Economics 0455/12 February/March 2023: question paper and mark scheme

Question

In country Z there has been a decrease in the birth rate. In the short run, which variable will be affected? A inflation B population C supply D unemployment

Question

The diagram shows the choices for an individual between leisure and earnings. 24 hours of 20 leisure per day 16 X 12 Y 8 4 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 earnings $ The person decides to take a job that gives more leisure time. What is the opportunity cost to the individual of moving from position Y to position X? A $20 B $80 C 4 hours of leisure per day D 12 hours of leisure per day

Question

A student defined opportunity cost as ‘the alternative given up when a course of action is followed’. Why is this definition inadequate? A The ‘next best’ alternative is not stressed. B The type of economic system is not identified. C There is no mention of money values. D There is no reference to finite resources and unlimited wants.

Question

The market for a good was in equilibrium. A change occurred which resulted in a new equilibrium with a higher price for the good and a lower quantity traded. Which change would have caused this? A The demand curve moved to the left. B The demand curve moved to the right. C The supply curve moved to the left. D The supply curve moved to the right.

Question

What will result in a movement along the demand curve for a product? A a change in tastes B an increase in income C a rise in the price of the product D a successful advertising campaign for the product

Question

In a year when there were big increases in demand for new cars, many used cars also came onto the market. The diagrams show the demand for and the supply of new and used cars. The original equilibrium position was at E in each case. new cars used cars price S1 price S1 Y X S2 E E X D3 Y D2 D1 D1 D2 O quantity O quantity What will be the new equilibrium position in each market? new cars used cars A X X B X Y C Y X D Y Y

Question

A government places an indirect tax on a good which has price-elastic demand. What is the result? total expenditure quantity demanded on the good of the good A decrease decrease B decrease increase C increase decrease D increase increase

Question

The price elasticity of demand for cigarettes is estimated to be 0.5. The government introduces a tax on cigarettes to reduce consumption. By how much must the price of cigarettes rise to reduce consumption by 10%? A 5% B 10% C 15% D 20%

Question

The diagram shows the demand for and the supply of bread. price S P1 D O quantity A maximum price P1 is fixed by the government. What is likely to be the immediate result of this? A a movement of the demand curve to the right B a movement of the supply curve to the right C a shortage of bread D a surplus of bread

Question

What is a function of commercial banks? A accept deposits and savings B lender of last resort to government C manage the national debt D operate monetary policy

Question

The table shows spending in the leisure sector of a country in 1995, 1999 and 2005. year 1995 1999 2005 leisure spending ($ billion) 118 154 198 as a % of total consumption 27.0 27.5 28.0 What can be concluded from the table? A Leisurespending,inbillionsofdollars,increasedmorebetween1995and1999thanbetween 1999and2005. B Leisure spending is growing in line with income growth. C Leisurespendingincreasedbyanaverageof$10billionayearbetween1995and2005. D Leisure spending is taking an increasing share of total consumption.

Question

The graphs show the supply of labour in four occupations. Which graph shows that people prefer leisure to work above a certain income? A B S S wage wage rate rate O O quantity of labour quantity of labour C D wage wage S rate rate S O O quantity of labour quantity of labour

Question

What would be likely to happen within a country if its government granted more work permits to doctors coming from other countries? A increased demand for doctors B increased productivity of doctors C increased salaries for doctors D increased supply of doctors

Question

What is not a benefit of trade union membership for a worker? A achieving higher wages for workers B negotiating a higher rate of interest on a bank loan for workers C providing support to workers when being made unemployed D an improvement in health and safety standards at work

Question

What will happen to a firm that expands to take advantage of economies of scale? A Average costs of production will decrease. B Average costs of production will increase. C Profits will decrease. D The price of the firm’s products will increase.

Question

The table shows total fixed and total variable costs at different levels of output for a firm. total total output fixed cost variable cost $ $ 100 1000 1000 200 1000 1500 300 1000 2000 400 1000 2500 What happens as output rises? A Average fixed cost falls. B Average fixed cost rises. C Average variable cost remains constant. D Average variable cost rises.

Question

Which characteristics are found in a monopoly? A freedom of entry to the market and a single seller B freedom of entry to the market and many sellers C many buyers and a single seller D many buyers and many sellers

Question

What is deflation? A a decrease in the claimant count B a decrease in the Consumer Prices Index C a decrease in the Human Development Index D a decrease in the real Gross Domestic Product

Question

What is the likely outcome of an expansionary monetary policy? A Borrowing by consumers falls as the money supply increases. B Firms expand to meet higher consumer demand. C Prices fall as total supply exceeds total demand. D Wages rise due to a lower rate of inflation.

Question

In the past, governments have adopted policies to try to end a recession in their country and increase economic growth. Which combination of policies is most likely to achieve this? A lower taxes and decrease government spending B lower taxes and increase government spending C raise taxes and decrease government spending D raise taxes and increase government spending

Question

The table shows taxes as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for four countries. From this information, which country had the highest percentage of direct taxation as a percentage of GDP? tax on tax on goods tax on income tax % business and services dividends % profits % % A 12 14 2 5 B 14 15 2 14 C 17 13 5 10 D 18 10 1 10

Question

As a country develops economically, what is most likely to happen? A There will be an increase in productivity. B There will be an increase in the birth rate. C There will be an increase in the death rate. D There will be reduced occupational mobility.

Question

Which government policy would be most likely to reduce structural unemployment? A a decrease in the rate of interest B a decrease in the tax on goods and services C an increase in spending on education and training D an increase in tariffs on imported goods and services

Question

A government has a target of keeping inflation between 2% and 3%. The diagram shows the rate of inflation over a four-year period. 5 rate of inflation 4 % 3 inflation 2 target 1 0 1 2 3 4 –1 year What can be deduced from the diagram? A The government target was missed in two years. B The price level fell in two years. C The price level was at its highest in the first year. D The real value of money fell in three years.

Question

A town has a population of 20 000. The birth rate is 25 per thousand and the death rate is 15 per thousand. The number of people moving in and out of the town exactly balances. What will the population be at the end of one year? A 19 800 B 20 010 C 20 200 D 22 000

Question

What is most likely to be found in a high-income economy? low high A access to safe water infant mortality rate B birth rate adult literacy rate C gross domestic product per head access to safe water D infant mortality rate death rate

Question

The table shows figures for the real GDP of a country in a particular year. quarter 1 quarter 2 quarter 3 quarter 4 ($bn) ($bn) ($bn) ($bn) 100 101 99 98 A quarter is three months. At the end of which quarter had the economy experienced a recession? A quarter 1 B quarter 2 C quarter 3 D quarter 4

Question

What is a quota in international trade? A a government grant to encourage production B a limit on the quantity of imports C a tax on imports D an administrative and technical barrier

Question

What is an advantage of a floating exchange rate for an economy? A It can correct a current account deficit or surplus. B It creates certainty for firms importing goods. C It increases government control of the economy. D It stops money flows into and out of the economy.

Question

The table shows information from a country’s current account of its balance of payments. $ billion exports of goods 20 imports of goods 24 net services +5 net primary income –8 net secondary income –8 What is the country’s current account balance? A +$1 billion B –$4 billion C –$7 billion D –$15 billion