seychelles emerged as Africa's wealthiest nation in terms of GDP per capita, at $21,580, despite its economy's vulnerability to global tourism fluctuations, evident during the 2008-2009 recession and the Covid pandemic. Following the Seychelles, Mauritius and Gabon secured the second and third spots, respectively, with GDPs per capita ranging from $9,000 to $11,000. Notably, South Africa ranked sixth at $6,140, behind Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, and Libya, which are economies heavily reliant on oil revenues. This measure, while useful for assessing prosperity levels, overlooks the significant income inequalities within these nations, as highlighted by their varying Gini index scores.

Macroeconomic Data


Whenever you're ready there is one way I can help you.

If you or your child are looking to Boost your A level Economics Grades in under 30 days, I'd recommend starting with an all-in-one support network where you get 24/7 access to a SuperTutor:

Join EdGenie 🧞‍♂️: Transform your A-Level Economics essays and exam marks (genuinely) with our comprehensive on-demand learning platform. This carefully curated course blends engaging content with effective exam techniques, the same ones that have empowered over 1,000 of my students to achieve an A or A* over the last 13 years. 
A huge thanks for hopping on board EdGenie's Wednesday Wisdoms newsletter! 
I'm Emre, and I've got a big goal - to make A* education accessible to all A-level students.
And it Starts With You!

Emre Aksahin
Chief Learning Officer at Edgenie