CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education

MARK SCHEME for the May/June 2015 series

0455 ECONOMICS
0455/21 Paper 2 (Structured Questions), maximum raw mark 90

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of
the examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not
indicate the details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began,
which would have considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner
Report for Teachers.

Cambridge will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2015 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE®, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some
Cambridge O Level components.

® IGCSE is the registered trademark of Cambridge International Examinations.

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1 (a) Using information from the extract, identify two reasons why Sweden is considered to
be a highly developed country. [2]

One mark each for two of the following:

• high standard of living

• high average income
• skilled labour force
• high proportion of children going to university
• high level of investment

(b) Explain how a rise in the retirement age may increase a country’s economic growth
rate. [4]

• more people will be in the labour force (1) this will increase potential/long run economic
growth (1)
• if the people are employed (1) output will rise (1)
• more people will be earning an income (1) this will increase demand (1) higher demand
will encourage firms to increase their output (1)
• it will reduce the cost of pensions (1) enabling the government to spend more on e.g.
education which can promote growth (1)
• there will be more older workers (1) who may be more experienced/skilled and so more
productive (1)

(c) Using information in Table 1, describe what happened to:

(i) Sweden’s current account position over the period shown [2]

• for recognition of surplus e.g. it was in surplus throughout the period / fell at the start
and then rose / fluctuated (1)
• for a description of how the figures changed between 2008 and 2013 e.g. increases
from US$38 bn to US$40 bn / shows an increase of US$2 bn (1)

(ii) Sweden’s GDP between 2009 and 2010. [2]

• it increased (1) although current account balance remained unchanged as a

percentage of GDP it fell (1)
• it changed from $442.86 bn ($443 bn) to $455.89bn ($456 bn) (2)

(d) Explain why a country may both export and import cars. [2]

• home produced cars may be in demand abroad because of competitive prices/high

quality (1)
• may import cars to obtain a greater variety / are cheaper (1)
• may export luxury cars and import basic cars or vice versa (2)
• certain models may be exported e.g. family cars whilst other models are imported e.g.
sports cars (2)

Note: reward relevant reference to comparative advantage but do not expect it.
Note: candidates must refer to cars to gain any marks.

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(e) Using information from the extract, analyse how a rise in the rate of interest can
reduce inflation. [5]

• a rise in the rate of interest may reduce consumer expenditure (1) may reduce
investment (1) because the cost of borrowing will be higher (1) increase saving (1) the
return from saving will be greater (1) people/firms who have borrowed in the past will
have less to spend (1) lower demand will put downward pressure on the price level (1)
reduce demand-pull inflation (1)

• a rise in the rate of interest may attract hot money flows/financial investment into the
country (1) this will raise demand for the currency (1) higher demand for the currency will
raise the exchange rate (1) a higher exchange rate will raise export prices and lower
import prices (1) changes in the price of exports and imports will put pressure on
domestic producers to keep prices low (1) a reduction in the price of imported raw
materials will lower costs of production (1) lower costs will reduce cost-push inflation (1)

(f) Discuss whether a fall in a country’s inflation rate will increase the international
competitiveness of its products. [5]

Up to 3 marks for why it might:

• the fall in the inflation rate may mean the price of the country’s exports may be lower (1)
than the price of its rivals’ products (1) this will increase international price
competitiveness (1) this may increase demand for its products (1)

Up to 3 marks for why it might not:

• quality may be lower (1) rival countries’ inflation rates may be lower (1) inflation rates
may be lower but the initial price level may have been higher (1) a rise in the country’s
exchange rate may offset the effect of the fall in the inflation rate (1) trade protection
measures may offset the effect of the fall in the inflation rate (1)

(g) Using information from the extract, explain whether demand for IKEA’s products is
price elastic or price inelastic. [2]

• price elastic (1)

• reduction in price increased revenue (1)

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(h) Discuss whether growth is the main goal of most firms. [6]

Up to 4 marks for why it might be:

• growth may increase revenue (1) enabling a firm to expand overseas and become a
multinational company (1) example(s) of benefits of being an MNC (1)
• growth may reduce competition (1) a firm may grow by merging or taking over another
firm (1) will increase its market power/power to raise price (1)
• growth may reduce a firm’s costs of production (1) as it may enable advantage to be
taken of economies of scale (1) example(s) (1)
• growth can lead to higher profits in the long run (1) as it may lower costs and raise
revenue (1) this can keep shareholders happy (1)
• growth can increase the reward to directors and managers (1) who are key decision
makers in the firm’s business strategy (1)

