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NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE
GRADE 12
SEPTEMBER 2020
ECONOMICS P2
MARKING GUIDELINE
MARKS: 150
This marking guideline consists of 16 pages.
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Economics Grade 12 P2 Eastern Cape Mock 2020 Memo (English)
Grade 12 Economics Paper 2 memorandum from the Eastern Cape Mock Exam 2020 (English), 16 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.
Economics · Grade 12 · Eastern Cape Mock Exam · 2020 · English. Memorandum, 16 pages. Read online or download the PDF.
- Subject
- Economics
- Grade
- Grade 12
- Language
- English
- Document type
- Memorandum
- Year
- 2020
- Exam period
- Eastern Cape Mock Exam
- Paper
- 2
- Curriculum
- CAPS
- Pages
- 16
- File size
- 424.3 KB
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2 ECONOMICS P2 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2020)
SECTION A (COMPULSORY)
QUESTION 1
1.1 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
1.1.1 C average variable
1.1.2 B production
1.1.3 B information made available
1.1.4 A non-excludable
1.1.5 D inflation targeting
1.1.6 C decrease
1.1.7 A car tyres
1.1.8 D Basel Convention (8 x 2) (16)
1.2 MATCHING ITEMS
1.2.1 C All costs are variable
1.2.2 H Buyers are charged different prices for the same product
1.2.3 F The firm is the industry
1.2.4 B Financial grant to support the production of a good or service
1.2.5 G Excludes mortgage interest costs
1.2.6 D Prices of imported goods are shown explicitly
1.2.7 A People lose confidence in the value of money
1.2.8 E Sustained development that does not erode the environment
(8 x 1) (8)
1.3 GIVE THE TERM
1.3.1 Normal profits
1.3.2 Cartel
1.3.3 Merit goods
1.3.4 GDP deflator
1.3.5 Conservation
1.3.6 Hazardous waste (6 x 1) (6)
TOTAL SECTION A: 30
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2020) ECONOMICS P2 3
SECTION B
Answer any TWO of the three questions from this section in the ANSWER BOOK.
QUESTION 2
2.1 Answer the following questions.
2.1.1 List any TWO examples of community goods.
Defence services
Police services
Light house
Street lighting
Flood control
Storm water drainage
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2 x 1) (2)
2.1.2 How would perfect markets disadvantage consumers?
By limiting the variety of consumer goods
By exposing consumers to lower the quality of goods
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2)
2.2 DATA RESPONSE
2.2.1 Name ONE example of barriers to entry in an oligopoly.
High start-up capital
Economies of scale
Ownership of raw materials
Patents
Licences
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (1)
2.2.2 Give any non-price competition strategy used by oligopolists.
Advertising
After sales service
Efficient service
Door to door services
Loyalty rewards
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (1 x 1) (1)
2.2.3 Briefly describe the term oligopoly.
Oligopoly is a market structure where only a few sellers operate and sell
differentiated products
(Accept any other correct relevant description) (2)
2.2.4 Briefly explain tacit collusion by oligopolies.
Oligopolies collude without communicating formally or concluding
formal agreements
A dominant firm (price leader) will increase the price of a product in the
hope that its rivals will see this as a signal and do the same
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2)
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4 ECONOMICS P2 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2020)
2.2.5 With the aid of a graph explain the demand curve of an oligopolist.
Price
D
relatively elastic demand
P e√
relatively inelastic demand
D
0 Q Quantity √
Mark allocation
Correct labelling of both axes 1 mark
Correct position and labelling of both segments 2 marks
Indication of equilibrium point 1 mark
Maximum 4 marks
(4)
2.3 DATA RESPONSE
2.3.1 At which point on the graph above are the demands of consumers
met?
Point C (1)
2.3.2 What is represented by point E or F?
Allocative and productive inefficiency (1)
2.3.3 Briefly describe the term indifference curve (I).
Indifference curve shows the combination of two goods which gives the
consumer the same level of satisfaction
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2)
2.3.4 Briefly explain the reason for the shape of the Production Possibility
Curve above.
