Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Economics
Susan Grant
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Acknowledgement
The following is reproduced by permission of Cambridge International Examinations.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/02 May/June 2006 72
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/21 May/June 2009 72
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q3 Paper 9708/21 Oct/Nov 2009 72
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/22 May/June 2010 85/86
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q3 Paper 9708/02 May/June 2008 86
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q4 Paper 9708/02 Oct/Nov 2007 86
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/02 May/June 2008 97
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/02 Oct/Nov 2007 98
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q2 Paper 9708/02 Oct/Nov 2006 98
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/02 Oct/Nov 2005 104
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/21 Oct/Nov 2010 104
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/02 Oct/Nov 2004 104
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q4 Paper 9708/02 May/June 2008 105
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q2 Paper 9708/41 Oct/Nov 2010 113
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q2 Paper 9708/41 Oct/Nov 2010 113
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/04 May/June 2008 141
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/41 Oct/Nov 2010 141/142
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q3 Paper 9708/04 May/June 2009 143
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q3 Paper 9708/41 May/June 2010 143
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/41 Oct/Nov 2009 152
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q2 Paper 9708/41 May/June 2010 153
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q2 Paper 9708/41 May/June 2011 153
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/41 May/June 2010 166/167
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q7 Paper 9708/04 May/June 2008 168
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q6 Paper 9708/41 May/June 2011 168
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/04 Oct/Nov 2007 178
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/04 May/June 2005 179
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q5 Paper 9708/41 May/June 2010 179
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 paper 9708/04 Oct/Nov 2008 190
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q1 Paper 9708/04 May/June 2009 190/191
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q7 Paper 9708/04 Oct/Nov 2007 192
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q6 Paper 9708/04 May/June 2008 192
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 Q5 Paper 9708/04 May/June 2009 192
1.1 What is revision they will happen at all. If you start to think like an
economist, you will enjoy the subject more and you
Many students think that revision is cramming will perform better in examinations.
facts just before an examination. The word ‘revision’
actually means to review work. This is something
that you should do throughout your course. If you 1.3 Where to revise
spend at least ten minutes after each lesson checking The best place to revise is influenced by how you
on what you have just learned, this will increase your are revising and your level of concentration. For
understanding of the topics and help you remember instance, one of your revision activities may be to
the key features. It may also encourage you to add write an answer to an essay question. In this case,
notes on topics you feel uncertain about or are it would be useful to write in a room where you
particularly interested in, and to ask your teacher have access to a desk. On another occasion, you
for clarification on some aspects. You should also may be getting a fellow student to test you with oral
review all your work on a regular basis, for example, questions. In this case, it would be sensible to be in
every two weeks. By doing this, you should already a room where the two of you cannot be disturbed.
be relatively familiar with the work you understand Besides, different people have different levels of
by the time you come to your final revision. concentration.
Activity 1.2
Core and
supplement
Data
Structured
AS level response
essay/essays
Divided into
Types of examinations
A
40%
90% 50%
80%
70% 60%
2.1 What is a multiple choice B A perfect competitor can sell any quantity at the
question market price whereas a monopolist can only sell
more by lowering price
A multiple choice question contains a question and C The average cost will equal marginal cost under
four alternative answers. The question is known as conditions of monopoly but not under conditions
the stem, the correct answer is called the key, and the of perfect competition
three incorrect answers are referred to as distracters. D To maximise profits, the perfect competitor will
produce where MC = MR whereas the monopolist
2.2 Ways of answering multiple will produce where AC = AR
choice questions In such a case, it is useful to consider not only why
With some multiple choice questions, it is possible to you think the option you have selected is correct
consider the answer before you look at the four options. but also why the three options you have rejected are
For example, in the case of the following question: incorrect. Indeed, sometimes a way of arriving at
the correct answer is by eliminating the incorrect
The supply of a product rises from 400 to 500 as a answers.
result of its price rising from $10 to $12. What is the Always take care when answering questions.
price elasticity of supply of the product? In the case of question such as the one above, you
You could work out the answer before you look at might look at option A and consider that it is right.
the options. These may be: Nevertheless, check the other options to decide
whether you can reject them.
A 0.8 B 0.9 C 1.20 D 1.25
In other cases, you will have to consider the stem
in connection with the options as in the case below. Activity 2.1
What is the difference between a firm producing Answer the two multiple choice questions above
under conditions of perfect competition and a firm and explain why you think the option you have
producing under conditions of monopoly? selected is correct and why the other three
options are incorrect in the case of the second
A A monopolist can earn supernormal profit in the
question.
short run whereas a perfect competitor cannot
S1
D
S D1
0 Q1 Q Quantity
Diagrams and statistical tables a pedestrian approach to the data. For instance,
Diagrams may take a number of forms. They may be you might be asked to compare the return from
time series graphs, cross-sectional graphs, bar charts education in the countries shown in Table 3.1.
or pie charts. Check what the axes are showing and Just stating that men in Hungary had the
the scales used. highest return, Germany the second highest,
Statistical tables may show a range of information. the UK the third, followed by Canada, then
In the case of both diagrams and statistical tables, it Australia and then South Korea, is not very
is useful to consider the following. revealing.
