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ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours) QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOK Structure of book Section Number of questions Number of questions to be answered Number of marks A 15 15 15 B 4 4 65 Total 80 Students are permitted to bring into the examination room: pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, sharpeners and rulers. Students are NOT permitted to bring into the examination room: blank sheets of paper and/or correction fluid/tape. No calculator is allowed in this examination. Materials supplied Question and answer book of 24 pages Answer sheet for multiple-choice questions Additional space is available at the end of the book if you need extra space to complete an answer. Instructions Write your student number in the space provided above on this page. Check that your name and student number as printed on your answer sheet for multiple-choice questions are correct, and sign your name in the space provided to verify this. All written responses must be in English. At the end of the examination Place the answer sheet for multiple-choice questions inside the front cover of this book. Students are NOT permitted to bring mobile phones and/or any other unauthorised electronic devices into the examination room. © VICTORIAN CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY 2020 SUPERVISOR TO ATTACH PROCESSING LABEL HERE Victorian Certificate of Education 2020 STUDENT NUMBER Letter

2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

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Page 1: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

ECONOMICSWritten examination

Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOK

Structure of bookSection Number of

questionsNumber of questions

to be answeredNumber of

marks

A 15 15 15B 4 4 65

Total 80

• Studentsarepermittedtobringintotheexaminationroom:pens,pencils,highlighters,erasers,sharpenersandrulers.

• StudentsareNOTpermittedtobringintotheexaminationroom:blanksheetsofpaperand/orcorrectionfluid/tape.

• Nocalculatorisallowedinthisexamination.

Materials supplied• Questionandanswerbookof24pages• Answersheetformultiple-choicequestions• Additionalspaceisavailableattheendofthebookifyouneedextraspacetocompleteananswer.

Instructions• Writeyourstudent numberinthespaceprovidedaboveonthispage.• Checkthatyournameandstudent numberasprintedonyouranswersheetformultiple-choice

questionsarecorrect,andsignyournameinthespaceprovidedtoverifythis.• AllwrittenresponsesmustbeinEnglish.

At the end of the examination• Placetheanswersheetformultiple-choicequestionsinsidethefrontcoverofthisbook.

Students are NOT permitted to bring mobile phones and/or any other unauthorised electronic devices into the examination room.

©VICTORIANCURRICULUMANDASSESSMENTAUTHORITY2020

SUPERVISOR TO ATTACH PROCESSING LABEL HEREVictorian Certificate of Education 2020

STUDENT NUMBER

Letter

Page 2: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 2

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SECTION A–continued

SECTION A – Multiple-choice questions

Instructions for Section AAnswerallquestionsinpencilontheanswersheetprovidedformultiple-choicequestions.Choosetheresponsethatiscorrectorthatbest answersthequestion.Acorrectanswerscores1;anincorrectanswerscores0.Markswillnotbedeductedforincorrectanswers.Nomarkswillbegivenifmorethanoneansweriscompletedforanyquestion.

Question 1Whichoneofthefollowingactionsareeconomistsmostlikelytoconsiderasinvestmentexpenditure?A. anindividualbuyingsharesB. asupermarketinstallingself-servecheckoutsC. acompanypayingitsworkershigherwagesD. ahouseholdpurchasingahomeentertainmentunit

Question 2Whichoneofthefollowingisaleakagefromthecircularflowmodelofincome?A. anincreaseinconsumptionspendingB. transferpaymentsmadebythegovernmentC. anincreaseinimportsD. anincreaseininvestmentspending

Question 3Whichoneofthefollowingbestdescribesthecharacteristicsofapublicgood?A. excludableandrivalrousB. excludableandnon-rivalrousC. non-excludableandrivalrousD. non-excludableandnon-rivalrous

Question 4IfAustralia’sforeignequityassetsexceeditsforeignequityliabilities,thismeansthatA. AustraliahasinvestedlessoverseasthanforeignershaveinvestedinAustralia.B. AustraliahasinvestedmoreoverseasthanforeignershaveinvestedinAustralia.C. theAustralianGovernmenthasincreaseditsborrowingsfromoverseastofundbudgetdeficits.D. theAustralianGovernmenthasdecreaseditsborrowingsfromoverseastofundbudgetdeficits.

