Economics 9708/44 October/November 2025: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge AS & A Level Economics (9708), Paper 4 A Level Data Response and Essays, October/November 2025. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
Market Economies
From Adam Smith onwards, most economists have regarded competitive markets as the main mechanism of economic activity. They argue that the interaction between producers and consumers can lead to both allocative efficiency and productive efficiency.
It can, however, be questioned whether the market automatically produces the best solution.
Sometimes there are significant reasons for governments to intervene in a market in order to produce a better outcome than market forces alone. These situations are market failures.
When producing goods and services firms consider the private costs they pay and private benefits they receive. For example, a steel producer accounts for the cost of iron ore, fuel, labour and administration. It offsets these costs against the revenue from selling the steel. However, those people who live near the steelworks suffer the consequences of the noise, dirt and polluted air generated as part of the production process. Similarly, in many areas the extraction of iron ore can lead to environmental destruction such as the degradation of ground water for domestic consumption and a reduction in the variety of wildlife and flowers.
Competitive markets as envisaged by economists, however, may not exist. Firms may integrate to gain the benefits of economies of scale, to realise their ambition to rule the market or to increase their market share. Such integration might lead to the development of a monopoly market structure.
Many believe that a monopoly always operates against the interests of the consumer because of its lack of efficiency. As a result, governments often restrict the operation of monopolies.
(a) Explain the meaning of ‘allocative efficiency and productive efficiency’. [4]
(b) (i) Explain what is meant by a negative production externality. [2]
(ii) Identify from the extract a negative production externality resulting from steel production.
[1]
(iii) Explain, with the aid of a diagram, the consequences for output and price if the steel market is required to take into consideration negative production externalities. [5]
(c) Consider whether ‘a monopoly always operates against the interests of the consumer’. [8]
Section B
Answer one question.
EITHER
Mark scheme
1(a) Explain the meaning of ‘allocative and productive efficiency’. 4
Allocative efficiency is when firms produce what consumers want (1)
MC=AR/MC =P. (1)
Productive efficiency is producing goods and services with the least use of
resources. (1)
Production on the lowest average cost curve/ minimum average cost/AC
=minimum (1)
Producing on the PPC 1
1(b)(i) Explain what is meant by a negative production externality. 2
A cost 1 that is born by someone other than the producer of the good/a third
party 1
1(b)(ii) Identify from the extract, a negative production externality resulting 1
from steel production.
Noise, dirt or polluted air 1
Max 1 mark
1(b)(iii) Explain, with the aid of a diagram, the consequences for output and 5
price if the steel market is required to take into consideration negative
production externalities.
1(b)(ii)
cost/benefit MPB MSC MPC
Negative
P Externally
P
Q1 Q Quantity
Labels 1 Axes 1 and explicit indication of negative externality 1
Comment: Quantity falls from Q to Q 1 1 and Price increases from P to P1 1
Welfare loss explained 1
1(c) Consider whether ‘a monopoly always operates against the interests of 8
the consumer’.
In favour of monopoly :
• Economies of scale 1, + explanation 1
• Investment in research and development 1, + explanation 1
Natural monopoly e.g. railways 1, + development 1
Max 4
Against monopoly:
Loss of productive efficiency 1 + explanation 1
Loss of allocative efficiency 1 + explanation 1
Lack of dynamic efficiency1 + explanation
Or: A diagram showing the loss of allocative and productive efficiency
Axes/Labels 1 correct costs and revenues 1 loss of AE 1 loss of PE 1
Max 4
Max 7 for argument
Conclusion: 1
EITHER
Evaluate, with the aid of a diagram, whether the diminishing marginal utility theory of demand provides an adequate explanation of the market demand curve for all goods and services. [20]
OR
Mark scheme
2 Evaluate, with the aid of a diagram whether the diminishing marginal 20
utility theory of demand provides an adequate explanation of the market
demand curve for all goods and services.
Use Table A: AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis and Table
B: AO3 Evaluation to mark candidate responses to this question.
AO1 and AO2 out of 14 marks. AO3 out of 6 marks.
Indicative content Responses may include:
AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis
Assumptions of marginal utility analysis including:
• rational consumers who prefer more to less, a two-good world, the goods
can be substituted for each other, perfect knowledge of the market.
• Definition of marginal and total utility.
• Explanation of diminishing marginal utility.
• The analysis of the change in the price of a good and the explanation of
how much the consumer will purchase as the price changes.
• The use of the equi-marginal principle to establish how consumers
‘balance’ their expenditure on goods as the price of one of them changes.
• The horizontal addition of individuals’ demand curves to achieve the
market demand curve.
AO3 Evaluation
• Consumer rationality: marginal utility theory assumes that consumers act
rationally. They are of a calculating mind, carrying numerous
combinations of different commodities in their heads, can substitute one
for the other, compare their total utilities and make a rational choice
between various combinations of goods.
• Marginal utility theory has no provision for income and substitution effects
so does not explain inferior goods.
