Welcome to the 80th edition of our Newsletter EdGenie's 📜 Sunday Scroll...

Every Sunday I send out actionable tips, tricks and real-world application insights from my 15 year experience coaching students to achieve As and A*s in their Economics A Levels via EdGenie.

Hey Genies, 👋

Let me answer this clearly:

YES. ✅

You don't have to know a topic inside out to tackle practice questions.

In fact, you shouldn't wait until you're fully confident.

Here's why:

When you jump straight into question practice, you’re forced to reverse-engineer the topic.

You quickly discover exactly what you don't know and what you need to learn next. 🔍

This is called active learning, and trust me—it sticks.

It forces you to engage deeply, which is why it’s so effective. 🔑

For example, imagine you're still a bit unsure about Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in LEDCs and MEDCs.

You might have questions like:

• "What exactly are the benefits for a developing economy?"
• "How do MEDCs really benefit from investing abroad?"
• "What diagrams and examples should I use?"

Instead of passively re-reading your notes repeatedly (which barely works), you dive straight into a question:

"Evaluate the benefits and costs of increased FDI for developing economies." 📝

Now, here’s what happens when you use active learning through questions:

You quickly realise you might be stuck on specific points like:

• How FDI impacts employment in LEDCs.
• The effect on the Balance of Payments.
• The potential negative consequences, like exploitation of resources or repatriation of profits.

These gaps become obvious immediately, helping you clearly pinpoint exactly where your understanding is lacking and here’s the brilliant bit:

you can revise and apply it to a question instantly! 🎯

You're no longer guessing or passively flicking through notes hoping things stick. 🙅‍♂️
Instead, you're actively building targeted knowledge that's directly relevant to exam questions.

This active approach to revision is why EdGenie students see such incredible improvements in their grades. 📈

Why?

Because at EdGenie, everything we do is based around this method of active, question-based learning:

• Real-world application 🌍
• Constant question practice 📝
• Immediate, detailed feedback 💬

This ensures you understand concepts deeply, rather than just memorising facts or definitions.

So stop waiting until you're "ready" to answer questions.

Jump in now, find your gaps, and fill them immediately.
 
This is the secret to truly mastering A-Level Economics.

See you on the platform

 Emre 🧞‍♂️

• Mainstream Appeal 🥩 – Supermarkets now stock high-protein snacks like beef jerky, cheese bites, and roasted chickpeas, alongside low-fat and low-sugar options.​
  
  
• Influencer-Driven Trend 📱 – Social media and celebrity endorsements have made protein-focused diets popular, shifting preferences from being thin to looking strong.
  
  
• Record-Breaking Interest 📊 – Google searches for “high-protein diet” hit an all-time high, with 64% of Americans aiming to increase protein intake.
  
  
• UK’s Protein Boom 🇬🇧 – Over 40% of British consumers have increased their protein consumption, according to online supermarket Ocado.
  
  
• Not Just for Athletes 🏋️ – Protein has long been popular with bodybuilders, but now casual consumers recognise its benefits in muscle maintenance and satiety.
  
  
• Market Growth 🚀 – UK spending on protein-packed nutrition products has nearly doubled in three years, reaching £143m.
  
  
• Post-Pandemic Health Focus 🦠 – The pandemic increased health awareness, pushing protein-rich diets into the mainstream.
  
  
• GLP-1 Drugs Impact 🍽️ – Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic suppress appetite, prompting users to prioritise high-protein foods to maintain muscle.
  
  
• New Product Innovation 🍕 – Nestlé, Conagra, and Mars are launching high-protein versions of pizza, pasta, and even chocolate bars.
  
  
• Revenue Growth 📈 – Danone’s high-protein division grew from €400m to €1bn in just three years, driving company-wide expansion.
  
  
• Exceeding Recommended Intake ⚖️ – The WHO recommends 0.83g of protein per kg of body weight, but many consumers are exceeding this.
  
  
• Sustainability & Digestibility 🌱 – Danone is developing hybrid dairy-plant protein products to balance nutrition, sustainability, and gut health.
  
  
• Consumer Demands Evolving 🔄 – Shoppers want more protein, fewer processed foods, and plant-based options, challenging food companies.
  
  
• Taste Still Matters 😋 – Brands like The Curators found that increasing protein too much impacted flavour, proving that taste is still king.

Q. Explain how the increasing popularity of high-protein diets has affected the demand and supply of protein-rich products.
A. The rising demand for high-protein foods, driven by health trends and social media influence, has shifted the demand curve rightward. As firms anticipate higher profitability, supply has also increased, shifting the supply curve rightward. However, if production costs (e.g., raw materials, processing) rise, supply expansion may be limited, causing higher equilibrium prices. A diagram should illustrate these shifts, showing an increase in both equilibrium price and quantity.

Q. Discuss the factors that determine the price elasticity of demand (PED) for high-protein food products. Use examples from the article in your response
A. PED for high-protein foods depends on availability of substitutes (e.g., plant-based proteins), necessity vs luxury classification, and proportion of income spent. If seen as a health necessity, demand may be inelastic, but if alternatives exist, it becomes more elastic. Branding and differentiation (e.g., Nestlé’s high-protein pizzas) influence PED by reducing consumer sensitivity to price changes. Time also matters—short-term demand may be inelastic, but as more options enter the market, elasticity may increase.

Q. Analyse the competitive strategies used by firms like Nestlé, Danone, and Mars in the high-protein food market. Would you classify this market as monopolistic competition or an oligopoly? Explain your reasoning
A. Firms differentiate products through branding, packaging, and health benefits (e.g., Danone’s high-protein yoghurts). Pricing strategies and innovation (e.g., hybrid dairy-plant protein) sustain competitive advantage. While many firms compete, brand loyalty gives some pricing power, suggesting monopolistic competition characteristics. However, dominance by a few global firms (Nestlé, Mars) with high market share and barriers to entry suggests oligopoly elements. The market structure depends on product segmentation and firm size within it.

Q.How might firms in the high-protein market balance profit maximisation with cost considerations when launching new products? Discuss using relevant economic concepts.
A. Firms maximise profits by pricing at the point where MR = MC while managing costs through economies of scale, supply chain efficiency, and strategic branding. Product innovation (e.g., hybrid dairy-plant proteins) attracts niche consumers while keeping production scalable. However, cost challenges arise from raw material price fluctuations and R&D expenses. Firms must strike a balance between cost efficiency and differentiation to sustain profitability in a competitive market.

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.