# Economics Grade 12 P2 NSC June 2018 Question Paper (English)

> Grade 12 Economics Paper 2 question paper from the NSC June Exam 2018 (English), 12 pages. Read online or get the free PDF download, memo linked when available.

- Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/library/economics-p2-may-june-2018-eng/07f4abad-419c-4786-ab3a-cd4514b1c6b3
- Updated: 2026-09-27
- Subject: Economics
- Grade: Grade 12
- Document type: Question paper
- Year: 2018
- Exam period: NSC June Exam
- Paper: 2
- Curriculum: CAPS
- Pages: 12

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Economics · Grade 12 · NSC June Exam · 2018. Question paper, 12 pages. Read online or download the PDF.

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                     SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS

                                  ECONOMICS P2

                                         2018

                                                                     MARKS: 150

                                                                    TIME: 2 hours

                        This question paper consists of 12 pages.

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Economics/P2                                2                                   DBE/2018
                                           SCE

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

1.        Answer FOUR questions as follows in the ANSWER BOOK:

          SECTION A: COMPULSORY
          SECTION B: Answer TWO of the three questions.
          SECTION C: Answer ONE of the two questions.

2.        Answer only the required number of questions. Answers in excess of the
          required number will NOT be marked.

3.        Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this
          question paper.

4.        Write the question number above each answer.

5.        Read the questions carefully.

6.        Start EACH question on a NEW page.

7.        Leave 2–3 lines between subsections of questions.

8.        Answer the questions in full sentences and ensure that the format, content
          and context of your responses comply with the cognitive requirements of
          the questions.

9.        Use only black or blue ink.

10.       You may use a non-programmable pocket calculator.

11.       Write neatly and legibly.

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Economics/P2                                  3                                    DBE/2018
                                             SCE

SECTION A (COMPULSORY)

QUESTION 1                                                   30 MARKS – 20 MINUTES

1.1       Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions.
          Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question
          numbers (1.1.1 to 1.1.8) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.1.9 D.

          1.1.1       The supply curve for the individual firm under perfect conditions
                      is … sloped.

                      A    negatively
                      B    positively
                      C    horizontally
                      D    vertically

          1.1.2       An industry with only two producers controlling the market is known
                      as a/an …

                      A    duopoly.
                      B    monopoly.
                      C    oligopoly.
                      D    tripoly.

          1.1.3       Public goods are provided and funded by …

                      A    markets.
                      B    factories.
                      C    governments.
                      D    companies.

          1.1.4       The government can introduce … to increase the mobility of labour.

                      A    taxes
                      B    poverty
                      C    inflation
                      D    training programmes

          1.1.5       The South African Reserve Bank is responsible for implementing
                      … policy.

                      A    fiscal
                      B    domestic
                      C    monetary
                      D    foreign trade

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Economics/P2                                   4                                       DBE/2018
                                              SCE

          1.1.6        People travelling to South Africa from other countries are known
                       as … tourists.
                       A     inbound
                       B     influx
                       C     internal
                       D     outbound

          1.1.7        Global warming is caused by the release of … into the atmosphere.
                       A     oxygen
                       B     carbon dioxide
                       C     hot air
                       D     cold air

          1.1.8        The institution that publishes the consumer price index on a
                       monthly basis is …
                       A     the Department of Finance.
                       B     the Department of Tourism.
                       C     the South African Revenue Services.
                       D     Statistics South Africa.                                (8 x 2)      (16)

1.2       Choose a description from COLUMN B that matches the item in COLUMN A.
          Write only the letter (A–I) next to the question numbers (1.2.1 to 1.2.8) in the
          ANSWER BOOK.

                       COLUMN A                               COLUMN B
          1.2.1      Patent                   A     excludes products with volatile prices
          1.2.2      Long run                 B     condition where a country
                                                    experiences low economic growth,
          1.2.3      Branding                       high unemployment and high inflation
          1.2.4      Competition Tribunal           simultaneously

          1.2.5      Core inflation           C     the exclusive right to manufacture
                                                    a product
          1.2.6      Stagflation
                                              D     spillover effects of an economic
          1.2.7      Externality                    activity on third parties
          1.2.8      Kyoto Protocol           E     method of building customer loyalty
                                                    by choosing one product instead
                                                    of another
                                              F     authorises and prohibits large
                                                    mergers and takeovers
                                              G     international agreement to limit the
                                                    production of greenhouse gases
                                              H     includes products with volatile prices
                                              I     period of production where all factors
                                                    of production become variable
                                                                                      (8 x 1)     (8)

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Economics/P2                                   5                                    DBE/2018
                                              SCE

1.3       Give ONE term for each of the following descriptions. Write only the term
          next to the question numbers (1.3.1 to 1.3.6) in the ANSWER BOOK.
          Abbreviations, acronyms and examples will NOT be accepted.

