Economics 9708/32 May/June 2023: question paper and mark scheme

Question

Studies show that some dentists replace patients’ teeth more often than is necessary. Which factor helps to explain why excessive dental treatment may take place? A the existence of asymmetric information B the existence of dynamic efficiency C the existence of positive externalities D the existence of social benefits

Question

The diagram shows an individual’s indifference curve, I1, for apples and pears. apples 19 Y X 12 I1 0 0 2 4 pears What can be concluded from the movement from point X to point Y on this curve? A The individual can afford more apples than pears. B The individual has not changed their total utility. C The individual prefers apples to pears. D The individual has gained more utility by moving from point X to point Y.

Question

What is not necessary for successful price discrimination? A ability to separate markets B different price elasticities of demand in each market C monopoly power D price leadership

Question

The diagram shows the cost curves of a firm. What is the level of output below which the firm will shut down in the long run? MC cost or ATC price $ AVC O A B C D quantity

Question

Steel producer X takes over its main competitor, steel producer Y. What would X expect to happen to the average revenue for its product and its long-run average cost as a result of this takeover? average long-run revenue average cost A decrease decrease B decrease increase C increase decrease D increase increase

Question

Which statement is correct? A External benefit minus private benefit equals social benefit. B Private benefit minus external benefit equals social benefit. C Social benefit minus external benefit equals private benefit. D Social benefit plus private benefit equals external benefit.

Question

What can be done to help to overcome moral hazard? A charging the same insurance premium to all people in the same age group B designing insurance contracts so that the insurance company and client share any loss C giving unconditional financial support to banks to protect jobs D guaranteeing jobs for bank managers to provide a sense of security

Question

Which action would produce a positive externality of production? A A child is vaccinated against measles. B A consumer donates products to a local food bank. C A firm rebuilds a local road when constructing its new factory. D A government pays a subsidy to firms producing cars.

Question

A privately owned sole supplier of gas operates in an unregulated market with high barriers to entry and exit. Which row is most likely to indicate the economic efficiency resulting from the firm’s position in this market? productive allocative dynamic efficiency efficiency efficiency A no no no B no no yes C no yes yes D yes no yes

Question

A government increases the protection that patents offer to inventors of new products and processes. Which barriers to entry into an industry are higher as a result of this increase? A cost barriers B legal barriers C market barriers D physical barriers

Question

The table shows how a firm’s total cost changes as more workers are employed. number of total costs workers $ 1 1200 2 2000 3 2700 What would be the effect of employing a third worker on the firm’s average costs and its marginal costs? average costs marginal costs A decrease decrease B decrease increase C increase decrease D increase increase

Question

A government hopes to build an athletics stadium to hold the World Games. The stadium would have high private and external costs, but it would increase national pride. Why would it be difficult to use cost-benefit analysis to decide whether to build the stadium? A The materials needed to build the stadium will need to be imported. B The external costs of clearing land for building will outweigh the private costs. C The stadium will not be used much for athletics after the World Games. D The valuation of national pride will be complex to assess.

Question

What will lead the demand curve for labour to shift to the right? A a decrease in the marginal productivity of labour B a decrease in the wage rate C an increase in the marginal productivity of labour D an increase in the wage rate

Question

The production schedule indicates how total output increases as up to five workers are employed per week. employment total product of workers (units) 0 0 1 6.0 2 13.0 3 21.0 4 27.5 5 33.5 What is the marginal product when the average product per worker equals 7.0 units? A 6.0 units B 6.5 units C 7.0 units D 8.0 units

Question

What is likely to cause a more equal distribution of income in the long run? A a reduction in the top rate of taxation B an increase in government spending on education and training C an increase in unemployment D privatisation of the education sector

Question

Immigrants are awarded entry points according to their ability to fulfil criteria set by the Canadian Government. A new Express Entry system for the immigration of skilled workers was introduced. The diagram shows the change in the relative importance or weighting given to these criteria between the old and new systems. Criteria weighting (%) for skilled worker immigration skill transferability 100 work experience % adaptability 80 age 60 education 40 language 20 job offer 0 old Express system Entry system What can be concluded from the diagram? A Canada intended to maintain the same level of skilled immigrants under both systems. B Canada wanted a smaller number of highly educated skilled immigrants. C Certainty of employment for skilled immigrants was made the main criterion. D Skilled immigrants needed to have fewer years of work experience than previously.

