Government Macroeconomic Intervention (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Economics): Exam Questions

Mexico has a history of trade deficits. The national government is moving the economy closer to free trade, to try to improve its macroeconomic performance. It was predicted in 2017 that Mexico’s economy would experience a small rise in its unemployment rate. In 2017 the economy’s inflation rate was 6.6%, the highest rate since 2001. A number of policy measures may be used to reduce inflation, including fiscal policy to increase the rate of income tax. 

Wage rate growth has increased recently in Kazakhstan, but its economic growth rate has slowed. This is, in part, due to a fall in exports. To try to increase the economic growth rate, the government has increased its spending on investment. In August 2015, it adopted a floating foreign exchange rate system in an attempt to improve the country’s macroeconomic performance. 

Nearly one million people in Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, live in crowded, unhealthy housing. One reason why people lack basic necessities, including adequate housing, is unemployment. In 2019, nearly 10% of Cairo’s workers did not have a job. Other citizens of Cairo live in luxury, in houses costing more than $1 million. Many of Cairo’s rich adults grew up in rich families.

Australia’s foreign exchange rate fluctuates. The value of Australia’s exports is regularly greater than the value of its imports. Australia is Papua New Guinea’s main trading partner. In 2019, the government of Papua New Guinea increased income tax to reduce its inflation rate. It used other policy measures to increase its economic growth rate

Economists are uncertain about the future United States (US) macroeconomic performance. For instance, in recent years, US unemployment has fallen while the deficit on the current account of the balance of payments has fluctuated. Whether its current account deficit will rise or fall in the future may be affected by proposed tax cuts. Some economists suggest that the US government should not be concerned about the country’s current account deficit

Confidence in the government’s reform agenda led to very strong growth of India’s stock exchange index in 2017. Firms liked the supply-side policy measures that had been introduced, such as government spending on infrastructure projects including building new motorways. However, opponents of the government claimed that the government was prioritising one government aim over others.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the government body which controls the monetary policy of the country, has allowed the Singapore dollar to appreciate. However, the high cost of the Singapore dollar has created a need for new incentives for firms, such as a reduction in taxes and granting subsidies.

Tanzania is a low-income country with relatively high import tariffs. Between 2012 and 2015, Tanzania experienced a high economic growth rate. This allowed the government to provide more public goods. The government also increased its investment in the merit goods of education and healthcare. Tanzania’s central bank influenced household borrowing and spending with contractionary policy with the aim of achieving price stability. As a result the country’s inflation rate fell, with money losing less of its value

Mexico has a history of trade deficits. The national government is moving the economy closer to free trade, to try to improve its macroeconomic performance. It was predicted in 2017 that Mexico’s economy would experience a small rise in its unemployment rate. In 2017 the economy’s inflation rate was 6.6%, the highest rate since 2001. A number of policy measures may be used to reduce inflation, including fiscal policy to increase the rate of income tax. 

Australia’s foreign exchange rate fluctuates. The value of Australia’s exports is regularly greater than the value of its imports. Australia is Papua New Guinea’s main trading partner. In 2019, the government of Papua New Guinea increased income tax to reduce its inflation rate. It used other policy measures to increase its economic growth rate

In a mixed economic system, such as Portugal’s, the government intervenes in the economy. Reasons for government intervention include to correct market failure and to achieve its aims for the economy, such as control of inflation. In 2017, one-fifth of Portugal’s population was living in poverty and the government increased its spending

In February 2016, share prices on stock exchanges fell throughout the world. There were a number of reasons for this; including concerns about the slowdown in world growth, the possibility of deflation and unemployment, and fears that some commercial banks could go out of business.