Question 5Theimpositionofatariffwouldcausewhichoneofthefollowing?A. adecreaseinthepriceofimportsandariseinthedemandforimportsB. anincreaseinthepriceofimportsandariseinthedemandforimportsC. adecreaseinthepriceofimportsandariseinthedemandforimport-competingdomesticgoodsD. anincreaseinthepriceofimportsandariseinthedemandforimport-competingdomesticgoods

Page 3: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

3 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

SECTION A – continuedTURN OVER

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Question 6AnimprovementinAustralia’scurrentaccountbalanceismostlikelytooccurwhenA. thetradebalancesurplusincreases.B. thetermsoftradedeteriorate.C. theAustraliandollarappreciates.D. China’seconomicgrowthslows.

Question 7SupposetheAustralianGovernmentwaspayingsubsidiestobeekeepers.Ifthegovernmentreducedorremovedthesesubsidies,the mostlikelyeffectonthepriceofhoneywouldbeA. anincreaseinprice,astherewouldbeanincreaseinthedemandforhoney.B. adecreaseinprice,astherewouldbeadecreaseinthedemandforhoney.C. adecreaseinprice,astherewouldbeanincreaseinthesupplyofhoney.D. anincreaseinprice,astherewouldbeadecreaseinthesupplyofhoney.

Question 8Whichoneofthefollowingisleastlikelytobeanexampleofamonetarypolicytransmissionmechanismresultingfromlowerinterestrates?A. anincreaseinnetcapitalinflowB. anincreaseinborrowingsforhousinginvestmentC. adecreaseinimportsresultingfromafallinthevalueoftheAustraliandollarD. anincreaseinexportsresultingfromafallinthevalueoftheAustraliandollar

Question 9ThepriceelasticityofdemandforaproductwillbegreaterA. themoreresponsivetheindustrysupplycurveisfortheproduct.B. thelargerthenumberofsubstitutesfortheproduct.C. thelowertheproportionoftheirincomeconsumersspendontheproduct.D. themorenecessaryconsumersregardtheproducttobefortheirconsumption.

Question 10Afallintheequilibriumpricebutnochangeinequilibriumquantitycouldonlyoccurfromwhichoneofthefollowingcombinations?A. adecreaseindemandandanincreaseinsupplyB. anincreaseindemandandadecreaseinsupplyC. adecreaseinbothdemandandsupplyD. anincreaseinbothdemandandsupply

Page 4: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 4

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SECTION A–continued

Question 11Whichoneofthefollowingwouldmostlikelyhappenifallcountriesagreedtosignificantlyreducecarbonemissionsbymovingtowardsagreaterrelianceonrenewableenergysources?A. ThedemandforAustraliancoalwouldincreaseandthepricereceivedforcoalexportswouldrise.B. ThedemandforAustraliancoalwoulddecreaseandthepricereceivedforcoalexportswouldfall.C. ThedemandforAustraliannaturalgaswoulddecreaseandthepricereceivedfornaturalgasexports

wouldrise.D. ThedemandforAustraliannaturalgaswouldincreaseandthepricereceivedfornaturalgasexports

wouldfall.

Question 12Thelabourforceunder-utilisationratemeasurestheA. unemployedasapercentageofthelabourforce.B. unemployedandunderemployedasapercentageofthelabourforce.C. underemployedasapercentageofthepopulationaged15yearsandover.D. unemployedandunderemployedasapercentageofthepopulationaged15yearsandover.

Question 13ConsiderthefollowinghypotheticalAustralianGovernmentBudgetfigures.

Item Amount (billions)

totalreceipts $200

totaloutlays $175

netcashflowsfrominvestmentsinfinancialassets(IFAPP) $10

FutureFundearnings $5

Whatisthesizeoftheunderlyingcashsurplus?A. $10billionB. $25billionC. $30billionD. $40billion

Question 14Whichcombinationofaggregatesupplypolicieswillhaveadifferentoveralleffectonthegoaloffullemploymentthantheothercombinationsgiven?A. anincreaseinresearchanddevelopmentgrants,increasedspendingontrainingandeducation,aboost

ininvestmentininfrastructureB. areductioninsubsidiesforinfantindustriescompetingwithimports,adecreaseinspendingontraining

andeducation,areductionininvestmentininfrastructureC. areductionintariffprotectionintheeconomy,areductioninthepersonalincometaxrates,areduction

inspendingontrainingandeducationD. amovetowardsfreetrade,areductioninthecompanytaxrate,areductioninresearchanddevelopment

grants

Page 5: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

5 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

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END OF SECTION A TURN OVER

Question 15Whichoneofthefollowingisthemostlikelytocausecostinflation?A. excessdemandforgoodsandservicesB. thegovernmentreducingcompanytaxratesC. expectationsbyemployersthatinterestrateswillfallD. anincreaseinsuperannuationcontributionspaidbyemployers

Page 6: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 6

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SECTION B – Question 1–continued

Question 1 (16marks)

Thelowercashratehasputdownwardpressureontheexchangerate,whichissupportingactivityacrossarangeofindustries.

