Cambridge Assessment International Education: Economics 2281/22 October/November 2019
Cambridge Assessment International Education: Economics 2281/22 October/November 2019
Cambridge Assessment International Education: Economics 2281/22 October/November 2019
ECONOMICS 2281/22
Paper 2 Structured Questions October/November 2019
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 90
Published
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 International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2019 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level
components.
These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.
• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond
the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.
Rules must be applied consistently e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.
Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).
Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.
1(b) Explain, using information form the extract, whether the market for 2
driverless cars is expected to be in equilibrium in 2030.
1(c) Calculate, using information from the extract, the price elasticity of 2
supply (PES) of driverless cars.
2.5 (2).
Correct working: 20% / 8% OR 20 / 8 (1).
1(d) Explain, using information from the extract, two external costs that 4
driverless cars could reduce.
1(e) Analyse, using Table 1.1, the relationship between educational 5 A pattern of analysis is expected in response
spending and the unemployment rate. to this type of question.
Expected relationship – a country that spends more (a high proportion) If there is no expected pattern of analysis, the
of their GDP on education would have a low unemployment rate / a following may be worthy of some reward, e.g.:
country with a higher unemployment rate is likely to spend less on • it is not a consistent relationship (1)
education / it is an inverse relationship (1). • there are other influences on the
unemployment rate (1)
Reasons for expected relationship – workers would be likely to be more
skilled and productive / higher unemployment may result in less tax However, do not reward simple statements
revenue to spend on education (1). (repetition) of the figures given in the table. For
example, USA spends 8.2% on education and
Evidence in support of expected relationship – e.g. New Zealand or US has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, is not to be
(1) highest spenders and lowest unemployment rates (1). rewarded.
1(f) Discuss whether or not an increase in house building will benefit 5 Apply this example to all questions with the
the people who live in the area. command word DISCUSS
(1(g), 1(h), 2(d), 3(d), 4(d) and 5(d))
Up to 3 marks for why it might:
House building may create jobs (1) lower unemployment (1) generate Each point may be credited only once, on either
income / raise wages / raise living standards (1). side of an argument, but separate development
House building will increase the supply of housing (1) the lower price of as to how/why the outcome may differ is
housing (1) makes houses more affordable (1) fewer homeless (1). rewarded.
May attract more firms to set up in the area (1) more services may be
provided (1) due to more people living in the area / larger labour force
Generic example Mark
(1).
May save travel time for those working nearby (1) reduce pollution / Tax revenue may decrease « 1
congestion (1).
... because of reason e.g. incomes
Up to 3 marks for why it might not: 1
may be lower.
House building may cause external costs (1) examples (2).
More houses may reduce the value of people’s homes (1) reduce their Tax revenue may increase because
wealth (1). incomes may be higher i.e. reverse 0
There is an opportunity cost (1) the area used could have been used for of a previous argument.
e.g. school buildings (1).
Demand for extra services may not be met (1). Tax revenue may increase because
Jobs may only be temporary / seasonal unemployment (1). of a different reason i.e. not the
More housing may create overcrowding in the area. (1). reverse of a previous argument e.g.
1
government spending on subsidies
may stimulate the economy more
than spending on education.
1(g) Explain, using information from the extract, two reasons why the 4 Some points may be interchangeable e.g. rise
power of trade unions may decline in the future. in unemployment (1) resulting in fall in
membership (1).
Fall in membership (1) lower funds / less bargaining power (1).
Rise in unemployment / workers being replaced by machines (1) trade
unions may be reluctant to take industrial action for fear that members
will be replaced by unemployed / non-member workers (1).
Government may reduce the power of trade unions (1) making it harder
for trade unions to protect workers’ rights (1).
Movement from primary to tertiary sector (1) which may be less
unionised / better working conditions (1).
1(h) Discuss whether or not a rise in unemployment is harmful. 6 Reward but do not expect reference to a
downward multiplier effect and/or not reaching
Up to 4 marks for why it is: productive capacity.
Output is likely to fall (1) incomes will decline / poverty increase (1) living
standards will fall (1) lower total (aggregate) demand (1).
Tax revenue will fall (1) government may have to cut spending on e.g.
education and healthcare (1).
Government may increase tax rates (1) which may create disincentive
effect (1).
The government will have to spend more on unemployment benefit (1)
this will involve an opportunity cost (1) may result in a budget deficit (1).
Unemployed workers may lose skills / become out of date (1) may need
retraining (1).
May increase emigration (1) lose skilled workers (1).
May cause social problems e.g. crime / mental health problems (1).
• better healthcare
• improved nutrition
• better housing
• better living standards
• higher incomes
2(b) Explain two reasons why net immigration may increase the 4 Reward but do not expect reference to optimum
standard of living in a country. population.
