Cambridge A Level Economics 9708 — 2019 May/June Paper 1 · Variant 1
9708/11/M/J/19 · 30 questions · 30 marks · ≈34 min
The question paper and its mark scheme, free to read here and free to download. This is Cambridge’s own paper, exactly as it was sat.
Question paper12 pages












Mark scheme3 pages
Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.



Questions as text
Q1 · India is failing to reach its full economic potential because of poor rail, road and…
1 India is failing to reach its full economic potential because of poor rail, road and electricity infrastructure, and a lack of skilled civil engineers. Which factors of production need to be increased? A capital and land B enterprise and capital C labour and capital D land and enterprise
Mark scheme: C
Q2 · The fundamental economic question is how to meet unlimited wants with limited resources
2 The fundamental economic question is how to meet unlimited wants with limited resources. What is an example of limited resources? A insufficient consumer goods in the local shops B insufficient jobs to allow full employment C insufficient machinery to produce electrical goods D insufficient tax revenue to finance building a school
Mark scheme: C
Q3 · Which statement is not a positive economic statement?
3 Which statement is not a positive economic statement? A An increase in the rate of income tax decreases the wish to save. B An increase in the rate of income tax has a greater impact the greater the level of income. C An increase in the rate of income tax causes more hours of work to be supplied. D An increase in the rate of income tax is the fairest way to finance the national health service.
Mark scheme: D
Q4 · The diagram shows a production possibility curve (PPC)
4 The diagram shows a production possibility curve (PPC). It indicates the combinations of consumer goods and capital goods produced by an economy using all its available resources. 50 units of consumer 40 X goods 30 20 PPC 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 units of capital goods What does position X indicate? A a lower ratio of capital to consumer goods is necessary to achieve economic growth B increasing levels of unemployment C insufficient factors of production are available D too many consumer goods are causing a fall in economic growth
Mark scheme: C
Q5 · The tariff on Indian goods entering the US falls from 10% to 5%
5 The tariff on Indian goods entering the US falls from 10% to 5%. What will be the most likely effect on the producer and consumer surplus in the US? US producer US consumer surplus surplus A decrease increase B decrease no change C increase increase D increase no change
Mark scheme: A
Q6 · The diagram shows the demand for, and supply of, carrots
6 The diagram shows the demand for, and supply of, carrots. S price P1 D O quantity What is true at price P1? A There will be a shortage of carrots. B There will be a surplus of carrots. C There will be an increase in the sale of carrots. D There will be market clearing of carrots.
Mark scheme: B
Q7 · The diagram shows the market for hand-made furniture
7 The diagram shows the market for hand-made furniture. price of supply hand-made furniture X P Y Z demand O Q quantity Which area of the diagram represents the producer surplus? A area X B area X + Y C area Y D area Y + Z
Mark scheme: C
Q8 · How is the market supply of a product in a competitive market obtained?
8 How is the market supply of a product in a competitive market obtained? A by aggregating the supply of all firms producing the product B by averaging the supply of all firms producing the product C by calculating the supply of the typical firm producing the product D by estimating the supply of the largest firm producing the product
Mark scheme: A
Q9 · The diagram shows the demand curve for luxury cars
9 The diagram shows the demand curve for luxury cars. price D1 D2 O quantity The shift in the demand curve D1 to D2 can be explained by A a decrease in air travel. B an increase in advertising by luxury car manufacturers. C an increase in income. D an increase in the price of petrol.
Mark scheme: D
Q10 · What is cross elasticity of demand?
