Cambridge IGCSE Economics 0455 — 2019 Oct/Nov Paper 1 · Variant 2
0455/12/O/N/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 · Which statement about factors of production is correct?
1 Which statement about factors of production is correct? A Capital is the amount of money borrowed from a bank. B Labour is output made by an employee. C Land includes commercially grown rice crops. D Profit is the reward for enterprise.
Mark scheme: D
Q2 · The diagram shows two production possibility curves
2 The diagram shows two production possibility curves. output of 100 capital goods X Y 50 0 0 50 80 90 output of consumer goods Which statement about the movement from point X to point Y is correct? A Demand for consumer goods has risen. B The opportunity cost for producing consumer goods has risen. C There has been an increase in productivity in consumer goods production. D There has been an inward shift in the production possibility curve.
Mark scheme: C
More questions on Production possibility curve (PPC) diagrams
Q3 · Sam wrote a list of how he would prefer to spend his Saturday afternoon
3 Sam wrote a list of how he would prefer to spend his Saturday afternoon. first choice go to a cricket match second choice watch the annual town parade third choice go to the cinema fourth choice visit relatives Unfortunately a thunderstorm caused the cricket match and the town parade to be cancelled. Sam went to the cinema. What was the opportunity cost of going to the cinema? A going to a cricket match B watching the annual town parade C visiting relatives D losing his Saturday free time
Mark scheme: C
Q4 · Which pair of economic institutions can be found in a market economy?
4 Which pair of economic institutions can be found in a market economy? A local government and charities B monopolies and commercial banks C nationalised industries and partnerships D stock exchange and public corporations
Mark scheme: B
Q5 · What suggests that there is market failure?
5 What suggests that there is market failure? A high producer profits B high retail prices C lack of competition D low levels of investment
Mark scheme: C
Q6 · What can cause the supply curve for a product to shift to the right?
6 What can cause the supply curve for a product to shift to the right? A an increase in demand for the product B an increase in government subsidies to producers C an increase in indirect taxes on the product D an increase in the costs of production
Mark scheme: B
Q7 · A railway company increases ticket prices by 10% for travel between 06:00 and 09:00…
7 A railway company increases ticket prices by 10% for travel between 06:00 and 09:00, causing a reduction in demand by 2%. After 09:00 it reduces ticket prices by 5%, resulting in a 7% increase in demand. What is the price elasticity of demand in response to these price changes? between 06:00 after 09:00 and 09:00 A elastic elastic B elastic inelastic C inelastic elastic D inelastic inelastic
Mark scheme: C
Q8 · What is a disadvantage of being a specialist skilled worker?
8 What is a disadvantage of being a specialist skilled worker? A Career opportunities are abundant. B Earnings are related to the level of skill. C It may be difficult to find work locally. D Labour supply is elastic and plentiful.
Mark scheme: C
Q9 · What is not normally a function of the central bank of a country?
9 What is not normally a function of the central bank of a country? A acting as lender of last resort B issuing notes and coins C operating the government’s monetary policy D setting the government’s budget
Mark scheme: D
Q10 · The table shows how three people (X, Y and Z) spend their income
10 The table shows how three people (X, Y and Z) spend their income. person X person Y person Z food, clothing and housing 35% 50% 20% entertainment and leisure 25% 20% 40% luxury goods 40% 30% 40% For these three people, what is the most likely order of income, from highest income to lowest income? A X → Y→ Z B Y → Z → X C Z → X → Y D Z → Y → X
Mark scheme: C
Q11 · A musician has a choice of playing for an orchestra in either Germany or England
11 A musician has a choice of playing for an orchestra in either Germany or England. Which combination of incomes and cost of living is most likely to cause her to choose the German orchestra? Incomes and cost of living in Germany compared with those in England pre-tax (gross) income after-tax (net) income cost of living A higher higher higher B higher lower lower C lower higher higher D lower higher lower
Mark scheme: D
Q12 · Which type of business organisation is necessarily in the public sector of the economy?
12 Which type of business organisation is necessarily in the public sector of the economy? A multinational company B public limited company C public corporation D sole trader
Mark scheme: C
Q13 · Which combination of characteristics correctly describes a monopoly?
13 Which combination of characteristics correctly describes a monopoly? barriers to entry economies of scale A high possible B high impossible C low possible D low impossible
Mark scheme: A
Q14 · The table shows the sales of cold drinks made by a company in the UK in 2016 and 2017
14 The table shows the sales of cold drinks made by a company in the UK in 2016 and 2017. Demand for cold drinks is influenced by changes in the temperature. In 2016 the sales followed the usual seasonal pattern. sales 2016 sales 2017 month (thousand cans) (thousand cans) April 300 290 May 400 350 June 550 270 July 570 490 August 620 590 In which month of 2017 was the usual pattern disturbed? A May B June C July D August
Mark scheme: B
Q15 · A firm producing bicycles has the following costs at different levels of output
15 A firm producing bicycles has the following costs at different levels of output. total fixed costs total variable costs output ($) ($) 10 300 800 20 300 1500 30 300 3300 What happens to the average total cost over this range of output? A It falls continuously. B It falls then rises. C It rises continuously. D It rises then falls.
Mark scheme: B
Q16 · Why are indirect taxes, such as VAT of 20% on goods and services, described as regressive…
16 Why are indirect taxes, such as VAT of 20% on goods and services, described as regressive when comparing high-income and low-income purchasers? A High-income purchasers pay a higher percentage of their income in tax. B High-income purchasers pay a lower percentage of their income in tax. C Low-income purchasers pay a lower percentage of their income in tax. D Low-income purchasers and high-income purchasers pay the same percentage of their income in tax.
