General Certificate of Education

Advanced Subsidiary Examination

January 2009

Economics ECON2
Unit 2 The National Economy

Friday 16 January 2009 9.00 am to 10.15 am

For this paper you must have:

z an objective test answer sheet

z a black ball-point pen

z an 8-page answer book.

You may use a calculator.

Time allowed
z 1 hour 15 minutes

Instructions
z In Section A, answer all questions on your objective test answer sheet.
z In Section B, answer EITHER Question 26 OR Question 27 in your answer book.
z Do all rough work in your answer book, not on your objective test answer sheet.

Section A
z Use a black ball-point pen. Do not use pencil.

Section B
z Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Pencil should only be used for drawing.
z Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Examining Body for this paper
is AQA. The Paper Reference is ECON2.

Information
z The maximum mark for this paper is 75.
z There are 25 marks for Section A and 50 marks for Section B.
z In Section A, each question carries 1 mark. No deductions will be made for wrong answers.
z In Section B, the marks for questions are shown in brackets.
z You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.

Advice
z You are advised to spend no more than 25 minutes on Section A and at least 50 minutes on
Section B.

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SECTION A: OBJECTIVE TEST

Answer all questions in Section A.

Each question carries 1 mark. No deductions will be made for wrong answers.
You are advised to spend no more than 25 minutes on Section A.

For each question there are four alternative responses, A, B, C and D. When you have selected the
response which you think is the best answer to a question, mark this response on your objective
test answer sheet. If you wish to change your answer to a question, follow the instructions on your
objective test answer sheet.

1 Which one of the following statements about saving is correct?

A Saving is a component of aggregate demand.

B Saving can finance investment expenditure.

C In the short run, less household saving means less consumption.

D Increased saving increases demand-pull inflationary pressure.

2 An economy is currently operating inside its production possibility frontier. In the short
run, if the rate of growth of aggregate demand is less than the rate of growth of productive
capacity, then the economy is most likely to experience

A an increase in unemployment.

B a decrease in output.

C a decrease in its trend rate of growth.

D a decrease in imports.

3 As a component of aggregate demand, consumption is best defined as total expenditure in the

economy

A on all goods and services including imports.

B on all goods and services minus expenditure on exports.

C by households on all goods and services.

D by households, government and firms plus expenditure on exports less expenditure on

imports.

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4 The diagram below shows the relationship between trend growth and actual growth for an
economy.
Real
GDP X
Trend growth
Y

Actual growth

Time

The policy most appropriate to close the output gap XY by influencing aggregate demand
would be

A an increase in the rate of interest.

B a fall in the exchange rate of the currency.

C a cut in income tax rates.

D an increase in government spending.

5 Which one of the following is most likely to shift the short run aggregate supply curve to the
right?

A A fall in money wages

B A reduction in government spending

C A fall in the exchange rate

D A decrease in the productivity of labour

6 ‘The multiplier’ usually refers to the effect of a change in the level of

A aggregate demand upon imports.

B national income upon aggregate demand.

C saving upon investment.

D investment upon national income.

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7 The diagram below shows two production possibility frontiers for an economy.

Capital
goods

O Consumer
goods

The movement of the economy from position X to position Y must indicate that there has been

A a reduction in the level of unemployment.

B an increase in the economy’s output gap.

C a rightward shift in the economy’s long run aggregate supply curve.

D an increase in income per head.

8 Expansionary monetary policy is most likely to

A shift the long run aggregate supply curve to the left.

B result from a reduction in taxation.

C cause a surplus on the current account of the balance of payments.

D shift the aggregate demand curve to the right.

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9 The diagram below shows two aggregate demand curves for an economy.

Price
level

AD1
AD2
O Real national output

The shift from AD1 to AD2 could be explained by an increase in

A imports.

B the price level.

C costs of production.

D investment.

10 All other things being equal, an economy is most likely to experience inflation if

A aggregate supply increases at a faster rate than aggregate demand.

B the country runs a balance of trade deficit at full employment.

C aggregate demand is increased when the economy is on its production possibility

frontier.

D the government runs a budget deficit when long run aggregate supply increases.

11 A rise in the level of domestic investment will most likely result from a rise in

A the current account deficit.

B interest rates.

C company profits.

D the exchange rate.

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12 A sustained rise in the exchange rate is most likely to increase

A inflation.

B unemployment.

C economic growth.

D international competitiveness.

13 The table below shows the change in the Consumer Prices Index for a country between 2007
and 2008.

Year Consumer Prices Index

2007 200
2008 210

The figures indicate that, approximately, between 2007 and 2008

A the purchasing power of money fell by 5%.

B the rate of inflation was 10%.

C the price of consumer goods increased by 10%.

D the standard of living increased by 5%.

14 Which one of the following is most likely to be an example of a contractionary fiscal policy
designed to reduce inflationary pressures?