May increase the size of the labour force (1) increase the number of Do not reward lower wages because the effect
goods and services available / increase output / increase GDP / on the standard of living is uncertain.
economic growth (1).
May bring in new skills (1) raise productivity (1) increase the quality of
products produced (1).
Fill jobs that local workers do not want to do (1) reduce shortages (1).
Fill jobs that local workers do not have the qualifications to do (1) reduce
shortages (1).
Increase total (aggregate) demand (1) which will encourage firms to
increase their output (1).
Make better use of other resources (1) if the country lacks labour / is
underpopulated (1).
Increase tax revenue (1) enabling government to spend more on e.g.
education (1).
Immigrants may set up firms (1) creating jobs / reducing unemployment
(1) / purchasing power (1).
May lower costs of production (1) make products more affordable (1).
The government could cut taxes (1) this could raise disposable income /
purchasing power (1) which may increase consumer spending (1) cuts in
corporate tax may provide more funds for firms (1) raise investment (1)
encourage firms to expand their output (1) increase employment /
reduce unemployment (1).
A government could increase its own spending (1) example e.g.
healthcare (1) this would increase total (aggregate) demand (1)
encouraging an increase in output (1).
Spending on infrastructure (1) may reduce firms costs and so encourage
higher output (1).
2(d) Discuss whether or not low-income countries have a faster rate of 8 Some points may be interchangeable e.g.
population growth than high-income countries. factors attracting immigrants may encourage
emigration from poorer countries, but do not
Up to 5 marks for why some do: reward on both sides of the discussion.
Some have a high birth rate (1) reasons e.g. low number of women
working, (1) need for children to support parents in old age (1) lack of Maximum of 4 marks for a list-like approach.
education (1) falling death rate (1) natural increase (1) due to improved
healthcare (1) rise in incomes (1).
3(d) Discuss whether or not older workers are paid more than young 8
workers.
4(a) Identify two components of the HDI. 2 For education accept (adult) literacy.
4(c) Analyse, using a demand and supply diagram, how a fall in the 6 S1
price of cotton would affect the market for cotton shirts. S2
price of
Up to 4 marks for the diagram: cotton
Axes correctly labelled – price and quantity or P and Q (1). shirts
Demand and supply curves correctly labelled (1).
Supply curve shifted to the right (1). P1
Equilibriums – shown by lines or e.g. E1 and E2 (1). P2
5(a) Identify two examples of land used in growing agricultural crops. 2 Note: land on its own is insufficient, but the area
of land or farmland can be rewarded.
• soil
• water
• natural fertiliser
• seeds
• weather
5(b) Explain why the concept of price elasticity of supply (PES) may be 4 Note:
useful to a government in deciding whether to subsidise the supply change is greater/smaller than price
production of a product. change (1)
supply changes by a greater/smaller
A subsidy is aimed at increasing supply / lowering price (1). percentage than price (2)
If supply is elastic, supply will change by a greater (1) percentage (1)
than price. Should subsidise production of the product (1).
If supply is inelastic, supply will change by a smaller (1) percentage (1)
than price. Should not subsidise production of the product (1).
5(c) Analyse why the demand for a product may be higher in one 6
country than in another country.
Incomes may be higher (1) allowing people to buy more of the product
(1).
There may be a larger population (1) more potential buyers (1).
The product may be more to the taste of people in that country (1)
example e.g. falafel is popular in the middle east (1).
The product may be more heavily advertised (1) which may increase the
attractiveness of the product (1).
Price may be lower (1) due to lower costs of production / government
subsidy / lower (indirect) taxes (1).
Price of substitutes may be higher (1) example (1).
Credit may be more available / interest rate lower (1) making it easier for
people to borrow to buy the product (1).
5(d) Discuss whether or not the government should influence the 8 Reward but do not expect reference to price
production of basic food items, such as bread or rice. controls.
6(b) Explain how a rise in the income of its main trading partners may 4
affect a country’s trade in goods balance.
6(c) Analyse how a rise in a country’s foreign exchange rate may affect 6 Reward but do not expect reference to PED.
its unemployment rate.
A rise in the exchange rate will make exports more expensive (1) imports
cheaper (1) demand for exports may fall / export revenue may decrease
(1) demand for imports may rise / import expenditure may rise (1) net
exports may fall (1) total (aggregate) demand may fall (1) output may
decline (1) demand for labour may fall (1) unemployment may rise (1)
cyclical unemployment (1).
• many buyers
• many sellers
• no barriers to entry (and exit)
• (firms are) price takers
• Identical / homogeneous product
• no attachment between buyers and sellers
• perfect knowledge
7(c) Analyse the main reasons for the differences in the size of firms. 6 Maximum of 3 marks for a list-like approach.
7(d) Discuss whether or not the use of supply-side policy measures by 8 Maximum of 5 marks if only one policy measure
a government will reduce firms’ average costs of production. discussed.