Question

A government imposes a maximum price for electricity. Which statement justifying this measure might be considered valid on economic grounds? A It will encourage electricity suppliers to invest in additional capacity. B It will increase the incentive for consumers to conserve energy. C It will prevent the monopolistic exploitation of consumers. D It will prevent the rationing of electricity through power cuts.

Question

Which statement best describes demand-induced investment? A It is spending on capital goods by firms because the rate of growth in demand for final goods and services increases. B It is spending on capital goods by firms because the cost of borrowing has fallen. C It is spending on capital goods by firms because they want to access new technology to improve the output per worker. D It is spending on new capital goods by firms replacing old and obsolete capital goods.

Question

Middle Eastern countries earn foreign exchange from exports of oil and natural gas. The World Economic Forum has encouraged oil producers to assist low-income countries in achieving economic growth. Which policy by Middle Eastern countries would be least likely to achieve this economic growth in low-income countries? A assisting low-income countries to overcome foreign exchange shortages by writing off debts B enabling low-income countries to undertake capital projects for supplies of clean water through financial aid C hiring mainly labour from low-income countries to build infrastructure in the Middle East D reducing exports of fuels to low-income countries to lower pollution of the environment

Question

An open economy has injections, J, into the circular flow of income and withdrawals, W. W injections and withdrawals S T J R O Q E national income If the full employment level of national income is OQ, what represents the inflationary gap? A QE B RT C SR D ST

Question

Which condition will produce the highest value of the national income multiplier in an open economy with a government sector? A high average and marginal tax rates B high marginal propensity to save C low level of autonomous consumption D low marginal propensity to import

Question

Which type of unemployment can be classified as voluntary? A cyclical B frictional C structural D technological

Question

Increased borrowing by the government results in higher interest charges and this leads to less private investment expenditure. Of what is this an example? A an automatic stabiliser B crowding out C the accelerator D the substitution effect

Question

Governments set economic policy aims. What will be least likely to occur if all these aims are achieved? A a decrease in the average standard of living B a decrease in the currency’s foreign exchange rate C an increase in the level of frictional unemployment D an increase in the rate of inflation

Question

The government decides to raise the rate of value added tax (general sales tax). What does this suggest is the government’s main macroeconomic objective? A to reduce the budget deficit B to reduce the inequality of income distribution C to reduce the level of unemployment D to reduce the rate of inflation

Question

An economy imports most of the factors of production used in the manufacture of its exported goods. What effect would depreciation of this economy’s rate of exchange have? price of imported price of exported goods in the goods in the domestic currency domestic currency A fall fall B fall rise C rise fall D rise rise

Question

The table shows the Human Development Index (HDI) values for India in 2014 and 2020. HDI value 2014 0.60 2020 0.64 Which conclusion is most likely to be drawn from the table about the change in the HDI value from 2014 to 2020? A India had a fall in life expectancy at birth. B India had a fall in real national income per head. C India had a rise in environmental pollution and crime rates. D India had a rise in the mean years of schooling of the adult population.

Question

The diagram shows a J curve which indicates that a fall in the exchange rate will worsen the current account position before it starts to improve. J curve current account surplus O time current account deficit What is said to explain this? A a time lag before recognising that prices have changed B an improvement in the quality of goods produced C the demand for imports and exports is elastic in the short run D the supply of goods is price elastic

Question

Which country is likely to be the most highly developed? relative size of Gini coefficient death rate tertiary sector A high high high B low low low C low low high D low high low

Question

What is central to economic growth but not necessarily to economic development? A an expansion of the range of economic choices available to individuals B an increase in Gross Domestic Product C the eradication of absolute poverty D the satisfaction of basic needs amongst the whole population