The Production Possibility Curve is concave to the origin because
increases in the production of one good will lead to an increasing sacrifice
in terms of a reduction in other goods
(Accept any other correct relevant explanation) (2)
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2020) ECONOMICS P2 5
2.3.5 How can negative externality be reduced using quantity control?
Regulating the production of a good
Issuing licences to allow production
Setting quota limits to the total amount of a good to be produced
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2 x 2) (4)
2.4 Distinguish between natural monopoly and artificial monopoly.
Natural monopoly
Exists when it is not possible for more than one producer to exist and survive in
the industry
There are high development costs which prevent others from entering the
market
The massive fixed costs of production result in an enormous level of output being
needed to achieve economies of scale
A single business in the industry can serve the market at a lower price than two or
more businesses together
Natural monopolies are owned or regulated by the government, e.g. provision of
electricity (2 x 2)
Artificial monopoly
Exists when more than one producer exists and survives in the market
The barriers to entry are not economic in nature, e.g. licencing and patents
Licences are required for TV and radio broadcasting, telephone and cellular
networks
Licences protect operators against the entry of competitors
A patent is the legal and exclusive right of a patent holder to manufacture a product
using his or her own unique invention
Patents are frequently encountered in the pharmaceutical industry
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2 x 2) (8)
2.5 Evaluate the effectiveness of Cost Benefit Analysis as a decision-making tool.
CBA may be effective as a decision-making tool by …
evaluating whether capital invested is worth it
influencing decisions whether to hire new employees
developing a benchmark for comparing of projects
helping predict whether the benefits of a policy outweigh its costs relative to other
alternatives
CBA may not be effective as a decision-making tool because there could be …
potential inaccuracy in identifying and quantifying costs and benefits due to
accidentally omitting certain costs and benefits as a result of inability to forecast
indirect causal relationship
ambiguity and uncertainty involved in quantifying and assigning a monetary value
to an inaccurate CBA
increased subjectivity for intangible costs and benefits since some costs are non-
monetary in nature, e.g. increases in customer and employee satisfaction
inaccurate calculation of present value which may result in misleading analysis
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (4 x 2) (8)
[40]
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6 ECONOMICS P2 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2020)
QUESTION 3: CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC ISSUES
3.1 Answer the following questions.
3.1.1 Name any TWO examples of natural disasters that can be a cause of
cost-push inflation.
Floods
Drought
Earthquakes / Hurricanes
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2 x 1) (2)
3.1.2 Why are metropolitan areas in South Africa the most polluted?
High traffic congestion which results in high carbon emissions
There are a number of factories which contribute to the release of
poisonous gases into the atmosphere
These areas are more industrialised and as such production in the
factories can result in emission of greenhouse gases
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2)
3.2 DATA RESPONSE
3.2.1 Which province experienced the highest rate of inflation in the graph
above?
Western Cape (1)
3.2.2 Which type of inflation excludes items with high volatile prices?
Core inflation (1)
3.2.3 Briefly describe the term inflation.
Inflation is a sustained and significant increase in the general price level
over a specific period of time and simultaneous decline in the buying power
of money
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2)
3.2.4 Briefly explain the importance of measuring inflation.
It is important to measure inflation because:
Inflation statistics form the basis of government policy
Affects the planning of firms and individuals
Inflation statistics are used to set index linked wages, welfare benefits
and interest rates
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (1 x 2) (2)
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2020) ECONOMICS P2 7
3.2.5 Examine the effects of inflation on supply and demand for bonds.
Higher inflation decreases the demand for bonds and increase their
supply as borrowers become more willing to borrow money – resulting
in lower bond prices and higher interest rates
Lower inflation increases the demand for bonds and decrease their
supply because borrowers become less interested in issuing bonds
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2 x 2) (4)
3.3 DATA RESPONSE
3.3.1 Identify the type of pollution in the picture above.
Air pollution (1)
3.3.2 Which international agreement has been implemented to deal with
climate change?
Kyoto Protocol
United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change (1)
3.3.3 Briefly describe the term climate change.
Climate change is the rise in the average surface temperatures, mostly due
to the burning of fossil fuels
(Accept any other relevant correct response) (2)
3.3.4 Briefly explain any measure that can be implemented to reverse
climate change.
Widespread international cooperation of countries to commit
themselves to fight against global warming
Sharing weather information and weather patterns with other
countries
Limiting pollution
Banning chemical products such as greenhouse gases that damage the
ozone layer
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (1 x 2) (2)
3.3.5 Examine the negative impact of climate change on agriculture and
food supply.