10 What is cross elasticity of demand? A the responsiveness of price of good X due to a change in demand of good Y B the responsiveness of quantity demanded of a good due to a change in its price C the responsiveness of quantity demanded of good X due to a change in quantity of good Y D the responsiveness of quantity demanded of good X due to a change in the price of good Y
Mark scheme: D
More questions on Price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand
Q11 · Consumers receive an increase in their incomes
11 Consumers receive an increase in their incomes. Which circumstances will cause the quantity of the product sold to increase the most? price elasticity of nature of the product supply of the product A inferior good price elastic B inferior good price inelastic C normal good price elastic D normal good price inelastic
Mark scheme: C
More questions on Price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand
Q12 · An unstable disequilibrium is when a market does not return to an original equilibrium…
12 An unstable disequilibrium is when a market does not return to an original equilibrium point from a disequilibrium position. The diagram shows a market with two equilibrium points. PO/QO is the original market equilibrium. At which price is the market in an unstable disequilibrium? S A price B C PO D D O QO quantity
Mark scheme: A
Q13 · The table shows the quantity of a product supplied at two different prices by four firms…
13 The table shows the quantity of a product supplied at two different prices by four firms, A, B, C and D. Which firm has a price elasticity of supply equal to 1 when the price falls from $10 to $8? price of product ($) 10 8 A 500 300 B 500 350 C 500 400 D 500 450
Mark scheme: C
Q14 · To improve its financial position a government decided to reduce expenditure on…
14 To improve its financial position a government decided to reduce expenditure on investment in the public sector. Despite this, there was not a fall in economic growth. What was the most likely effect of the government’s action? A An original budget deficit was reduced. B An original budget surplus was reduced. C Consumer expenditure decreased. D Public sector productivity decreased.
Mark scheme: A
Q15 · An economy has a 20% housing shortage
15 An economy has a 20% housing shortage. The government builds 10% more houses for poorer families and fixes the rent below the equilibrium for the market. Which effect will this direct provision have on the market? A A greater imbalance in the market in private housing will develop. B Housing waiting lists for poorer families will be cleared. C The supply of government housing will fall short of demand. D The supply of private housing for rent will fall by 10%.
Mark scheme: C
More questions on Methods and effects of government intervention in markets
Q16 · Which statement about nationalised and privatised industries is correct?
16 Which statement about nationalised and privatised industries is correct? A A privatised industry is usually less competitive than a nationalised industry. B A profitable private company cannot be nationalised. C Privatisation is a form of monetary policy. D Privatisation is a way of raising money for the government.
Mark scheme: D
More questions on Methods and effects of government intervention in markets
Q17 · What is not true about subsidies?
17 What is not true about subsidies? A They are paid to firms. B They have to be paid back. C They reduce the cost of production. D They shift the supply curve to the right.
Mark scheme: B
More questions on Methods and effects of government intervention in markets
Q18 · What is unlikely to occur with an increase in the provision of public goods?
18 What is unlikely to occur with an increase in the provision of public goods? A consumer non-excludability B improved use of resources C opportunity cost D reduction in tax
Mark scheme: D
Q19 · The diagram shows aggregate demand and aggregate supply curves for an economy
19 The diagram shows aggregate demand and aggregate supply curves for an economy. general AS price level AD AD1 O national output What would cause a change in the aggregate demand from AD to AD1? A a decrease in the budget surplus B consumption of domestic instead of foreign goods C government campaigns to encourage household savings D investment in knowledge-based enterprises
Mark scheme: C
More questions on Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply analysis
Q20 · What would cause a shift in the short-run aggregate supply curve but not the long-run…
20 What would cause a shift in the short-run aggregate supply curve but not the long-run aggregate supply curve? A advances in technology B a change in the money wage rate C emigration of people of working age D gross investment exceeding depreciation
Mark scheme: B
More questions on Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply analysis
Q21 · Which effect of inflation is described as redistributive?
21 Which effect of inflation is described as redistributive? A the improvement in the terms of trade B the increased reluctance of people to hold money C the inconvenience of frequently changing prices D the loss of purchasing power of people on fixed incomes
Mark scheme: D
Q22 · In which situation will a country’s terms of trade worsen?
22 In which situation will a country’s terms of trade worsen? A The prices of its imports rise by more than the prices of its exports. B The total value of external payments rises by more than the total value of external receipts. C The value of its imports rises by more than the value of its exports. D The volume of its imports rises by more than the volume of its exports.
