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Date May 2022 Marks available 15 Reference code 22M.1.SL.TZ0.3
Level Standard level Paper Paper 1 Time zone Time zone 0
Command term Discuss Question number 3 Adapted from N/A

Question

Explain how political and social factors can act as barriers to economic growth and economic development.

[10]
a.

Using real-world examples, discuss the significance of economic barriers for a country’s economic growth and economic development.

[15]
b.

Markscheme

Marks should be allocated according to the paper 1 markbands for May 2022 forward, part A.

Answers may include:

A maximum of [6] should be awarded if only economic growth or economic development in the question item is addressed.

a.

Marks should be allocated according to the paper 1 markbands for May 2022 forward, part B.

Answers may include:

Examiners should be flexible in the interpretation of the difference between economic and political/social barriers.

Examiners should be aware that candidates may take a different approach which, if appropriate, should be rewarded.

N.B. It should be noted that definitions, theory, and examples that have already been given in part (a), and then referred to in part (b), should be rewarded.

A maximum of [9] should be awarded if only economic growth or economic development in the question item is addressed.

b.

Examiners report

Relative to the other questions on the paper, this question was the most challenging for students. The aim of the question was for responses to consider issues such as gender inequality, corruption, unequal political power and status, a weak institutional framework through the legal system, and ineffective taxation structures. Many answers, however, drifted into general barriers to economic growth and development. Students also found it difficult to answer the question using economic theory, such as the PPC model and the poverty cycle.

a.

Candidates found the emphasis on economic barriers more straightforward to deal with compared to political and social factors in part (a). Strong answers focused on economic barriers, such as low levels of human capital, overdependence on the primary sector, and protectionism in international markets. The best answers took a factor such as trade barriers and explained how this might reduce economic growth and development. Again, it was important for answers to use a real-world example to support their answer and most students did this. The best answers evaluated the significance of different economic barriers by, for example, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of having an over-reliance on the primary sector.

b.

Syllabus sections

First exams 2022 » Unit 4: The global economy » 4.9 Barriers to economic growth and/or economic development » 4.9.2 Economic barriers
First exams 2022 » Unit 4: The global economy » 4.9 Barriers to economic growth and/or economic development » 4.9.4 Significance of different barriers to economic growth and/or economic development
First exams 2022 » Unit 4: The global economy » 4.9 Barriers to economic growth and/or economic development
First exams 2022 » Unit 4: The global economy
First exams 2022

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