Cambridge IGCSE Economics 0455 — 2021 Oct/Nov Paper 1 · Variant 1
0455/11/O/N/21 · 29 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 · To help reduce the price of oil, new supplies are needed
1 To help reduce the price of oil, new supplies are needed. However, objectors oppose exploration of new sites because of the environmental damage it may cause. Why is this statement an example of the basic economic problem? A Oil is a limited resource. B Oil is expensive. C The exploration involves demand and supply. D There are external costs involved in production.
Mark scheme: A
Q2 · The production possibility curve (PPC) shows the hours per day a student has for either…
2 The production possibility curve (PPC) shows the hours per day a student has for either entertainment or revision. 15 entertainment 12 (hours) 9 6 3 0 0 3 6 9 12 15 revision (hours) The student revises for 3 hours a day. As exams approach, the student decides to revise for 9 hours a day. What is the opportunity cost of this decision? A 3 hours of revision B 6 hours of entertainment C 6 hours of revision D 9 hours of entertainment
Mark scheme: B
Q3 · Helium is a gas that is limited in supply because it takes thousands of years to form
3 Helium is a gas that is limited in supply because it takes thousands of years to form. The US government holds 35% of the world’s supply of helium and has been selling its stocks. Helium is essential in medical scanners. It is also used for party balloons, which is a wasteful alternative use of a valuable good. Which two concepts apply to this statement? A demand and supply, government subsidy B excess demand, resource allocation C opportunity cost, private monopoly D public sector, factors of production
Mark scheme: D
Q4 · When is production certain to harm society?
4 When is production certain to harm society? A when the private costs are greater than the private benefits B when the production results in externalities C when the social costs are greater than the private costs D when the social costs are greater than the social benefits
Mark scheme: D
Q5 · What is the role of the price mechanism in a market economy?
5 What is the role of the price mechanism in a market economy? A to allocate scarce resources B to increase the provision of merit goods C to make the distribution of goods and services more equal D to reduce the negative externalities of production and consumption
Mark scheme: A
More questions on The role of markets in allocating resources
Q6 · What is a macroeconomic concept?
6 What is a macroeconomic concept? A the effect of a price change of a good B the equilibrium price in the market for a good C the reason for a change in a firm’s behaviour D the total spending in an economy
Mark scheme: D
Q7 · The diagrams show changes in the demand and supply curves for a good
7 The diagrams show changes in the demand and supply curves for a good. Which diagram shows the effect of a government providing a subsidy for the good? A B price price S1 S1 S2 P2 P1 P1 P2 D2 D1 D1 O Q1 Q2 O Q1 Q2 quantity quantity C D S2 price price S1 S1 P1 P2 P2 P1 D1 D2 D1 O Q2 Q1 O Q2 Q1 quantity quantity
Mark scheme: A
Q8 · The price elasticity of demand (PED) for bottled water is – 0.9
8 The price elasticity of demand (PED) for bottled water is – 0.9. What will happen to the quantity demanded for bottled water if its price increases by 10%? A decrease by 0.9% B decrease by 9% C increase by 0.9% D increase by 9%
Mark scheme: B
Q9 · What will increase the demand for labour in an industry?
9 What will increase the demand for labour in an industry? A a decrease in labour productivity in that industry B a decrease in the demand for the good made in that industry C an increase in labour productivity in that industry D an increase in wages in that industry
Mark scheme: C
Q10 · Which government policies will both reduce the difference in income between low-paid and…
10 Which government policies will both reduce the difference in income between low-paid and high- paid workers? A a decrease in the maximum wage and a more regressive income tax system B a decrease in the maximum wage and a reduction in trade union power C an increase in the minimum wage and a more progressive income tax system D an increase in the minimum wage and a more regressive income tax system
Mark scheme: C
Q11 · Wages for nurses decrease, while working hours for pilots decrease
11 Wages for nurses decrease, while working hours for pilots decrease. Assuming other factors do not change, what is the likely effect on the number of individuals choosing to become nurses or pilots? nurses pilots A decrease decrease B decrease increase C increase decrease D increase increase
Mark scheme: B
Q12 · The table shows the average revenue of a firm at various levels of output
12 The table shows the average revenue of a firm at various levels of output. average output revenue ($) 1 10 2 8 3 6 4 4 What happens to total revenue as output rises? A It falls and then rises. B It falls continuously. C It rises and then falls. D It rises continuously.
Mark scheme: C
Q13 · For some months the price of petrol (gas) decreased significantly
13 For some months the price of petrol (gas) decreased significantly. How would this affect a delivery firm that delivers goods for other firms using petrol (gas) powered vehicles? A Average fixed costs would decrease. B Profits would decrease. C Total fixed costs would decrease. D Variable costs would decrease.
Mark scheme: D
Q14 · The size of the domestic car industry in Japan has enabled Japanese car producers to be…
14 The size of the domestic car industry in Japan has enabled Japanese car producers to be more price competitive than rival car producers. What is an explanation for this? A Economies of scale are present in the Japanese car industry. B Managerial problems exist in the Japanese car industry. C Productivity is low in Japan. D The Japanese car industry is very labour-intensive.