          1.3.1       Sum of all individual businesses producing a similar kind of product

          1.3.2       The wage rate set by government, below which no employer can
                      pay his/her workers

          1.3.3       The combined cost of goods or services to producers and
                      consumers and society as a whole

          1.3.4       An extreme increase in price of more than 50% per month

          1.3.5       The type of tourism that involves attending conferences, trade fairs
                      and exhibitions in other countries

          1.3.6       A variety of plant and animal species found in a particular
                      environment                                         (6 x 1)                (6)

                                                                    TOTAL SECTION A:             30

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Economics/P2                                    6                                         DBE/2018
                                               SCE

SECTION B

Answer any TWO of the three questions in this section in the ANSWER BOOK.

QUESTION 2: MICROECONOMICS                                       40 MARKS – 30 MINUTES

2.1       Answer the following questions.

          2.1.1       Give any TWO examples of variable costs.                           (2 x 1)       (2)

          2.1.2       How are consumers affected by price leadership?                    (1 x 2)       (2)

2.2       Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.

                     BANKING CARTEL HITS SOUTH AFRICAN RAND HARD

          Three South African banks have been implicated in 'widespread' collusion
          relating to the price-fixing of the rand. It has been alleged that currency
          traders have been buying and selling US dollars in exchange for the rand at
          fixed prices. This was accomplished by making false sales to drive up
          demand, or colluding to agree not to trade for specific periods of time.

          These trade practices have resulted in the depreciation of the rand.
          It consequently affected South Africa’s import and export trade directly.

                                                          [Adapted from Businesstech.co.za, 2016]

          2.2.1       Identify ONE way in the extract in which the banks colluded
                      regarding the exchange of the dollar for the rand at fixed prices.               (1)

          2.2.2       To what kind of market structure does the extract refer?                         (1)

          2.2.3       Briefly describe the term cartel.                                                (2)

          2.2.4       Explain the view of the competition policy on the formation of
                      cartels.                                                                         (2)

          2.2.5       How would cartels in the banking sector affect South Africa's
                      foreign trade?                                       (2 x 2)                     (4)

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Economics/P2                                       7                                DBE/2018
                                                  SCE

2.3       Study the graph below and answer the questions that follow.

                     CONSEQUENCE OF MARKET FAILURE: MAXIMUM PRICES

             Price           D                                            S

            120
                                                     E

               70

                            S                                         D

                     0               50          100          150              Quantity

          2.3.1           What is the equilibrium price in the graph above?                      (1)

          2.3.2           Identify the quantity of goods above which will be supplied
                          if a maximum price of R70 is implemented.                              (1)

          2.3.3           Briefly describe the term market failure.                              (2)

          2.3.4           Why will a government implement maximum prices of certain
                          goods?                                                                 (2)

          2.3.5           Use the graph to explain the impact of maximum prices on the
                          market.                                               (2 x 2)          (4)

2.4       Briefly discuss merit and demerit goods as a cause of market failure.    (2 x 4)       (8)

2.5       Draw a fully labelled graph to illustrate the long-run equilibrium of the
          monopoly.                                                                              (8)
                                                                                                 [40]

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Economics/P2                                    8                                    DBE/2018
                                               SCE

QUESTION 3: CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC ISSUES                      40 MARKS – 30 MINUTES

3.1       Answer the following questions.

          3.1.1       Name any TWO types of pollution.                              (2 x 1)       (2)

          3.1.2       How is a reduction in taxes linked to demand pull inflation? (1 x 2)        (2)

3.2       Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.

                           IMPACT OF INFLATION ON THE ECONOMY

          For people whose incomes do not keep pace with the rate of inflation, its
          impact can be especially strong. Inflation can make it difficult for low-income
          people to pay for basic household expenses such as housing and food.
          When prices of these goods rise, purchasing power of the consumer declines.
          In South Africa prices are regarded as stable when the changes are within the
          inflation target range.