Mark scheme: A
Q23 · Industrialised countries X and Y trade with each other
23 Industrialised countries X and Y trade with each other. Country X imposes a general tariff of 20% on imports from country Y. In which circumstances would the imposition of the tariff be unfavourable to country X? A if country X is seeking to protect its infant industries B if country X lacks the capacity to produce import substitutes C if imports from country Y have been dumped in country X D if imports of manufactured goods from country Y are price elastic
Mark scheme: B
Q24 · The diagram shows aggregate supply and aggregate demand curves for an economy
24 The diagram shows aggregate supply and aggregate demand curves for an economy. general SRAS1 price level SRAS2 X Y AD2 AD1 O real output What would cause a movement from X to Y? A a decrease in income tax and in the cost of production B a decrease in interest rates and increase in the cost of production C an increase in income tax and in the cost of production D an increase in interest rates and decrease in the cost of production
Mark scheme: A
More questions on Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply analysis
Q25 · The table shows changes in the population, price level and Gross Domestic Product (GDP)…
25 The table shows changes in the population, price level and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country. year 1 year 2 population (millions) 50 55 Consumer Price Index 100 120 nominal GDP ($ billions) 400 480 What happened to real GDP and real GDP per head between year 1 and year 2? real GDP real GDP per head A no change fell B no change rose C rose fell D rose rose
Mark scheme: A
Q26 · The table shows selected balances from a country’s balance of payments account in 2016
26 The table shows selected balances from a country’s balance of payments account in 2016. $US billions trade in goods –30 trade in services +10 primary income balance +10 secondary income balance –8 capital & financial flow +15 What was the country’s current account balance in 2016? A –$3 billion B –$10 billion C –$18 billion D –$20 billion
Mark scheme: C
More questions on Current account of the balance of payments
Q27 · What does the Marshall-Lerner condition state must be present for a depreciation of a…
27 What does the Marshall-Lerner condition state must be present for a depreciation of a currency to cause an improvement in the current account balance? A The price elasticity of demand for exports and the price elasticity of demand for imports are both greater than one. B The price elasticity of demand for exports and the price elasticity of demand for imports are both less than one. C The sum of the price elasticity of demand for exports and the price elasticity of demand for imports is greater than one. D The sum of the price elasticity of demand for exports and the price elasticity of demand for imports is less than one.
Mark scheme: C
More questions on Policies to correct imbalances in the current account of the balance of payments
Q28 · What is most likely to be increased by a policy of increased direct taxes and lower…
28 What is most likely to be increased by a policy of increased direct taxes and lower government spending? A the balance of payments deficit B the budget deficit C the rate of inflation D the level of unemployment
Mark scheme: D
Q29 · To encourage people to work, a government increases the minimum income level at which…
29 To encourage people to work, a government increases the minimum income level at which people start to pay income tax. Which types of macroeconomic policy are being followed here? fiscal monetary supply side policy policy policy A J x J B x J J Cc J J J D J J x
Mark scheme: A
Q30 · A country with low unemployment and a managed floating exchange rate has a persistent…
30 A country with low unemployment and a managed floating exchange rate has a persistent current account deficit on its balance of payments. Which policy to reduce this deficit is most likely to keep unemployment low, but cause inflation? A depreciating its currency B higher direct taxation C higher import tariffs D higher interest rates
Mark scheme: A
What was in this paper
The subtopics covered by these 30 questions, and how many questions each got. Open one in a new tab to see every Cambridge question on it.
3Fiscal policy3Methods and effects of government intervention in markets3Consumer and producer surplus2Demand and supply curves2Price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand2The interaction of demand and supply2Classification of goods and services1Current account of the balance of payments1Economic methodology1Exchange rates1Factors of production1National income statistics1Policies to correct imbalances in the current account of the balance of payments1Price elasticity of supply1Price stability1Production possibility curves1Protectionism1Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost1The reasons for international trade1What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2019 May/June, Paper 1 · Variant 1. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.