Mark scheme: A
Q15 · What is a major advantage of a horizontal merger compared with a conglomerate merger?
15 What is a major advantage of a horizontal merger compared with a conglomerate merger? A It causes more motivation of the workforce. B It gains financial economies of scale with cheaper borrowing from banks. C It leads to a diversification making the firm less vulnerable. D It reduces competition and increases the merged firm’s market share.
Mark scheme: D
Q16 · Recession is when there are two consecutive quarters (six months) of A deflation
16 Recession is when there are two consecutive quarters (six months) of A deflation. B falling GDP. C rising prices. D rising unemployment.
Mark scheme: B
Q17 · An economy is operating with all resources fully employed
17 An economy is operating with all resources fully employed. Which would be an outcome of a significant increase in government expenditure? A deflation B demand-pull inflation C falling output D increased employment
Mark scheme: B
Q18 · What causes economic growth?
18 What causes economic growth? A availability of more resources B higher imports of consumer goods C higher unemployment D lower investment
Mark scheme: A
Q19 · The table shows a government’s receipts from taxation
19 The table shows a government’s receipts from taxation. $m air passenger duty 10 tax on firms’ profits 100 import duty 75 income tax 200 inheritance tax 50 sales tax (VAT) 300 What is the total amount of revenue raised by indirect taxes? A $300 m B $350 m C $385 m D $435 m
Mark scheme: C
Q20 · Which statement about supply-side policy is correct?
20 Which statement about supply-side policy is correct? A It aims to increase the productive potential of the economy. B It aims to increase total demand in the economy. C It involves changes in the equilibrium foreign exchange rate. D It involves changes in the rate of interest.
Mark scheme: A
Q21 · Why is weighting used in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI)?
21 Why is weighting used in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI)? A to ensure that all items in the index are treated equally B to ensure that all price changes are included in the index C to ensure that the index includes changes in the quantity consumed D to ensure that the index reflects the spending patterns of consumers Due to an issue with Question 22, the question has been removed from the question paper.
Mark scheme: D
Q23 · Which combination of policy measures is most likely to increase the level of employment?
23 Which combination of policy measures is most likely to increase the level of employment? A decrease general taxation and decrease the rate of interest B decrease general taxation and increase the rate of interest C increase general taxation and decrease the rate of interest D increase general taxation and increase the rate of interest
Mark scheme: A
Q24 · What is a certain cause of absolute poverty?
24 What is a certain cause of absolute poverty? A growing old B insufficient income for basic needs C lack of good healthcare D many dependants in the family
Mark scheme: B
Q25 · The birth rate in a country is higher than the death rate
25 The birth rate in a country is higher than the death rate. What might prevent the country’s population from rising? A Emigration is greater than immigration. B The birth rate is falling. C The country’s medical care improves. D The death rate is rising.
Mark scheme: A
Q26 · The table shows statistics for four countries, A–D
26 The table shows statistics for four countries, A–D. Which country has the lowest standard of living? average annual growth rate of population density life expectancy real GDP per head population (per square kilometre) (years) ($) (%) A 1.9 19 46 190 B 2.7 2 58 1700 C 3.7 45 59 210 D 4.2 89 44 190
Mark scheme: D
Q27 · Why can specialisation cause economic growth?
27 Why can specialisation cause economic growth? A Specialisation can allow a country to produce many different goods and services. B Specialisation can lead to a reduction in average costs of production. C Specialisation can mean that firms in a country will face diseconomies of scale. D Specialisation can reduce a country’s need to depend on other economies.
Mark scheme: B
Q28 · The diagram shows China’s trade with Brazil for two years
28 The diagram shows China’s trade with Brazil for two years. China’s exports key year 1 China’s imports year 2 0 1 2 3 4 5 $ billion What happened to China’s trade balance with Brazil between year 1 and year 2? A It experienced a falling surplus. B It experienced a rising deficit. C It moved from deficit to surplus. D It moved from surplus to deficit.
Mark scheme: D
Q29 · Why do some governments limit the operations of multinational companies (MNCs) within…
29 Why do some governments limit the operations of multinational companies (MNCs) within their domestic economy? A MNCs contribute to technological advances. B MNCs decrease a country’s unemployment rate. C MNCs gain profits which are transferred out of the country. D MNCs increase a country’s current account surplus.
Mark scheme: C
Q30 · What is an immediate effect for a country of a fall in its foreign exchange rate?
30 What is an immediate effect for a country of a fall in its foreign exchange rate? A a fall in the money supply B an increase in purchasing power C cheaper imports D more competitive exports
Mark scheme: D
What was in this paper
The subtopics covered by these 29 questions, and how many questions each got. Open one in a new tab to see every Cambridge question on it.
2Firms’ costs, revenue and objectives2Fiscal policy2Inflation and deflation2Opportunity cost2Workers2Current account of balance of payments1Employment and unemployment1Firms and production1Foreign exchange rates1Globalisation, free trade and protection1International specialisation1Living standards1Market failure1Market structure1Microeconomics and macroeconomics1Population1Poverty1Price elasticity of demand (PED)1Supply1Supply-side policy1The nature of the economic problem1The role of markets in allocating resources1What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2021 Oct/Nov, Paper 1 · Variant 1. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.