Unit 38:               Business and the Economic 
                                Environment
         Unit code:             T/502/5500
         QCF Level 3:           BTEC National
         Credit value:          10
         Guided learning hours:  60
           Aim and purpose
         The aim of this unit is to introduce learners to the interaction between the general economic environment 
         and business activity and how the interactions generate national wellbeing. Learners will study how 
         government activities regulate and influence business activities and how business activities influence 
         government action and policy.
           Unit introduction
         Businesses operate in an environment shaped by the government. Government seeks to control the general 
         level of prices (inflation), employment levels, economic growth and the balance of payments. A range of 
         techniques is used to influence these variables but changes made by the government have a direct impact on 
         individual businesses. Raising interest rates may reduce demand as it becomes more expensive for consumers 
         to borrow. This means that businesses will have to reduce output and possibly make staff redundant. The 
         cost of borrowing to pay for new investment goes up so implementing newer technologies might be delayed, 
         reducing an organisation’s competitiveness. Changes in the business environment will impact on individual 
         organisations.
         Government spending has a significant impact on business as it is such a high proportion of the gross domestic 
         product. Spending on infrastructure projects such as upgrading the west coast main railway line or building 
         new sports facilities for the Olympic Games have a multiplier effect at both the national and local level. 
         Suppliers of related goods and services prosper. In recession, the government uses spending as a means of 
         stimulating economic activity.
         Fiscal and monetary policies are two of the main tools available to government for regulating most economic 
         activity. Fiscal policy uses taxation and spending to influence the economy. The annual spending review and 
         budget identify spending plans and how they will be financed from the public purse. Fiscal policy aims not only 
         to raise revenue for spending but it is also used to re-distribute income. Deflation and reflation are controlled 
         through monetary policy and the supply of money using interest rates. Monetary policy provides the means 
         for ensuring macroeconomic stability.
         In the UK, government and business have to operate within the legal and regulatory framework established 
         by both UK, Government and the European Union (EU) and other trans-national institutions. Harmonising 
         legislation and regulations has ensured the adoption of the working time directive limiting how many hours 
         employees can work. In many parts of the economy there are employees who have migrated to the UK 
         to work, one of the most obvious impacts of belonging to the EU and something which benefits many 
         employers who have needed to fill vacancies in boom times.
          Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business          1
          – Issue 2 – June 2010 © Edexcel Limited 2010
           Learning outcomes
         On completion of this unit a learner should:
         1   Understand the impact on businesses of changes in the economic environment
         2   Know how government spending impacts on businesses
         3   Understand fiscal and monetary policies and the effects on spending
         4   Know how the international economy affects UK businesses and competition.
           2                                      Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business
                                                       – Issue 2 – June 2010 © Edexcel Limited 2010
       Unit content
       1  Understand the impact on businesses of changes in the economic environment 
         Economic environment: business cycle (growth, recession); indicators, eg changes in gross domestic 
         product (GDP), rates of inflation and deflation, employment rates, trade surpluses/deficits; balance 
         of payments; conflicting objectives; ‘ripple effects’ of downturns in particular industries eg housing, 
         construction and manufacturing; structural adjustments; welfare considerations
         Government policy: economic policy; industrial policy; competition policy; fiscal policy; social policy; 
         education and training policy; transport policy; regional policy; environmental policy
       2  Know how government spending impacts on businesses
         Government spending: public services via central and local government agencies; private and voluntary 
         sector business organisations; deficit funding; government spending and the multiplier mechanism; local 
         impacts of funding; private finance initiatives
       3  Understand fiscal and monetary policies and the effects on spending
         Fiscal policy: direct and indirect taxation; capital allowances; impact of changes on costs, aggregate 
         demand and tax free allowances; potential annual revision; public finances; public sector borrowing; 
         comprehensive spending review; pre-budget report; budget; re-distribution of income
         Monetary policy: aggregate demand and trading conditions; monetary policy; interest rate changes; 
         inflation, employment levels; investment decisions; impacts of actual and anticipated changes
       4  Know how the international economy affects UK businesses and competition
         European factors: role of European Union (EU); performance of European Union economies; European 
         policies eg agriculture (CAP), business, growth, employment, education, economics and finance, 
         employment, environment, science and technology, regional, external relations, social; the European 
         Monetary Union (EMU)
         Global factors: World Trade Organisation (WTO); trading blocs; stock market fluctuations; credit 
         availability; global warming; political stability, war; industry-specific developments (oil, gas, motor); 
         environment, eg Kyoto Protocol, Rio Earth Summit; genetically modified products; outsourcing; 
         globalisation; emerging economies (tiger economies, BRIC economies)
        Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business
        – Issue 2 – June 2010 © Edexcel Limited 2010          3
              Assessment and grading criteria
              In order to pass this unit, the evidence that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that 
              they can meet all the learning outcomes for the unit. The assessment criteria for a pass grade describe the 
              level of achievement required to pass this unit.
               Assessment and grading criteria
               To achieve a pass grade the             To achieve a merit grade the           To achieve a distinction grade 
               evidence must show that the             evidence must show that, in            the evidence must show that, 
               learner is able to:                     addition to the pass criteria,         in addition to the pass and 
                                                       the learner is able to:                merit criteria, the learner is 
                                                                                              able to:
               P1     explain the effects, of changes  M1   analyse the implications of       D1   evaluate the impact of 
                      in the economic environment            government policies for a              changes in the economic 
                      on a selected business                 selected business                      environment on a selected 
                      [IE]                                                                          business
               P2   identify how government 
                      policies impact on a selected 
                      business 
                      [IE, RL]
               P3   identify the impact of 
                      government spending on a 
                      selected business 
                      [IE, CT]
               P4   explain how both fiscal and        M2   analyse the effects of fiscal     D2   suggest and justify elements 
                      monetary policy decisions              and monetary policies for a            of fiscal and monetary 
                      have affected a selected               selected business in terms of          policies that would help a 
                      business                               the market it operates in              selected business achieve its 
                      [IE]                                                                          objectives.
               P5   describe the impact of             M3   assess the impact of changes 
                      international factors on a             in the global and European 
                      selected business.                     business environment on a 
                      [IE]                                   selected business.
              PLTS: This summary references where applicable, in the square brackets, the elements of the personal, 
              learning and thinking skills which are embedded in the assessment of this unit. By achieving the criteria, 
              learners will have demonstrated effective application of the referenced elements of the skills. 
               Key           IE – independent enquirers         RL – reflective learners          SM – self-managers
                             CT – creative thinkers             TW – team workers                 EP – effective participators
                 4                                                                 Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business
                                                                                           – Issue 2 – June 2010 © Edexcel Limited 2010