A A reduction in the exchange rate

B A reduction in the supply of money available to banks for lending purposes

C Higher interest rates

D An increase in the government budget surplus

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15 The diagram below shows an aggregate demand/aggregate supply diagram for an economy.
The economy is initially in equilibrium at E.

Price
level LRAS1 LRAS2

E F
P

AD2
AD1
O Y1 Y2 Real national
output

Which one of the following combinations of government policy is most likely to have brought
about the change in equilibrium from E to F?

An increase in

A interest rates and unemployment benefits

B government spending on transport infrastructure and vocational retraining programmes

C the exchange rate and the money supply

D measures to encourage emigration and greater saving

16 ‘The UK steel industry pays for its imported inputs in US dollars and sells its output abroad in
euros.’

It follows from the above that the UK steel industry will benefit most when the pound is

A strong against the US dollar, weak against the euro.

B weak against the US dollar, weak against the euro.

C weak against the US dollar, strong against the euro.

D strong against the US dollar, strong against the euro.

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17 ‘Economists predict that the negative output gap in the United Kingdom is likely to grow over
the next couple of years.’

In the short run, which one of the following policies is most likely to help to prevent this
negative output gap increasing?

A The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raising interest rates

B The government taking action to increase the exchange rate of the pound

C An increase in government expenditure accompanied by a growing budget deficit

D The implementation of supply-side policies that are designed to raise labour productivity

18 Which one of the following, A, B, C or D, represents the most likely outcome of cuts in
interest rates for an economy, all other things being equal?

Household Household The exchange rate

saving borrowing of a currency
A Fall Fall Fall

B Rise Rise Rise

C Rise Fall Rise

D Fall Rise Fall

19 Structural unemployment is most likely to be caused by

A a recession in the economy.

B changes in the demand for labour at different times of the year.

C an increase in the number of people changing jobs.

D the skills of the unemployed not matching those required for the available jobs.

20 All other things being equal, which one of the following is most likely to increase an
economy’s underlying trend rate of growth?

A rise in the rate of growth of

A inflation

B household income

C imports of consumer goods

D labour productivity
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21 The diagram below shows the aggregate demand (AD) and short run aggregate supply (SRAS)
curves for the UK economy, with the initial equilibrium at the intersection of AD1 and SRAS1
at point E.

Price
level
SRAS2

G SRAS1

F H

E
AD2
AD1

O Real national
output

The country experiences a 10% increase in oil prices and at the same time exports increase by
10%. As a result of these two events, equilibrium will

A remain at point E.

B move to point F.

C move to point G.

D move to point H.

22 In recent years, the UK has experienced large deficits on the balance of payments on current
account. Which one of the following would be least likely to reduce such deficits?

A A rise in aggregate supply

B A rise in the exchange rate

C A rise in income tax rates

D A rise in productivity

23 Which one of the following statements relating to monetary policy is correct?

A A cut in interest rates always increases inflation.

B While reducing excess demand, an interest rate rise may increase cost-push inflation.

C Interest rate changes have no effect on aggregate supply.

D An increase in interest rates will raise the level of investment.

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24 The table below shows the value of a country’s currency against other currencies, in index
number form.

Exchange rate index,

Year
2006 = 100

2005 97

2006 100

2007 104

2008 107

All other things being equal, the most likely consequence of the changes in the exchange rate
index shown in the table is that

A inflationary pressures eased.

B the price of imports increased.

C the balance of payments on current account improved.

D there was a growth in employment in the manufacturing industry.

25 When there is full employment, an advantage of supply-side policies is that they

A immediately benefit the poor.

B achieve control over the money supply.

C increase the budget deficit.

D can bring about an increase in output without adding to inflation.

QUESTION 25 IS THE LAST

QUESTION IN SECTION A

On your answer sheet

ignore rows 26 to 50

TURN TO PAGE 12 FOR SECTION B

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There are no questions printed on this page

Turn over for the next question

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SECTION B: DATA RESPONSE

Answer EITHER Question 26 OR Question 27.

You are advised to spend at least 50 minutes on Section B.

EITHER
Total for this question: 50 marks

26 PRODUCTIVITY

Study Extracts A, B and C, and then answer all parts of Question 26 which follows.

Extract A: The rate of growth of UK labour productivity, annual % change, 2002–2007

%4

0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Source: adapted from www.statistics.gov.uk, accessed on 29 August 2007

Extract B: Productivity and the performance of the UK economy

Economists, when using the term ‘productivity’, are usually referring to labour 1
productivity. For the UK, the so-called productivity gap continues to cause concern.
This is the difference between UK productivity and that of similar economies. In the
recent past, UK productivity has been disappointing when compared to some of our
major trading partners such as France, Germany and the US. 5

International studies provide explanations for differences in labour productivity.