Up to 4 marks for why it might not be:

• usually assumed profit maximisation is the main goal (1)

• firms may engage in other objectives e.g. profit satisficing (1)
• at difficult times e.g. during a recession (1) survival may be the main goal (1)
• different types of business organisation may have different goals (1) e.g. a public
corporation may seek to provide a public service (1)
• may want to avoid diseconomies of scale (1) example(s) (1)
• there are benefits of staying small (1) example(s) (1)

© Cambridge International Examinations 2015

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2 (
(a) D fine
Def e ‘o
opppo
ortu
unity
y co
ostt’. [2
2]

• (n
nex
xt) be
est altern
nattive
e (1
1) forg
f gone (1)

( ) Exp
(b) ain wh
E pla hy th
he eco
e ono
ommic
c prrob em ca
ble an ne
eve
er be
b so
olve
ed. [4
4]

• th
he eco
e onoom
mic prooblem m iss sca
s rcity (1))
• in
nfin
nite
e wants (1)) fin
nite
e re
esoourrce
es (1)
(
• wan
w nts ex xceed reeso ourccess (11) as
a waantts gro
g ow fas
ster th
han
n re
eso
ourrce
es/g
gro
owtth o
of res
r sou
urce
es
will
w nott exce eedd gro
g wth ho of wan
w ntss (1)

(
(c) Usiing
U g a prrod duc on po
ctio osssib
bilitty cu
urve
eddiaagra
am
m, ana
a aly
yse
e th
he efffec
ct of
o the
t e destru
ucttion
noof
s me
som e off its res
r sou
urcces
s on a
an ec con
nommyy. 6]
[6

U to 4 ma
Up marks
s fo
or the
t e diag
gram:

• ax
xes s corr
c recctlyy laabeelled ((1)
• origina al curv
c ve//do ownnward d slop
ping
g liine
e to
o ax
xes
s (1
1)
• ew
ne w cu urvve p
preese ent (1)
• sh
hiftt to
o th
he lleftt clea
arly
y indic
cate
ed eittheer by
b an
a arrroww or b lab
o by belling
g (1)

U to 2 ma
Up marks
s fo
or wri
w itte
en exp
e pla
ana
atio
on:

• he de
th d strructtion
n of
o res
r ource
es wil
w l re
edu
uce e th
he maaximuum ou utp c unttry ca
put a cou an pro
p odu
uce
e (1
1)
• th
his will mov
m ve thee pro
p ductio
on po
oss
sibility
y cu
urv
ve to
t tthe
e le
eft/c
clo
ose
er to
o th
he origin
n (1)

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(d) Discuss whether a country will benefit from the emigration of some of its people. [8]

Up to 5 marks for why it might:

• emigration of dependents (1) would reduce the burden on the working population (1)
reduce government spending on benefits/pensions (1) which means government
spending on other items can increase (1)
• if there is overpopulation/population above the optimum level (1) output per head should
rise/more efficient use can be made of resources (1)
• workers who emigrate may send money back to relatives (1) this may increase living
standards (1)
• emigrants may later return to the country bringing new skills with them (1) this may raise
the productivity of the labour force (1)

Up to 5 marks for why it might not:

• skilled workers may emigrate (1) this will reduce the quality of the labour force (1)
lowering productivity (1) discouraging multinational companies setting up in the country
(1)
• if people of working age emigrate (1) the dependency ratio will increase (1)
• if there is under-population/population below the optimum level (1) output per head
would fall/less efficient use can be made of resources (1)
• with lower output less advantage can be taken of economies of scale (1)

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3 (a) Define ‘equilibrium price’. [2]

• the price which equates demand and supply (2)

• market clearing price (1) which ensures no surplus or shortage (1)
• the price which will not change (1) unless market conditions change (1)

Note: award 2 marks if they show a correct diagram showing demand = supply

(b) Explain two reasons why borrowing may decrease. [4]

1 mark for identification and 1 mark for explanation:

• a rise in the rate of interest (1) will increase the cost of borrowing (1)
• a reduction in the availability of loans (1) will make it more difficult to borrow (1)
• a rise in income (1) may reduce the need to borrow (1)
• an increase in the state provision of health care/education (1) may mean that people do
not have to borrow to cover health care/education expenses (1)
• a reduction in the price of expensive items e.g. houses, cars (1) may mean that people
can buy the items without borrowing (1)
• a reduction in confidence about the future (1) may mean that people will be afraid they
will not be able to repay loans (1)
• a change in age structure (1) the young may borrow more than those of middle age (1)
• a change in social attitudes (1) it may become less acceptable to borrow (1)
• an increase in government subsidies to firms (1) may reduce the need for firms to borrow
from banks (1)