Changes in the frequency and severity of drought and floods could
pose challenges to farmers and ranchers and threaten food supply
Climate change can disrupt food availability, reduce access and affect
food quality
Changes in extreme weather and reduction in water availability may all
result in reduced agricultural productivity
Climate change reduces nutrients in agricultural products
Production by farmers is reduced as they struggle to keep up with the
bad weather
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2 x 2) (4)
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8 ECONOMICS P2 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2020)
3.4 Briefly explain increased consumption by households and investment
spending as causes of demand-pull inflation.
Increase in consumption by households
Disposable income of households can increase at a faster rate than aggregate
supply
Fewer savings: if consumers change their saving habits and start spending
their current and accumulated savings, growth in aggregate demand can
outstrip growth in aggregate supply
Reduction in taxes: this applies more to personal income tax than indirect
taxes
Access to credit: there is a greater availability of consumer credit or the
availability of cheaper credit as a result of decrease in lending taxes
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2 x 2)
Investment spending
Reduced interest rates will encourage firms to expand operations
Businesses will invest more on capital goods and this may lead to increased
demand for goods and services which are part of investment
An increase in aggregate demand which may be greater than aggregate
supply will lead to an increase in the overall prices of goods and services
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2 x 2) (8)
3.5 Why is biodiversity under threat?
Biodiversity is under serious threat because of:
degradation and destruction of the natural habitat which may be caused by
restructuring of land for development purposes
intensifying agricultural practices which may cause pollution to the natural
habitat
reduction of land capacity for hosting wildlife
pollution of soil and water caused by industries during production of goods
and services, for example, burning of fossil fuels, dumping into the
oceans, etc.
carbon emissions, deforestation and other land use changes, due to human
activities, may result into changes in weather patterns and result in habitat
loss
overhunting and overfishing which contribute to loss of biodiversity by killing
numerous species
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (4 x 2) (8)
[40]
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2020) ECONOMICS P2 9
QUESTION 4: MICROECONOMICS AND CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC ISSUES
DATA RESPONSE
4.1 Answer the following questions.
4.1.1 Name TWO types of costs used by economists as opposed to
accountants.
Implicit costs
Explicit costs (2)
4.1.2 What could be the contributing factor for high rates of inflation in
South Africa?
Continuous increase in price of crude oil
Mismanaged public sector monopolies have imposed huge costs on
the rest of the economy
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2)
4.2 DATA RESPONSE
4.2.1 Give a formula for calculating total revenue.
TR = Price x Quantity (1)
4.2.2 At which level of output is the firm maximising revenue?
Unit 6 (1)
4.2.3 Briefly describe the term marginal revenue.
Extra revenue received for every additional unit sold
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2)
4.2.4 Explain how monopolists determine the production level.
The monopolist first determines the price and then the quantity it
wants to sell
By reducing the price, monopolists will sell more units of the product
and vice versa
(Accept any other correct relevant explanation) (2)
4.2.5 Use the information above and calculate average revenue for unit 3.
Show all your calculations.
AR = TR/units
= 24/3
= R8
(4)
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10 ECONOMICS P2 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2020)
4.3 DATA RESPONSE
4.3.1 Identify from the extract the cause of a sharp fall in inflation during
the second quarter of 2020.
Lower fuel prices (1)
4.3.2 Name ONE group of people mostly affected by high levels of
inflation.
Retired people
Pensioners
Poor people
(Accept any other relevant correct response) (1)
4.3.3 Briefly describe the term stagflation.
Stagflation is a condition of stagnating economic growth, high
unemployment coupled with high rates of inflation
(Accept any other relevant correct response) (2)
4.3.4 Explain wages as the cause of cost-push inflation.
Wages form the main source of inflation as they constitute 50 % of
the cost of determining GDP in South Africa
Wage increases that are greater than productivity increases result in
increased costs of production
Producers recover these costs through increasing the prices of their
goods (2)
4.3.5 How can taxation be used to combat inflation?
Increasing direct taxation such as income tax will reduce the
disposable income of consumers and fewer goods will be demanded
in the economy
Increasing indirect taxes such as VAT and levy on fuel will make
goods more expensive and this may curb the demand and
spending
The government may implement the surcharge on imported goods
making them to be more expensive and demand for such goods will
be reduced
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2 x 2) (4)