Mark scheme: B
Q17 · The government has an important role in mixed economies
17 The government has an important role in mixed economies. Which function would it not perform? A distributing dividends from profits of state-owned enterprises B employing workers to collect taxes C investing in transport infrastructure projects D producing goods in public corporations
Mark scheme: A
Q18 · Which combination of policy measures would be effective in reducing the effects of a…
18 Which combination of policy measures would be effective in reducing the effects of a recession? A a reduction in interest rates and a reduction in income tax B a reduction in interest rates and an increase in income tax C an increase in interest rates and a reduction in income tax D an increase in interest rates and an increase in income tax
Mark scheme: A
Q19 · How would government spending on education be classified?
19 How would government spending on education be classified? fiscal monetary supply-side policy policy policy A no no yes B no yes no C yes no yes D yes yes no
Mark scheme: C
Q20 · Which increase is most likely to cause a rise in the output of an economy?
20 Which increase is most likely to cause a rise in the output of an economy? A hyperinflation B income taxes C interest rates D investment
Mark scheme: D
Q21 · Why was the Human Development Index (HDI) introduced as a measure of the standard of…
21 Why was the Human Development Index (HDI) introduced as a measure of the standard of living? A Education and healthcare are important contributors to the standard of living. B GDP per head only measures development. C Inequality can only be measured by HDI. D Literacy rates are not an effective measure of the standard of living.
Mark scheme: A
Q22 · During periods of high unemployment across the entire labour force, the highest…
22 During periods of high unemployment across the entire labour force, the highest unemployment rate in an economy is often in the 16–19 year-old age group. Which statement explains why 16–19 year-olds may find it difficult to find a job? A The incentive to earn an income is lower for that age group. B Their wages are lower than those of adults. C They lack both work experience and the necessary skills. D They prefer leisure activities to long working hours.
Mark scheme: C
Q23 · Venezuela, a leading world oil producer, has experienced hyperinflation of over 400% per…
23 Venezuela, a leading world oil producer, has experienced hyperinflation of over 400% per annum in recent years. How does hyperinflation affect an economy? prices effect A fluctuate up and down consumers are uncertain about future price levels B fluctuate up and down consumers can anticipate future price levels C rise very rapidly value of fixed assets remains stable D rise very rapidly money has limited worth as a medium of exchange
Mark scheme: D
Q24 · What is most likely to increase as a country becomes more developed?
24 What is most likely to increase as a country becomes more developed? A average household income B average size of family C infant mortality rate D the proportion of income spent on food
Mark scheme: A
More questions on Differences in economic development between countries
Q25 · In Botswana, better healthcare has meant that birth rates have been falling faster than…
25 In Botswana, better healthcare has meant that birth rates have been falling faster than death rates. Also the number of children born, on average, to each woman has declined from 6.4 to 3.2. What may be concluded from this information? A Government spending on education will need to increase. B Medical improvements have resulted in falling infant mortality rates. C There will be a decline in income for each person working. D There will, in the long run, be an increase in the working population.
Mark scheme: B
Q26 · The table shows the percentage share of GDP held by the richest 20% and poorest 20% of…
26 The table shows the percentage share of GDP held by the richest 20% and poorest 20% of the population in each country. Which country had the greatest extremes of income and poverty? country richest 20% poorest 20% A Ghana 41.7% 8.4% B Nigeria 55.7% 4.4% C Senegal 48.2% 6.4% D South Africa 64.8% 2.9%
Mark scheme: D
Q27 · What would cause a favourable change in the Kenyan trade in services (invisible) account?
27 What would cause a favourable change in the Kenyan trade in services (invisible) account? A A Kenyan company wins a contract to transport exports from Uganda. B A Kenyan tea company increases its exports. C A Kenyan trade delegation promoting coffee sales visits India. D A Zambian company increases its exports to Kenya.
Mark scheme: A
Q28 · What is a disadvantage of trade protection of manufactured goods?
28 What is a disadvantage of trade protection of manufactured goods? A It can lead to retaliation from trading partners. B It encourages infant industries to grow. C It increases demand for domestic manufactured goods. D It reduces outflows of currencies to pay for imports.
Mark scheme: A
Q29 · What would cause a rise in the deficit on the current account of the balance of payments?
29 What would cause a rise in the deficit on the current account of the balance of payments? A a fall in foreign direct investment into the country B a fall in interest earned on overseas investment by the country C a fall in the value of imported manufactured goods into the country D a rise in the revenue earned from tourism in the country
Mark scheme: B
Q30 · What would reduce the volume of international trade in the world economy?
30 What would reduce the volume of international trade in the world economy? A a German bank making a loan to a Nigerian company B a Japanese car manufacturer establishing a factory in the Czech Republic C the Canadian government introducing quotas on Malaysian electronics products D the Swedish government granting aid to Somalia
Mark scheme: C
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.
2Fiscal policy2Globalisation, free trade and protection2Workers2Demand1Differences in economic development between countries1Economic growth1Employment and unemployment1Firms’ costs, revenue and objectives1Households1Inflation and deflation1Living standards1Market economic system1Market failure1Market structure1Mixed economic system1Money and banking1Opportunity cost1Population1Poverty1Price elasticity of demand (PED)1Production possibility curve (PPC) diagrams1Supply1Supply-side policy1The factors of production1The role of government1What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2019 Oct/Nov, Paper 1 · Variant 2. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.