Economics 9708/13 May/June 2024: question paper and mark scheme

Question

What is not an example of a public good? A education B flood control systems C national defence D street lighting

Question

The diagram shows a production possibility curve for an economy that produces two goods, X and Y. good Y G F E H O good X When will the opportunity cost of producing more of good X be the largest? A moving from point E to point F B moving from point E to point G C moving from point E to point H D moving from point G to point H

Question

Which activity illustrates the consumption of a ‘free’ good? A a farmer using water taken from a river B a patient visiting a medical facility provided by a charity C a person breathing air in the countryside D a person eating their birthday cake given as a gift by a friend

Question

What is essential to eliminate scarcity? A the existence of sufficient resources to meet all needs and wants B producers consistently produce in excess of demand C the government has a surplus budget D there is equilibrium in all markets

Question

What will encourage a higher degree of division of labour? A firms wishing for a greater level of self-sufficiency B firms wishing to increase their flexibility in production C firms wishing to raise their level of productivity D firms wishing to reduce their level of risk

Question

Which business is likely to be the slowest to alter its output in response to a sustained increase in demand for its product? A a fast-food restaurant B a household cleaning service C a newspaper printer D an oil exploration company

Question

A company uses large amounts of gas to produce steel. Supplies of gas are reduced at the same time as the market for steel is hit by a recession. What can be said about the likely changes in the market for steel? equilibrium equilibrium price quantity A falls uncertain B rises uncertain C uncertain falls D uncertain rises

Question

A firm is charging a price of $12 for its product and using 80% of its production capacity of 10 000 units per month. Assuming the product has unitary price elastic demand, which price should the firm charge to utilise its full capacity? A $9.00 B $9.60 C $10.00 D $10.60

Question

The diagram shows the demand for and supply of hotel accommodation. The market equilibrium is at point E. The hotel receives a very large number of bad reviews about the quality of its accommodation. Which point on the diagram would show the new market equilibrium? S price A B E C D D O quantity

Question

What most accurately describes a market supply curve? A supply at different income levels, assuming product prices remain unchanged B supply at different levels of factor prices, assuming product prices remain unchanged C supply at different prices, assuming no changes in technology D supply at different time periods, assuming no changes in technology

Question

In the diagram, D1 shows an individual’s initial demand curve for public transport. price of public transport D2 D1 O quantity of public transport What could cause the demand curve to shift to D2? A The costs of running the individual’s car fall. B The individual is no longer able to drive. C The price of public transport falls. D The public transport services are reduced.

Question

A government introduces an effective minimum price for a product but makes no other intervention in the market. This policy suggests that the government’s objective is A to discourage consumption of a demerit good. B to increase the consumption of a merit good. C to reduce the price of a private good. D to support the incomes of producers.

Question

The diagram shows the effect of an indirect tax imposed on cigarettes. The market is initially in equilibrium at point X. price S1 Z S P1 W X Pe P2 Y D O Q1 Qe quantity Which area represents the incidence of the tax on consumers? A P1ZYP2 B P1ZWPe C PeWYP2 D PeXZP1

Question

The diagram shows the supply curve of a product. S 20 price ($) 15 10 5 0 quantity The government imposes a specific indirect tax of $5 on the product. How will the price elasticity of supply of the product change? A from elastic (>1) to inelastic (<1) B from inelastic (<1) to elastic (>1) C from inelastic (<1) to unitary (=1) D from unitary (=1) to elastic (>1)

Question

The diagrams show a country’s aggregate demand (AD1) and aggregate supply (AS1) curves. Since the world economic downturn (2007–2008), some governments have reduced labour costs and ensured interest rates remained unchanged. How would this most likely be shown on a diagram? A B AS1 AS1 price price AS2 level level P1 P1 P2 P2 AD1 AD1 AD2 O real GDP O real GDP C D AS2 AS1 price AS1 price level level P2 P2 P1 P1 AD1 AD2 AD1 O real GDP O real GDP

Question

The diagram shows the effect on the average price level when aggregate demand (AD) increases from AD1 to AD2. average LRAS price level P2 P1 AD2 AD1 O real GDP Which statement relating to this change in aggregate demand is correct? A Nominal GDP has increased. B Nominal GDP is unchanged. C Real GDP has increased. D Real GDP has fallen.

