Case Studies & Exam Practice

This final lesson brings together everything you have learned about The Changing Economic World. It summarises the key case studies, provides model answer structures, and gives you practice questions with mark-scheme guidance. Use this lesson for revision and exam preparation.

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Key Case Studies Summary

You need to know two main case studies for this topic: Nigeria (an NEE) and the UK (an HIC).

Nigeria Summary Table

Topic	Key Facts
Location	West Africa, Gulf of Guinea coast, borders Benin, Niger, Chad, Cameroon
Population	~230 million; median age 18; Africa's most populous country
Classification	Newly Emerging Economy (NEE)
HDI	0.539 (low human development)
GNI per capita	~$2,160
Main economic driver	Oil (80-90% of export earnings)
Key industries	Oil, telecoms, Nollywood, agriculture, technology (Yabacon Valley)
TNCs	Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron (oil); MTN, Airtel (telecoms)
Environmental issues	Oil spills in Niger Delta, gas flaring, deforestation
Social challenges	Low life expectancy (54 years), high infant mortality, limited access to clean water, gender inequality in education
Political challenges	Corruption, Boko Haram insurgency, ethnic and religious tensions
Urban growth	Lagos (~15-21 million) — opportunities (jobs, education) and challenges (slums, traffic, waste)

UK Summary Table

Topic	Key Facts
Classification	High-Income Country (HIC); post-industrial economy
Employment structure	~1% primary, ~15% secondary, ~84% tertiary/quaternary
Deindustrialisation	Manufacturing declined from ~30% to ~10% of GDP since 1970
Key growth sectors	Financial services (City of London), IT (Tech City, Cambridge), creative industries, healthcare
North–South divide	South-east wealthier; north/Midlands more deprived; caused by industrial legacy, unequal investment
Strategies to reduce divide	Northern Powerhouse, Levelling Up, enterprise zones, HS2, devolution
Transport	Rail, road, air — investment concentrated in London; HS2 controversial
Regeneration example	London Docklands — transformed from derelict docks to Canary Wharf financial district

Exam Tip: In the exam, you will be expected to use specific facts, figures, and place names from your case studies. Vague answers score poorly. Learn the key statistics and be ready to deploy them.

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Understanding AQA Question Types

The Changing Economic World appears in Paper 2: Challenges in the Human Environment. Questions follow a predictable pattern:

Marks	Question Type	What the Examiner Wants
1 mark	Define / State	A single correct fact or definition
2 marks	Describe / Identify	Two clear points or one point with development
3 marks	Explain one way...	A point + explanation + development/example
4 marks	Explain two ways...	Two points, each with explanation
6 marks	Explain (extended)	Three developed points with evidence and examples
9 marks	Evaluate / Assess / To what extent...	Balanced argument with evidence, leading to a conclusion. Case study knowledge essential.

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Model Answer Structures

6-Mark "Explain" Questions

Structure: Point → Explain → Example/Evidence (x3)

Example question: "Explain how the oil industry has affected Nigeria's economic development." (6 marks)

Model answer plan:

Point 1: Oil generates enormous revenue for the Nigerian government.

• Oil accounts for approximately 80-90% of Nigeria's export earnings and 50-60% of government revenue.
• This money has funded infrastructure projects and public services, contributing to economic growth from $46 billion GDP in 2000 to over$46billionGDPin2000toover470 billion today.

Point 2: However, oil has created an over-dependent economy vulnerable to price shocks.

• When global oil prices crashed in 2014-16, Nigeria entered recession because its economy was not diversified.
• This shows that relying on a single commodity is risky and can reverse development gains.

Point 3: Oil extraction has caused severe environmental damage in the Niger Delta.

• Thousands of oil spills have polluted water supplies and destroyed fishing and farming livelihoods.
• The UNEP estimated that cleaning up Ogoniland alone would take 25-30 years, showing the long-term cost of oil-based development.

