HKDSE Economics in Life – Microeconomics 2 (2nd Edition)

Chapter 9 Changes in Market Prices

Case Study

(Various newspapers, January 2024)

Chapter 9 Changes in Market Prices
Case Study
Source B: View of a pork seller on the pork market

Topic: African swine fever found at a Yuen Long pig

farm
Source A: A news article about African swine fever
In January 2024, the Agriculture, Fisheries and
Conservation Department (AFCD) discovered that some
pigs at a pig farm in Yuen Long were found with African
swine fever. As a result, AFCD launched a culling
operation on the farm. AFCD workers culled 1,393 pigs,
which were all sent to the West New Territories Landfill for
dumping. Transport of any pigs from the eight pig farms
within 3 kilometres of the index farm has been suspended
until further notice.
Local pigs only accounts for a small
part of Hong Kong’s live pig supply.
The outbreak of African swine fever
has little impact on the pork market.
However, due to the recent increase in
Hong Kong people travelling abroad
during holidays, the retail price of
fresh pork has recorded a decrease.
Questions:
1. Refer to Source A. Explain which type of production does pig
farms belong to.

Because of the incident, some citizens said that they

2. Refer to Source A. WITHOUT using a diagram, explain how
would temporarily switch to buying chilled pork and
people’s total expenditure on chilled pork will change.
thought that there was not much difference in taste
between fresh pork and chilled pork.

3. Refer to Sources A and B. With the aid of a diagram, explain

under what condition the retail price of fresh pork will

© Aristo Educational Press Ltd. 1

HKDSE Economics in Life – Microeconomics 2 (2nd Edition)
Chapter 9 Changes in Market Prices
Case Study
decrease.

© Aristo Educational Press Ltd. 2