Source:statementbyPhilipLowe,GovernoroftheReserveBankofAustralia, ‘MonetaryPolicyDecision’,mediarelease,3December2019,

<www.rba.gov.au>

a. DescribehowalowercashrateinAustraliaputsdownwardpressureonthevalueoftheexchangerateandhowthismightsupportactivityacrossarangeofindustries. 4marks

SECTION B – Written responses

Instructions for Section BAnswer allquestionsinthespacesprovided.

Page 7: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

7 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

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SECTION B – Question 1–continuedTURN OVER

b. ExplainthelikelyimpactofeachofthefollowingscenariosonAustralia’sexchangerate. 6marks

• Thereisafavourablemovementinthetermsoftrade.

• Thereisaslowdowninglobaleconomicgrowth.

Page 8: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 8

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SECTION B – Question 1–continued

c. ExplainhowdownwardpressureonAustralia’sexchangeratemightinfluenceeachofthe following. 6marks

• Australia’sbalanceofpaymentsoncurrentaccount

Page 9: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

9 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

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SECTION B – continuedTURN OVER

• Australia’smaterialandnon-materiallivingstandards

Page 10: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 10

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SECTION B – Question 2–continued

Question 2 (21marks)a. DescribetwoeconomicreasonswhytheAustralianGovernmentmightfinditdifficultto

achieveabudgetsurplusintheshorttomediumterm. 4marks

Page 11: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

11 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

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SECTION B – Question 2–continuedTURN OVER

b. Explaintheroleofautomaticstabilisersininfluencingaggregatedemandandstabilisingthebusinesscyclein2020. 5marks

Page 12: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 12

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SECTION B – Question 2–continued

c. Describehowtwodiscretionarybudgetarypolicyinitiativesannouncedineither2019or2020mightinfluenceaggregatedemandandtheachievementofthedomesticmacroeconomicgoalofstrongandsustainableeconomicgrowth. 6marks

Page 13: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

13 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

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SECTION B – continuedTURN OVER

d. Evaluatetheeffectivenessofmonetarypolicyin2020inachievingtheAustralianGovernment’sdomesticmacroeconomicgoaloffullemployment. 6marks

Page 14: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 14

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SECTION B – Question 3–continued

Question 3 (10marks)a. Explaintherelationshipbetweenanefficientallocationofresourcesandaggregatesupply. 4marks

Page 15: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

15 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

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SECTION B – continuedTURN OVER

b. Explainhowthefollowingaspectsofbudgetarypolicymightinfluenceaggregatesupplyandtheachievementofstrongandsustainableeconomicgrowth. 6marks

• Spendingontrainingandeducation

• Investmentininfrastructure

Page 16: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 16

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SECTION B – Question 4–continued

Question 4 (18marks)a. Explainthenatureof,andconditionsfor,aperfectlycompetitivemarket. 3marks

Page 17: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

17 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

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SECTION B – Question 4–continuedTURN OVER

b. Inacompetitivemarket,explainhowanincreaseindemandforaproductmightresultinachangeinrelativeprices,andexplainhowthiswouldinfluenceresourceallocationandlivingstandards. 5marks

Page 18: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 18

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SECTION B – Question 4–continued

c. Describeonestrengthandoneweaknessassociatedwiththeuseofthemarkettoallocateresources. 4marks

Page 19: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

19 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

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TURN OVER

d. Usingafullylabelleddemandandsupplydiagram,explainhowtheAustralianGovernmentcouldcorrectamarketfailure. 6marks

END OF QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOK

Page 20: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 20

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Extra space for responses

Clearly number all responses in this space.

Page 21: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

21 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

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TURN OVER

Page 22: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 22

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Page 23: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

23 2020ECONOMICSEXAM

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TURN OVER

Page 24: 2020 Economics Written examination...ECONOMICS Written examination Tuesday 24 November 2020 Reading time: 2.00 pm to 2.15 pm (15 minutes) Writing time: 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm (2 hours)

2020ECONOMICSEXAM 24

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Ananswerbookisavailablefromthesupervisorifyouneedextraspacetocompleteananswer.Pleaseensureyouwriteyourstudent numberinthespaceprovidedonthefrontcoveroftheanswerbook.At the end of the examination, place the answer book inside the front cover of this question and answer book.