© Cambridge International Examinations 2015

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(
(c) Usiing
U g a de
emman
nd and sup
s ppply dia
agram
m, an
naly
yse wh
w y a fa
all in inco
ome
es ma
ay re
edu
uce
e th
he
m rke
ma et pri
p ice
e off hou
use
es. [6
6]

U to 4 ma
Up marks
s fo t e diag
or the gram:

• axxess acc
a cura ely lab
ate belledd (1
1)
• deemmannd and sups pply
y curv
c ves s acc
a curaate
ely lab belled
d (1
1)
• th
he shi
s ift of
o tthe
e deem
mannd curve e to
o th
he lefft (1
1)
• originaal and
a d ne ew
w eqquiilibriumss in
ndic
catted
d eiitheer by lin
nes
s to
o th
he a es or eq
axe quilibrrium
m pric
p cess
cllea
arly
y highhlighte
ed (1))

U to 2 ma
Up marks
s fo
or wri
w itte
en ana
a aly
ysis
s:

• a fall in
n in
nco
ome red
r duc
cess pu
urc
cha
asinng po
owe er/aabilityy to
o sp
pen
nd (1)
• due to low weer dem
d mand, prodduc
cerrs low
werr prrice
e (1
1)

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(d) Discuss whether the building of houses should be subsidised. [8]

Up to 5 marks for why they should be:

• subsidising houses will provide an incentive to build houses (1) increase the supply of
houses (1) reduce the price of houses (1) this may make it easier for the poor to buy
houses (1) increase the quality of the lives of the poor (1)
• subsidising houses will increase economic activity (1) to produce more houses would
require more labour (1) this would reduce unemployment (1)
• housing is a necessity (1) so building more houses may reduce poverty/homelessness
(1)

Up to 5 marks for why they should not be:

• would involve an opportunity cost (1) government spending could be used on other
areas e.g. education/health care (1)
• may generate external costs (1) for example, pollution and destruction of the natural
environment (1)
• there may be no demand for extra houses (1) in this case there will be an oversupply of
houses/inefficient use of resources (1)
• building firms may become reliant on subsidies (1) and this increase inefficiency (1)

© Cambridge International Examinations 2015

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4 (a) Define ‘multinational company’. [2]

• a company that has its headquarters/is based in a country (1) but produces in a number
of countries (1)

(b) Explain why governments may discourage strikes. [4]

• strikes disrupt output/service provision (1) this may result in customers being lost (1)
• increase firms’ costs of production (1) and lose international competitiveness (1)
• lower output/incomes/GDP (1) and therefore lower living standards (1)
• may reduce exports (1) and so harm the balance of payments position (1)
• may cause unemployment (1) leading to higher spending on welfare benefits (1)
• may discourage FDI (1) and job opportunities (1)
• lower output will reduce tax revenue (1) and so reduce the government’s ability to spend
(1)

(c) Analyse three reasons why trade union membership may decrease in a country. [6]

• trade union subscriptions may increase (1) making it more expensive for people to join a
trade union (1)
• legislation may reduce the power of trade unions (1) this would make membership less
valuable (1)
• employers may not recognise trade unions/be reluctant to employ members of trade
unions (1) this may make people reluctant to join as it would reduce their employment
opportunities
• unemployment may mean that there are fewer people in employment to belong to trade
unions (1) it will weaken the power of trade unions (1)
• in a boom period/high level of economic activity (1) workers may gain wage rises/better
working conditions without belonging to a trade union (1)
• workers may be satisfied with pay and conditions (1) may not agree with actions of trade
union (1)
• government action to improve the pay and/or conditions of workers e.g. introduction of
national minimum wage (1) reduces the need for collective bargaining (1)

(d) Discuss whether a rise in the wages a firm pays would reduce its profits. [8]

Up to 5 marks for why it might:

• higher wages will mean a higher wage bill (1) if output does not increase by more than
wages, labour costs per unit will increase (1) costs of production will increase (1) profit is
revenue minus costs (1) with higher costs and the same revenue, profit will fall (1)

Up to 5 marks for why it might not:

• paying higher wages may prevent strikes (1) this can reduce costs of production (1)
• higher wages may motivate workers (1) this can increase productivity (1) reduce costs of
production (1)
• higher wages may make it easier to recruit workers (1) this can reduce costs of
production (1)
• higher wages may make it easier to recruit skilled workers (1) this will raise productivity
(1) reduce costs of production (1)
• other costs may be falling (1) e.g. rent, corporation tax (1)
• demand for the firm’s products may be increasing (1) this will raise revenue (1)
• higher wages may be paid to a smaller labour force (1) reducing the wage bill (1)