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2020) ECONOMICS P2 11
4.4 With the use of a graph, explain the effects of minimum wage.
S
Wage rate
√ D
W1 Minimum wage
E
W
S
D
0 Q1 Q Q2 Quantity
MARK ALLOCATION
Correct labelling of axis = 1 mark
Labelling demand and supply = 1 mark
Indication of equilibrium point = 1 mark
Indication of decrease in quantity
demanded of labour = 1 mark
Maximum: 4 marks
Minimum wage is set by the government – above the ongoing wage
Distribution of income will improve from W to W1
Consumers will have more to spend thus improving their standard
of living
Demand for labour will decrease from Q to Q1 while supply increases from Q
to Q2 because employers will not be willing to pay the minimum wage
Some employers will retrench workers
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (2 x 2) (8)
4.5 Examine the role of price expectation on inflation in South Africa.
South African firms and consumers usually act on their expectations thereby
causing high inflation
If workers expect future inflation, they bargain for higher wages to compensate
for the increased cost of living.
The success of the high wage bargain contributes towards inflation
The high wages increase cost-push inflation – as wages increase firm
costs
They also increase demand-pull inflation – workers have more disposable
income
When firms expect inflation to rise, for example, expecting the price of raw
material to increase, they will increase prices to protect their profit margins
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (8)
[40]
TOTAL SECTION B: 80
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12 ECONOMICS P2 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2020)
SECTION C
Answer ONE of the two questions from this section in the ANSWER BOOK.
Your answer will be assessed as follows.
QUESTION 5
Compare without graphs the market structure of a monopolistic competition with
that of a perfect market focussing on the following:
- Nature of the product
- Market information
- Price determination and demand curve
Evaluate the importance of South Africa’s competition policy in the operation of
markets.
INTRODUCTION
A market is an institution/mechanism that brings together the buyers and sellers of a good
or service to negotiate about prices and quantities to be traded.
Market structure refers to the way markets are organised.
(Accept any other correct relevant response) Max. (2)
MAIN PART
Nature of the product
Perfect market:
Products sold are homogenous or identical
There is no difference in the products, they are exactly the same in terms of quality
and appearance
It makes no difference to a buyer where or from whom to buy the product in a perfect
market
Monopolistic competition:
Products sold are differentiated
Products may be similar but not identical as there may be differences in packaging
and ingredients
The differentiation in products creates a scope for brand loyalty
(Accept any other correct relevant response) Max. (8)
Market information
Perfect market:
Buyers and sellers have full knowledge of the market conditions
All buyers know what the specific characteristics of the good are, how much to pay,
the quality and market opportunities
Sellers know the preferences of consumers
Monopolistic competition:
Market information is incomplete for both buyers and sellers
Many brands, enormous variety of products, multiple outlets, diverse location and
marginal differences in prices cause a lack of complete information for sellers and
buyers
(Accept any other correct relevant response) Max. (8)
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2020) ECONOMICS P2 13
Price determination and demand curve
Perfect market:
A perfect competitor cannot determine its prices; it takes the price determined by the
market
The price in the market is determined by the intersection of demand and supply,
i.e. equilibrium price
It is therefore a price taker – it takes the price as it is from the market and only
changes when the market changes
Since it can sell any quantity at the prevailing market price, then the demand curve is
perfectly elastic or horizontal
The demand curve is also the price of the products
Monopolistic competition:
There is considerable control over the prices of goods and services
It can produce less and charge a higher price
Demand curve is downward sloping (negative) moving from left to right
Demand curve is relatively elastic and represents the average revenue
(Accept any other correct relevant response) Max. 10
ADDITIONAL PART
Competition policy is important in:
providing consumers with competitive prices and product choice
regulating markets and monopolies in the country thereby preventing monopoly
growth
balancing the act of economic transformation that will benefit all South Africans
through ownership, participation of SMMEs and employment
declaring practices such as resale price maintenance and horizontal collusion to be
unlawful
forcing firms to compete vigorously in terms of prices and quality
fostering restructuring in sectors that have lost competitiveness
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (5 x 2) (10)
CONCLUSION
Perfect competition and monopolistic competition are relatively comparable as they have
similar characteristics.
(Accept any other correct relevant higher order conclusion) (2)
[40]
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14 ECONOMICS P2 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2020)
QUESTION 6
Discuss in detail how the government can ensure sustainable development.
How do measures used to pursue high economic growth negatively impact on
environmental sustainability?
