Economics 0455/11 May/June 2024: question paper and mark scheme

Question

What is a free good? A free samples of a new product B health services provided by the state C second-hand clothing D sunlight

Question

A firm is deciding whether to produce good X or good Y for the next five years. The predicted revenue for good X is $20 000 per year and for good Y is $18 000 per year. What is the opportunity cost of producing good X? A $18 000 B $20 000 C $90 000 D $100 000

Question

The diagram shows a production possibility curve (PPC) for an economy. good Y M N O good X What is the reason for the economy moving from point M to point N? A decreased unemployment in industries producing good X B improvement in technology used to produce good X C increased productivity of workers producing good X D increased resource allocation to the production of good X

Question

What is not held constant when drawing a demand curve for a good or service? A consumers’ incomes B tastes and preferences C the price of substitutes D the price of the good or service

Question

The diagram shows a shift in the supply curve for New Zealand’s airlines from S1 to S2. S1 price S2 O quantity What is the most likely cause of this shift? A a decrease in the costs of New Zealand’s airlines B a decrease in the number of people wanting to fly to New Zealand C an increase in the price of train and bus travel in New Zealand D an increase in the tax on air travel in New Zealand

Question

What could cause the price of tea to increase? A decrease in the demand for tea B decrease in the price of a substitute good C increase in the price of a substitute good D increase in the supply of tea

Question

A firm changes the price of its product and finds that its revenue increases. Which combination of price change and price elasticity of demand would have caused this? price elasticity price of demand A falls between 0 and 1 B falls equal to 1 C rises between 0 and 1 D rises greater than 1

Question

What could not occur in a market economic system? A a monopolist supplying specialist goods to the market B excessive pollution created by power stations C governments setting minimum wages to relieve poverty D private ownership of firms making defence equipment

Question

What is a correct definition of a demerit good? A a good which generates external benefits B a good with higher private costs than social costs C a good which is more harmful to consumers than they realise D a good which provides no costs to third parties

Question

Within the same firm, one employee is paid a higher wage than another employee. Which reason for the difference in their wage could be considered discrimination? A They are of different ages. B They have different levels of education. C They have different levels of productivity. D They have different levels of work experience.

Question

The diagram shows the demand and supply curve of labour for a firm. The initial wage rate is given by W0 and the equilibrium quantity of labour employed is L0. A trade union that represents all of the workers negotiates a rise in wage rate to W1. wage S rate W1 W0 D O L1 L0 L2 quantity of labour What is the amount of unemployment that results from this wage rise? A OL1 B L0L2 C L1L0 D L1L2

Question

A farmer introduces machinery to help workers at harvest time. The farmer also reduces the number of workers by 50%. As a result, the total harvest increases by 25%. What has happened? A Labour productivity has decreased and production has decreased. B Labour productivity has decreased and production has increased. C Labour productivity has increased and production has decreased. D Labour productivity has increased and production has increased.

Question

A firm has fixed costs of $20 and the following total variable costs. output 10 20 30 40 total variable costs ($) 40 60 80 100 What happens to average total cost over this output range? A It falls continuously. B It falls then rises. C It rises continuously. D It rises then falls.

Question

The table shows the costs and output of a firm. total cost $10 000 total variable cost $8000 quantity 10 What is the average fixed cost of the firm? A $200 B $800 C $1000 D $2000

Question

A clothing manufacturer expands by taking over a clothing retailer. Which type of merger is this? A backward vertical B conglomerate C forward vertical D horizontal

Question

What is likely to happen if a previously competitive market becomes a monopoly? barriers to economies the size of entry of scale the firm A decrease decrease increases B decrease increase decreases C increase decrease decreases D increase increase increases

Question

Which macroeconomic aim, if achieved, is most likely to increase a government budget surplus? A full employment B income redistribution C low inflation D balance of payments stability

Question

The table shows the income tax rate paid by workers at different levels of income in selected years for a developed economy. tax rate year 1 tax rate year 2 income band ($) (%) (%) 0 to 4999 0 0 5000 to 9999 10 0 10 000 to 19 999 20 10 20 000 to 29 999 30 30 30 000 to 49 999 40 50 50 000+ 40 60 What is most likely to have been the economic objective of the government in changing the tax rates between year 1 and year 2? A to reduce a current account deficit B to reduce income inequality C to reduce inflation D to reduce structural unemployment

Question

A government attempts to raise economic growth with a policy of reduced interest rates. Which other government objective is most likely to be helped in the short run? A lower unemployment B price stability C reduced income inequality D reduced trade deficit

Question

What is the definition of a supply-side policy? A any policy designed to decrease inflation B any policy designed to decrease unemployment C any policy designed to increase imports D any policy designed to increase productivity

Question

Subsistence farming is the practice of growing crops and raising livestock sufficient only for one’s own use without any surplus for trade. Why is it difficult for a government to measure economic growth in an economy based on subsistence farming? A Farmers’ families consume most of their own produce. B Farmers have low rates of saving. C The size of harvest is dependent on the weather. D The surplus produce is sold to the government.

Question

What is necessary for a worker to be classified as unemployed? the worker will the worker does the worker is accept the not have a paid prepared to current wage job work rate A yes no no B yes no yes C yes yes no D yes yes yes

Question

What is most likely to increase when the rate of inflation gradually changes from 2% to 8% in one year? A the cost of updating existing price lists B the level of business confidence C the real income of fixed-income earners D the real value of consumer debt

Question

The introduction of a minimum hourly wage in an industry aims to reduce poverty among low-paid workers. What is an advantage to workers of an effective national minimum wage? A All workers get paid according to their level of productivity. B Firms may look to increase capital equipment rather than labour. C Levels of employment become more dependent on wage differences. D Redistribution of a firm’s income rewards labour rather than owners.

Question

The chart shows the population pyramid for a country. age female group male 81–90 71–80 61–70 51–60 41–50 31–40 21–30 11–20 0–10 6 4 2 0 0 2 4 6 population / millions What is most likely to cause the population pyramid to be shaped in this way? birth rate death rate A low low B low high C high low D high high

Question

The table shows information on four countries. Which country is likely to be the most developed? Gross Domestic life population Product (GDP) expectancy (million) ($ billion) (years) A 100 800 51 B 200 6000 62 C 300 600 48 D 1000 1600 63

Question

What is an advantage to a firm of specialisation at a national level? A dependency on supplies from other countries B greater competition from overseas firms C greater depletion of the country’s natural resources D lower average costs due to economies of scale

Question

What is an intended outcome of protecting infant industries from free trade? A to decrease the competitiveness of domestic firms B to decrease the demand for exported goods C to increase employment in domestic firms D to increase the supply of imported goods

Question

In the diagram, curves D1 and S1 relate to the demand and supply of the US dollar ($) against the Chinese yuan. price of $ (in yuan) S1 P1 P2 D1 D2 O quantity What is most likely to cause the demand curve for US dollars to shift from D1 to D2? A a fall in Chinese interest rates B a fall in US interest rates C a faster growth rate in the US economy D a reduction in the US government budget deficit

Question

Brazil had a balance of payments current account deficit of US$23.5 billion. Which policy is most likely to reduce the current account deficit in Brazil? A depreciate Brazil’s currency B reduce rates of income tax in Brazil C reduce subsidies to Brazil’s exporting firms D reduce tariffs on Brazil’s imports