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9-Mark "Evaluate" Questions

Structure: Introduction → Arguments FOR → Arguments AGAINST → Conclusion

Example question: "To what extent do transnational corporations (TNCs) benefit newly emerging economies (NEEs)? Use a case study of an NEE." (9 marks)

Model answer plan:

Introduction: TNCs such as Shell and MTN operate extensively in Nigeria, bringing both benefits and drawbacks to the country's development.

Benefits (FOR):

1. Job creation — Shell directly employs around 3,000 Nigerians and supports many more through contractors and supply chains. MTN and Airtel have created thousands of jobs in the telecoms sector.
2. Tax revenue — TNCs pay billions in taxes and royalties that fund government services such as education and healthcare.
3. Technology transfer — TNCs bring advanced technology and expertise that can develop local skills. The telecoms revolution, driven by TNCs, has connected over 200 million Nigerians to mobile networks.

Drawbacks (AGAINST):

1. Profit repatriation — most TNC profits are sent back to headquarters in HICs rather than being reinvested in Nigeria. This limits the multiplier effect on the local economy.
2. Environmental damage — Shell's operations in the Niger Delta have caused catastrophic oil spills, gas flaring, and water pollution, devastating local communities and ecosystems.
3. Limited skill transfer — many TNC jobs in Nigeria are low-skilled (e.g., security, driving), while high-skilled management and engineering positions are often filled by expatriates.

Conclusion: TNCs bring significant benefits to Nigeria through job creation and tax revenue, but these benefits are offset by profit repatriation and environmental damage. On balance, TNCs are most beneficial when the government can effectively regulate their activities and ensure that wealth is shared more equitably. Without strong governance, TNCs can exploit NEEs rather than develop them.

Exam Tip: For 9-mark questions, your conclusion is essential. Do not just list points for and against — you must make a judgement. Use phrases like "On balance," "Overall," or "To a greater extent..." to signal your evaluation.

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Practice Questions

Section A Style (Short Answer)

1. Define the term "newly emerging economy" (NEE). (1 mark)

2. State two economic indicators that can be used to measure development. (2 marks)

3. Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of using the Human Development Index (HDI) to measure development. (4 marks)

Section B Style (Case Study)

4. Using a case study of an NEE, explain how industrial development has created opportunities for that country. (6 marks)

5. Explain two ways in which the UK economy has changed from an industrial to a post-industrial economy. (4 marks)

6. "Deindustrialisation has had more negative effects than positive effects on the UK." To what extent do you agree with this statement? (9 marks)

7. Using a named example, assess the effectiveness of transport improvements in reducing the UK's North–South divide. (9 marks)

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Mark Scheme Guidance

What Gets Top Marks?

Feature	How to Achieve It
Specific knowledge	Use facts, figures, dates, and place names from your case studies (e.g., "Shell employs ~3,000 Nigerians" not "companies create jobs")
Chains of reasoning	Link your points together: cause → effect → consequence (e.g., "Oil spills pollute water → fish die → fishing communities lose their livelihoods")
Balance	For 9-mark questions, always consider both sides before reaching a conclusion
Geographical vocabulary	Use key terms correctly: deindustrialisation, post-industrial economy, GNI per capita, HDI, NEE, TNC, multiplier effect
Evaluation / Judgement	For 9-mark questions, state your opinion clearly and justify it with evidence

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	How to Fix It
Writing too much for low-mark questions	1-mark questions need one sentence. 2-mark questions need two points. Do not write a paragraph.
Vague answers without examples	Always name specific countries, companies, or places. "A country in Africa" is not good enough — say "Nigeria."
Listing points without explanation	Each point needs development. Do not just say "TNCs create jobs" — explain how and give evidence.
Forgetting the conclusion in 9-mark answers	The conclusion is where you demonstrate evaluation. Without it, you cannot access the top mark band.
Confusing GNI and GDP	GNI includes income earned overseas; GDP only counts domestic production. Know the difference.
Writing about the wrong case study	Read the question carefully. If it says "an NEE," use Nigeria. If it says "a HIC," use the UK.

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Key Facts to Memorise

Nigeria