• It is difficult to compare the concept of changing the demand for
expensive goods which are purchased infrequently with goods such as
consumables. which are one-off indivisible purchases and the choice is
between, for example, 1 fridge and 4 weeks’ food.
• A consumer is faced with a much more complex world than the two-good
world of the model because a consumer buys not just two but a large
number of commodities to satisfy their innumerable wants.
• Accept all valid responses.
AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis 14
AO3 Evaluation 6
OR
Subnormal and supernormal profits are only experienced in the short run and only by firms in perfect competition.
With the help of diagrams, evaluate this statement. [20]
Section C
Answer one question.
EITHER
Mark scheme
3 Subnormal and supernormal profits are only experienced in the short 20
run and only by firms in perfect competition.
With the help of diagrams, evaluate this statement.
Use Table A: AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis and
Table B: AO3 Evaluation to mark candidate responses to this question.
AO1 and AO2 out of 14 marks. AO3 out of 6 marks.
Indicative content Responses may include:
AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis
• Definition of short run, subnormal and supernormal profits.
• Statement of the conditions for perfect competition.
• Analysis of the applicability of the concepts of subnormal and
supernormal profits in the context of perfect competition.
• The resolution of subnormal and/or supernormal profits to equilibrium
normal profits in perfect competition in the long run.
• A relevant diagram to show the analysis.
AO3 Evaluation
• The analysis of monopolistic competition to show subnormal and
supernormal profits and their resolution to normal profit.
• Monopoly analysis to show that supernormal profits may exist in the long
run.
• Analysis of oligopoly to show that there may or not be subnormal o r
supernormal profits in the both the short run and the long run.
Accept all valid responses.
AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis 14
AO3 Evaluation 6
EITHER
A country imposes a tariff of 20% on imported goods and restricts the number of immigrants entering the country.
Evaluate, with the aid of a diagram(s), the impact of these two policies on the rate of inflation in that country. [20]
OR
Mark scheme
4 A country imposes a tariff of 20% on imported goods and restricts the 20
number of immigrants entering the country.
Evaluate, with the aid of a diagram(s), the impact of these two policies
on the rate of inflation in that country.
Use Table A: AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis and Table
B: AO3 Evaluation to mark candidate responses to this question.
AO1 and AO2 out of 14 marks. AO3 out of 6 marks.
Indicative content Responses may include:
AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis
• Definition of a tariff and analysis of the effect of a tariff on the price of
goods and a development of this in terms of the direct effect on the price
of goods bought by consumers.
• The analysis may also be in terms of the cost of imported raw materials
and cost push inflation.
• Analysis of impact on macroeconomy in terms of leftwards shift of
aggregate supply (AS) promoting cost push inflation.
• A similar analysis of the effect of restricting the supply of labour and
reducing any potential decrease in the general wage rate.
• A relevant diagram to show either the effect of a tariff on cost/prices, the
restriction of immigrants and the effect on wages and the impact on AS
AO3 Evaluation
• The elasticity of supply of domestically produced goods subject to the
tariff.
• The availability of domestic labour force prepared to do jobs.
• The rate of inflation will also depend on the level of aggregate demand
(AD). The restriction on immigrants will reduce the level of demand and
hence demand pull inflation.
• Limited migration may allow domestic workers to claim higher wages and
contribute to cost push inflation.
Accept all valid responses.
AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis 14
AO3 Evaluation 6
OR
Evaluate whether an increase in a government’s budget deficit will always lead to economic growth.
[20]
Mark scheme
5 Evaluate whether an increase in a government’s budget deficit will 20
always lead to economic growth.
Use Table A: AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis and Table
B: AO3 Evaluation to mark candidate responses to this question.
AO1 and AO2 out of 14 marks. AO3 out of 6 marks.
AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis
• Definitions of budget deficit, economic growth.
• Use of AD/AS models or 45 o model to analyse government budget deficit.
• Use of the circular flow of income to explain the effect of an increase in
government spending increases the level of aggregate demand within the
economy.
• Reference to the short run and long run economic growth.
• Reference can be made to employment, inflation, the balance of
payments
• Impact of supply side expenditure of budget deficit on
education/investment
AO3 Evaluation
Evaluation may be by individual measure or by comparing the measures.
• Closeness of economy to full employment.
• Use of Phillips’ Curve to reflect inflationary impact.
• Commentary on the size of marginal propensity to consume and its
effects on the size of the multiplier.
• The role of expectations in determining the reactions to expansionary
fiscal policy
• Reference to the multiplier being an analysis of the trade cycle which
exists for only a short run and that the accelerator effect is needed to
increase investment and an outwards shift in the production possibility
curve for the long run effects.
Accept all valid responses
AO1 Knowledge and understanding and AO2 Analysis 14
AO3 Evaluation 6
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Economics 9708/44 for October/November 2025 is out of 60 marks, with 2 hours to answer it.
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