Question

The table lists the values of the components of an economy’s circular flow of income. component value $m government spending 6 exports 8 investment 9 imports 7 saving 10 tax 5 What can be concluded about the economy from the information shown? A It has a budget surplus. B It has a trade deficit. C It is a mixed, open economy. D Its circular flow is in equilibrium.

Question

What is a cost of negative economic growth? A deteriorating balance of payments B higher inflation C higher unemployment D increased pollution

Question

A government statistical office measured changes in income from employment, pensions and benefits, then subtracted income tax and welfare contributions and adjusted for inflation. What did the final figure represent? A changes in nominal income B changes in nominal net earnings C changes in real disposable income D changes in real gross earnings

Question

Which combination of fiscal and monetary policies is most likely to be effective in the short run to prevent deflation in a closed economy? fiscal policy monetary policy A decreasing the budget deficit decreasing the interest rate B decreasing the budget deficit decreasing the money supply C increasing the budget deficit decreasing the interest rate D increasing the budget deficit decreasing the money supply

Question

Which macroeconomic objective is most likely to be achieved by increasing income tax? A depreciation of the exchange rate B economic growth C low unemployment D price stability

Question

What is not a supply-side policy? A increasing government expenditure on infrastructure B increasing research and development expenditure C increasing subsidies for education and training D increasing the supply of money

Question

When can a policy be classified as macroeconomic? A when it focuses on the level of individual welfare B when it involves economy-wide institutions and behaviour C when it is based on the control of monopoly markets D when it relies on the use of buffer stock schemes

Question

The demand for a country’s exports is price elastic. If it is experiencing a deficit on the current account of its balance of payments, which combination of policies is most likely to correct the deficit? standard rate of rate of interest exchange rate income tax A decrease appreciate keep unchanged B decrease depreciate decrease C increase keep unchanged decrease D keep unchanged depreciate increase

Question

What is an unintended consequence of the US government restricting imports of cheap Chinese steel? A US importers of steel pay lower prices for steel. B US manufacturers become less competitive. C US steel makers increase steel production. D US steel workers receive higher incomes.

Question

What is an export of services in Jamaica’s current account? A an inflow of funds to Jamaica to buy shares B earnings from US tourists visiting Jamaica C earnings of Haitian workers in Jamaica sent to Haiti D the export of Jamaican coffee

Question

A country imports natural gas for which it has price-inelastic demand. What is the effect if that country imposes an import duty on the gas? A Consumers in the importing country will suffer a loss of consumer surplus. B The exporting country will gain export revenue. C The importing country’s primary income will increase. D The price of natural gas will rise in other importing countries.

Question

The table shows the output of goods X and Y in China and the United States (US) before specialisation. good X good Y China 20 000 70 000 US 20 000 50 000 total 40 000 120 000 Assuming both China and the US use 50% of their resources to produce each product, what will the combined total output be after specialisation has occurred? A 120 000 B 140 000 C 160 000 D 180 000

Question

Economists suggest that multilateral trade between many countries is preferable to bilateral trade between two countries. Why is this? A Bilateral trade means that trade diversion is always greater than trade creation. B Bilateral trade misses the benefit of trade with third countries. C Gains from bilateral trade are less than the harm done to third countries. D Gains from comparative advantage cannot apply in the case of bilateral trade.

Question

A country experiences an improvement in its terms of trade. What is the most likely cause? A a decrease in its budget deficit B a relatively low rate of domestic inflation C a rise in its exchange rate D a surplus on its primary income account