You should interpret the data using your
Þ The reliability of the source or sources knowledge and understanding of economics to
(as with prose data) assess the data. For instance, you might mention
Þ Whether the data has been adjusted for the following.
inflation or is in current figures
Þ Is the information in absolute figures, Þ The social benefit was highest in Hungary
percentages or index numbers and lowest in South Korea
Þ What denominations the figure are in, for Þ The private benefit was highest in Hungary
instance, billions or millions and the UK and lowest in Australia
Þ If average figures are shown, are they using Þ External benefit was highest in Germany in
the arithmetic mean, the median or the mode absolute and percentage terms and lowest in
Þ What trend or trends are being shown and South Korea
are there any exceptions Þ Private benefit as a percentage of social
Þ What relationships are being shown and are benefit was highest in South Korea
there lagged relationships Þ The return for a woman is not shown.
Þ Is the data for different countries measured
in the same way, example are the countries Similarly you might be asked to compare
using the same method of measuring what happened to unemployment in Egypt and
unemployment South Africa over the period 2008–2011 using
Þ Is there any missing information. Table 3.2.
You may want to quote from the data but if you do, Unemployment rate ()
quote briefly and selectively. You should avoid Year Egypt South Africa
2008 9.6 25.5
Table 3.1
2009 9.4 23.5
Returns for a man attending tertiary education 2010 9.0 25.3
(2010)000s.
2011 8.9 24.0
Country Return to Return to society
individual
Australia 100 185 It would not be productive to write that between
Canada 155 210 2008 and 2009, the unemployment rate fell in both
Germany 130 310 countries; it fell in Egypt in 2010 and rose in South
Hungary 210 385 Africa, and then in 2011 it fell in both countries.
Such an approach does not show any knowledge and
South Korea 110 130
understanding of economics nor any data handling
UK 210 300
skills.
Yen per US $
105
percentage of its exports but it might account for a 100
large percentage of global trade if it is a very large 95
economy.
90
Take care when examining data on inflation,
85
economic growth and changes in exchange rates.
80
A fall in the inflation rate, for instance, from 8 to
5, means that the price level is rising but rising Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan
more slowly. Similarly, a decline in an economic 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
growth rate from 4 to 2 means that real GDP is Figure 3.1
still increasing but at a slower rate.
wear out. Firms may also not buy new capital Economic terminology
goods if they have spare capacity. They will be able Your answer should make use of relevant economic
to respond to the rise in demand by making use of terminology. For example, if you are writing about
previously unused or underused capital equipment the value of a currency due to market forces use the
and plant. So spare capacity in consumer goods term ‘appreciation’. Bring out the meaning in your
may result in no or a smaller change in demand answer and try to write in a clear and straightforward
for capital goods. In contrast, it may be an absence manner.
of spare capacity in the capital goods industry
which may prevent firms from being able to Explanation
purchase capital equipment. The consumer goods It is important to explain what you write. Do not
industries may want to buy, example, more just assert points. For instance, it is not sufficient
machines but the capital goods industries may to write ‘a cut in government spending will cause
not have the resources to produce them. Changes unemployment’. An examiner would want to
in technology may also mean that an increase in know why and whether this would always be the
demand for consumer goods may bring about a case.
smaller percentage increase in demand for capital
goods. A new machine, embodying advanced Diagrams
technology, will be able to produce more goods Diagrams are a good analytical tool and can be
than the machine or machines which it replaces. usefully included in a relatively high proportion
Other influences on investment may change. of essays. It is, however, important not just to
For example, there may be changes in the cost drop them into your answer. You must explain in
of machinery, corporation tax or government the text of your answer what they are showing.
subsidies. Investment is also influenced by changes Make sure your diagrams are large enough to
in the rate of interest. An increase in the rate be clear – approximately a one-fourth to one-
of interest will increase the opportunity cost of third of a page. Also ensure they are accurately
investment. labelled.
Try to ensure that your writing is legible and 4.2 Selecting a question
also, write your answer in good English with In Paper 2 (AS Level) you have to select one
accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation. Do question out of three and in Paper 4 (A Level) you
not abbreviate ordinary words. It is acceptable to have to choose two questions out of six. In Paper 2,
do so for abbreviate certain economic terms if you the questions are divided into two parts (a) and (b).
first write out the word or words in full and put the This is also the case for most, but not all, the
abbreviation in brackets after it. For instance, you questions on Paper 4 where some are just in one
could write ‘aggregate demand (AD)’ and thereafter part. Where there is two parts, part (a) usually asks
write ‘AD’. you to explain and part (b) to discuss.
Answer the specific question set directly. Do Read through all the questions carefully. You may
not write around the topic including irrelevant want to highlight key words. Then select your question
information. For instance, if a question asks you to or questions carefully. It is important that you think
‘Explain the effect of a rise in the rate of interest on you will be able to answer both parts well. You should
consumer expenditure’ you should not discuss the also be confident that you understand the two parts
effect of a fall in the rate of interest on consumer and that you can apply relevant economics in both
expenditure. This is not what the question is asking parts. Do not attempt more questions than required.
and would, anyway, be repetitive. Clearly indicate which question you are answering
Write in black ink and use pencil and ruler for by putting the number at the start and the question
diagrams. part. Do not waste time by writing out the question.