Skills and investment levels are regarded as of vital importance. The UK may need
higher-quality labour to be applied to more efficient machinery to bring improvements in
productivity performance. In the US, it is felt that less job security than in the UK might
be a factor. Labour may work harder to impress employers, and so avoid redundancy. 10
The application of new technology is also important.

The UK Government views productivity growth as a key policy objective and points to
competition, enterprise and innovation as important causes of improved productivity.

Source: news reports, 2008

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Extract C: We must have higher productivity in the UK economy

Labour productivity is an important issue when considering UK macroeconomic 1

performance. There is a greater likelihood that any rise in aggregate demand (AD) will
be non-inflationary when improvements in productivity are able to generate greater
output. This means that economic growth can be sustained over the long term, as can job
creation. It must also be borne in mind that the improved competitiveness which higher 5
productivity may bring will, in turn, help to bring the necessary improvements to the
balance of payments on current account.

Of course, benefits are likely to be even greater if higher productivity is accompanied by

other supply-side developments such as increased investment, research and development
(R&D), and ‘welfare-to-work’ and tax reforms to encourage the unemployed back into 10
work.
Source: news reports, 2008

Question 26

26 (a) Define the term ‘labour productivity’ (Extract B, lines 1-2). (5 marks)

(b) Using Extract A, identify two main features of the annual rate of growth of UK labour
productivity for the period 2002 to 2007. (8 marks)

(c) Extract B (line 6) suggests that international studies ‘provide explanations for differences
in labour productivity’.

Explain two determinants of labour productivity. (12 marks)

(d) Using the data and your economic knowledge, assess the importance of higher labour
productivity in bringing about improvements to UK macroeconomic performance.
(25 marks)

Turn over for the next question

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Do not answer Question 27 if you have answered Question 26.

OR
Total for this question: 50 marks

27 HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS

Study Extracts D, E and F, and then answer all parts of Question 27 which follows.

Extract D: UK household savings ratio* (%), 2004–2007

%7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2004 2005 2006 2007

* The household savings ratio is household savings expressed as a % of total disposable income
(gross income less taxes but including welfare benefits).

Extract E: UK savings ratio tumbles to lowest level for 50 years

The data for 2007 have shown that the rate at which households are saving has plunged 1
to the lowest level in almost half a century.

The fall indicates that, as a greater proportion of incomes is accounted for by taxation,
higher mortgage payments and credit charges, some households are increasingly having
to dig deeper into their savings to maintain a given life-style. However, there will 5
also be those households which may be encouraged to save more as interest rates rise
and which have the ability to do so. Providing for old age may be another reason for
households to save.

Economists warn that consumers are beginning to struggle as the tax burden rises at the
fastest rate in nine years and disposable income grows at the slowest rate in a quarter 10
of a century. Households are increasing their borrowing to finance the desired level
of current consumption. It may be, however, that borrowing cannot be maintained as
interest rates rise further to deal with a worsening inflation problem.

Source: adapted from the Daily Telegraph, 30 June 2007

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Extract F: Does the savings ratio matter to the UK economy?

The issue of household savings has perhaps not always been given the importance it 1
deserves when discussing influences on an economy’s macroeconomic performance.
First and foremost, it is more likely that economists will discuss factors such as the role
of government in inducing growth through, for example, promotion of enterprise and
innovation, or the rate of growth of aggregate demand (AD), or the rate of growth of 5
labour productivity.

However, the potential significance of household savings for UK macroeconomic

performance needs to be recognised. Saving by households does, to some extent, provide
the funds which financial institutions, such as banks, lend to businesses to finance
investment, a prime mover in economic growth. Decisions to save from a given income 10
will also help determine household consumption, a major component of AD. In turn,
changes in household consumption may have consequences for the rate of inflation, jobs
and the balance of payments on current account.

Source: news reports, 2008

Question 27

27 (a) Define the term ‘savings’ (Extract E, line 5). (5 marks)

(b) Using Extract D, identify two main features of the UK household savings ratio for the
period 2004 to 2007. (8 marks)

(c) Extract E (lines 1-2) states that ‘the rate at which households are saving has plunged to
the lowest level in almost half a century’.

Explain two determinants of saving by households. (12 marks)

(d) Extract F (lines 7-8) argues that ‘the potential significance of household savings for UK
macroeconomic performance needs to be recognised’.

Using the data and your economic knowledge, evaluate the significance of household
savings for UK macroeconomic performance. (25 marks)

END OF QUESTIONS

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There are no questions printed on this page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT-HOLDERS AND PUBLISHERS

Permission to reproduce all copyright material has been applied for. In some cases efforts to contact copyright-holders have been unsuccessful and
AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements in future papers if notified.

Extract A: Reproduced under the terms of the Click-Use Licence.

Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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