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5 (a) What is meant by ‘tax’? [2]

• a payment/finance (1) to the government/local authority (1) example e.g. sales tax/
income tax (1)

(b) Explain two reasons why an increase in unemployment may reduce tax revenue. [4]

• higher unemployment will reduce people’s incomes (1) this will reduce the amount of
income tax paid (1)
• higher unemployment will reduce the amount people spend/reduce demand for goods
and services (1) this will reduce indirect tax revenue (1)
• higher unemployment will reduce firms’ revenue (1) this will reduce corporation tax
revenue (1)
• the existence of unemployment may encourage government to cut tax rates (1) in an
attempt to reduce unemployment (1)

(c) Analyse two reasons why unemployment may increase. [6]

Up to 4 marks for one reason analysed.

• a fall in total (aggregate demand) (1) will cause firms to reduce their output (1) lower
their need for labour (1) increase cyclical unemployment (1)
• a reduction in the skills/mobility of workers (1) may result in firms being unable or
unwilling to employ workers (1) leading to structural unemployment (1)
• a rise in unemployment benefits (1) may lead to workers taking longer moving between
jobs/less willing to search for work (1) causing an increase in frictional/voluntary
unemployment (1)
• an increase in a country’s exchange rate (1) will make exports more expensive and
imports cheaper (1) this will reduce international competitiveness (1) reduce demand for
labour in affected industries (1) cause international/structural unemployment (1)
• a rise in wages above the equilibrium level (1) this may be the result of industrial action/
imposition of a national minimum wage (1) workers may be replaced by machines (1)
firms may reduce the size of their labour forces in order to cut costs of production (1)
• advances in technology (1) may make certain skills redundant (1) leading to structural
unemployment (1)

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(d) Discuss whether a reduction in government spending on education will reduce living
standards. [8]

Up to 5 marks for why it might:

• it may reduce the quality/availability of education (1) this could reduce the skills of
workers (1) lower their chances of getting a job (1) getting a well-paid job (1) reduce
income (1) reduce goods and services people can enjoy (1)
• it may reduce people’s access to knowledge about good nutrition/health care (1) this
could increase illness (1) lower life expectancy (1)
• a less skilled labour force (1) may discourage multinational companies setting up in the
country (1) this could reduce employment opportunities/reduce wages (1) reduce
incomes (1) reduce goods and services people can buy (1)
• a reduction in government spending e.g. education may reduce aggregate demand (1)
lower aggregate demand may reduce output and incomes (1)
• it will reduce the country’s HDI value (1) which is an indicator of living standards
Up to 5 marks for why it might not:

• instead of spending money on education, the government might spend money on e.g.
health care (1) a healthier population can enjoy life more and live longer (1) a healthier
labour force may raise productivity (1) increase wages (1) increase the goods and
services people can buy (1) this could increase the HDI value (1)
• instead of spending money on education, the government might spend money on e.g.
infrastructure (1) better infrastructure can reduce firms’ costs of production (1) make
domestic firms more internationally competitive (1) encourage firms to expand (1) raise
employment (1) increase incomes (1) increase the goods and services people can buy
(1)
• a country’s birth rate may be falling (1) so there may be fewer children in education (1)
the amount spent per child may still be rising (1) improving productivity (1) raising wages
(1) increasing consumption (1)
• less may be spent but it might be spent more effectively (1) this will raise the quality of
education (1) raise productivity (1) raising employment (1) increasing consumption (1)

© Cambridge International Examinations 2015

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6 (a) Define ‘birth rate’. [2]

• the number of births per 1,000 of the country’s population per year (2)
• the number of births per 1,000 of the country’s population (1)

(b) Explain two causes of a high birth rate. [4]

• a high infant mortality rate (1) people having a high number of children not expecting all
of them to live (1)
• a lack of financial support for the elderly (1) people having children to support them in
old age (1)
• women marrying at a young age (1) giving them longer time in which to have children (1)
• a young population (1) with a high proportion of people of child bearing age (1)
• a lack of availability/willingness to use contraception (1) resulting in more births than
planned (1)
• not many women working (1) not restricting the number of children they have in order to
follow a career (1)
• a lack of education (1) reduces knowledge of contraception/cost of bringing up children/
proportion of women working (1)
• government incentives to have children (1) high state benefits would increase willingness
and ability of people to have children