INTRODUCTION
Environmental sustainability may be described as the development that satisfies the current
needs of the people without compromising the quality of the environment so that it remains
equally capable of supporting the future generations too.
(Accept any other low-order introduction) (2)
MAIN PART
Granting property rights
Property rights are laws that govern how individuals can control, use, benefit from and
transfer resources
Property rights have positive conservation effects because they ensure that people take
care of the property they own
They will use it profitably for as long as possible, even for generations to come
To prevent Fauna and Flora species from becoming instinct, the government can allow
people property rights over them
Property owners can then preserve the environment at little cost to taxpayers
Property rights can be expanded to common goods such as clean air
Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement whereby developed countries pay
developing countries for their right to pollute
Pay for environmental use
The government can protect the environment by imposing user-fees and charges on
individuals who use or damage the environment
Government levies fees for waste produced and dumped in the environment
In South Africa local authorities levy charges on rubbish collected and
sewage disposal
Charges should be proportional to the waste for best results because a fixed total charge
will not encourage waste producers to reduce waste
Levy environmental taxes
These are also known as green taxes or eco taxes
Government imposes these taxes on consumption of a good that has a negative impact
on the environment and is not for the good of the environment
E.g. levy on plastic bags, filament light bulbs, tyres etc.
To achieve a socially efficient output, the rate of tax should be equal to the marginal
external cost
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(EC/SEPTEMBER 2020) ECONOMICS P2 15
Pay environmental subsidies
The government pays a subsidy to firms that enable them to reduce pollution levels by a
certain percentage or below a certain level
E.g. government subsidises new technology that saves energy such as energy saving
bulbs or solar geysers
Issue marketable permits
The government issues a permit to each firm which allows a certain amount of
pollution, so this sets a standard
Firms are allowed to trade the permits to other firms that have a larger pollution level
When increasing output, each firm can decide whether it is more profitable to buy permits
for additional pollution or to alter its technology to produce less pollution using its current
permits
Command and control
Maximum permitted levels are set, e.g. emissions, minimum acceptable levels of
environmental quality
Inspectors monitor the activities and impose fines if the legal limits are not respected
There are three approaches to devising command and control system:
- Quantity standards: focus on quantities of pollution caused irrespective of the
environmental impact, e.g. car gas emissions
- Voluntary agreements: the government tries to enter into voluntary agreements with
businesses to cut pollution, rather than imposing laws and regulations. These
agreements include formal contracts or informal commitments that businesses
negotiate to suit their own circumstances
Education
It is used to try to change people’s attitudes towards the environment
Innovative approaches have been tried in the developing world to educate people, e.g.
setting up community wildlife reserves
Education should include aspects of indigenous knowledge systems because indigenous
people have a broad knowledge of how to live sustainable
People should be made aware of environmental issues and the consequences of their
actions
To make their consumption habits more environmentally friendly
Education plays an important role in improving people’s ability to manage the
environment
Voluntary agreements
The government concludes agreements with businesses on a voluntary basis to cut
pollution
(Accept any other correct relevant response)
(Maximum of 8 marks for mere listing of facts or examples) Max. 26
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16 ECONOMICS P2 (EC/SEPTEMBER 2020)
ADDITIONAL PART
Pursuing high economic growth can negatively impact on environmental sustainability by:
leading to resource depletion and loss of biodiversity which could harm the future
carrying capacity of ecological systems for the economy
creating long-term waste and toxins which may have unknown consequences
For example, economic growth has led to the increased use of plastics which are non-
degradable
There is an ever-increasing stock of plastics in the sea and environment which is both
unsightly but also damages the wildlife
leading to the higher consumption of resources, greater pollution and greater demand on
natural resources which will harm the environment
imposing high costs on the environment because of increased output and
consumption , e.g. increased consumption of non-renewable resources, higher levels
of pollution and global warming
foregoing the opportunity cost of reducing the available non-renewable resources and
sustainability of the environment since there is a trade-off between consumer goods and
the environment, by increasing the consumption of consumer goods
(Accept any other correct relevant response) (Max. 10)
CONCLUSION
All individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations should take care of the
environment by being engaged in projects that will promote sustainable living.
(Accept any other relevant high-order conclusion) (2)
[40]
TOTAL SECTION C: 40
GRAND TOTAL: 150
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