(c) Analyse how an increase in the size of farms may affect the cost of producing food.
[6]
• larger farms may produce higher output (1) this will increase total cost (1)
• larger farms may be able to take advantage of economies of scale (1) examples of
economies of scale available to farmers e.g. buying (purchasing seed in bulk), technical
(using e.g. combine harvesters), managerial (specialist workers e.g. shepherds) up to (2)
will lower average costs (1)
• larger farms may experience diseconomies of scale (1) examples e.g. worse labour
relations (1) will increase average costs (1)
• larger farms are likely to have higher fixed and variable costs (1) but their average fixed
costs are likely to be lower (1) as these costs will be spread over a higher output (1) their
average variable costs may be lower due to economies of scale/or higher due to
diseconomies of scale (1)

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(d) Discuss whether a reduction in its imports will always benefit an economy. [8]

Up to 5 marks for why it might:

• a reduction in imports may improve the trade in goods/trade in goods and services
balance (1) this will improve the current account position/reduce a current account deficit
(1) this may reduce a country’s debts (1) avoid downward pressure on the exchange rate
(1)
• spending on imports may be replaced by spending on domestically produced products
(1) this would increase the country’s output/cause economic growth (1) this would
increase demand for labour (1) raise employment/reduce unemployment (1) increase
incomes and living standards (1)
• fewer imports may enable infant industries to grow (1) may protect declining strategic
industries (1)
• may prevent dumping (1) explanation of what is meant by dumping (1)

Up to 5 marks for why it might not:

• imports of capital goods/raw materials may decline (1) these might be cheaper/lower
quality than domestically produced capital goods and/or raw materials (1) this will raise
costs of production (1) make the country’s products less internationally competitive (1)
lower output/reduce economic growth (1) worsen the current account position (1) raise
unemployment (1)
• fewer imports may reduce choice (1) reduce competition (1) may raise prices (1) lower
quality of people’s lives (1)
• exports may be falling by more than imports (1) so current account position may be
worsening (1)
• quantity of imports may be falling but value of imports may be rising (1)
• if the reduction is caused by protectionist measures (1) this would reduce benefits of free
trade (1)

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7 (a) Define ‘recession’. [2]

• fall in a country’s output/GDP (1) over a period of six months/two successive quarters (1)

(b) Explain two reasons why an economy may have a high foreign exchange rate. [4]

• a high demand for the currency (1) this may arise from e.g. good quality/lower price of
exports/speculation that the currency will rise in the future (1)
• a low supply of the currency (1) due to, for instance, a low demand for imports/a low
level of investment abroad (1)
• government setting a high exchange rate (1) by buying the currency/raising the
exchange rate (1)

(c) Analyse how supply-side policy measures could increase productivity. [6]

Up to 4 marks for any one policy measure analysed:

• improved education/training (1) may raise workers’ skills (1) increase output per worker
hour (1)
• privatisation (1) may increase competitive pressure on firms to keep costs low (1)
encourage more investment (1) increase output per factor hour (1)
• reforming trade unions (1) may reduce restrictive practices (1) this may allow firms to
use their workers more efficiently (1) increase output per worker hour (1)
• cutting corporation tax (1) may increase profit (1) increase investment (1) increase
output per factor hour (1)
• giving subsidies (1) to encourage firms to invest in advanced technology, engage in
research and development and/or train workers (1)

(d) Discuss whether a fall in the international value of its currency will always benefit an
economy. [8]

Up to 5 marks for why it might:

• it will lower export prices (1) and raise import prices (1) make domestic products more
internationally competitive (1) this may raise export revenue and lower import
expenditure (1) if demand for exports and imports is elastic (1) this may improve the
current account position/reduce a current account deficit (1)
• producing more domestic products (1) may raise output/GDP (1) cause economic
growth (1) raise employment/reduce unemployment (1) increase income (1) and living
standards (1)
• if the value was being maintained by the government above the equilibrium level (1)
reserves of foreign currency may not now have to be used (1) these could be used for
another purpose (1) interest rate may not have to be as high (1) a lower interest rate
may stimulate economic activity (1)

Up to 5 marks for why it might not:

• higher import prices may cause inflation (1) raise costs of raw materials (1) increase
costs of production (1) put less downward pressure on domestic firms to be price
competitive (1)
• lower prices of exports may be offset by low quality of exports (1) fall in incomes abroad
(1) increase in trade restrictions imposed by foreign governments (1)
• demand for exports and imports may be price inelastic (1) in this case export revenue
may fall (1) and import expenditure may rise (1)

© Cambridge International Examinations 2015