                                                             [Adapted from www.google.co.za]

          3.2.1       Identify ONE item which low-income earners may struggle to pay
                      when inflation is high.                                                     (1)

          3.2.2       Which phrase in the extract implies a decrease in the quantity of
                      goods purchased by the consumer?                                            (1)

          3.2.3       Briefly describe the term inflation.                                        (2)

          3.2.4       How do the actions of trade unions cause inflation?                         (2)

          3.2.5       How can the government use taxation to combat inflation?      (2 x 2)       (4)

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Economics/P2                                       9                              DBE/2018
                                                  SCE

3.3       Study the cartoon below and answer the questions that follow.

                                    You people are dirty and
                                    very irresponsible! Look
                                    at all the destruction you
                                     have caused! You have
                                        killed the plant and
                                    animal life. You are only
                                       interested in profits!
          Hazardous
            waste

                                                                                 Chemical
                                       You are
                                       just the                                   waste
                                       same!

                                 ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

                                                                 [Source: www.wikipedia, 2017]

          3.3.1       Identify ONE environmental problem in the cartoon above.                   (1)

          3.3.2       Identify the phrase in the cartoon that relates to the loss of
                      biodiversity.                                                              (1)

          3.3.3       Briefly describe the term pollution.                                       (2)

          3.3.4       Explain a measure adopted by the international community to deal
                      with the loss of biodiversity.                                             (2)

          3.3.5       Why is hazardous and chemical waste regarded as harmful to the
                      environment?                                           (2 x 2)             (4)

3.4       Differentiate between the consumer price index (CPI) and the producer price
          index (PPI).                                                        (2 x 4)            (8)

3.5       How can the government promote South Africa as a tourist destination?                  (8)
                                                                                                 [40]

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Economics/P2                                   10                                   DBE/2018
                                              SCE

QUESTION 4: MICROECONOMICS AND CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC ISSUES
                                         40 MARKS – 30 MINUTES

4.1       Answer the following questions.

          4.1.1       Give any TWO examples of world heritage sites in South Africa.
                                                                                 (2 x 1)          (2)

          4.1.2       Why is there a high degree of interdependence between firms in an
                      oligopoly market?                                         (1 x 2)           (2)

4.2       Study the information below and answer the questions that follow.

                             MONOPOLISTIC COMPETITION

                                 Fast-food shops

                     Hairdressers                          Law firms
          Monopolistic competitors use various non-price competition methods, like
          advertising, packaging and services, to attract customers. Economic profit is
          achieved in the short run and in the long run normal profit is realised.
                                                         [Adapted from News24, September 2017]

          4.2.1       Give ONE example of monopolistic competition in the information
                      above.                                                                      (1)

          4.2.2       Identify ONE method in the information above that is used in non-
                      price competition.                                                          (1)

          4.2.3       Briefly describe the term monopolistic competition.                         (2)

          4.2.4       How does a monopolistic competitor differ from a perfect
                      competitor in terms of market information?                                  (2)

          4.2.5       Why do monopolistic competitors achieve only normal profit in
                      the long run?                                         (2 x 2)               (4)

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Economics/P2                                   11                                    DBE/2018
                                              SCE

4.3       Study the information below and answer the questions that follow.

                  JOBS ARE STILL GROWING IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

                                                        I want to tell you
                                                       the history of this
                                                        mountain range.
                                                       I have been doing
                                                       this job for years.

      A large number of people in South Africa are employed in the tourist sector.
      Though employment levels had been declining in South Africa where an
      unemployment rate of 27,7% was experienced in 2017, tourism was one of the
      few sectors where there was an increase in jobs. The total contribution of travel
      and tourism to employment in the country was 1,5 million jobs in 2016.
                                                                 [Source: www.google.co.za]

          4.3.1       Identify the number of jobs created in the tourism sector in 2016.          (1)

          4.3.2       What was the general unemployment rate in 2017?                             (1)

          4.3.3       Briefly describe the term tourism.                                          (2)

          4.3.4       Give ONE reason why South Africa is experiencing growth in
                      tourism.                                                                    (2)

          4.3.5       Why is the tourism industry successful in creating jobs in South
                      Africa?                                                  (2 x 2)            (4)

4.4       Briefly discuss the reasons for a cost-benefit analysis (CBA).            (4 x 2)       (8)

4.5       Advise the governor of the Reserve Bank on how monetary policy could be
          used to combat inflation.                                                               (8)
                                                                                                  [40]

                                                                     TOTAL SECTION B:             80

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Economics/P2                                     12                                   DBE/2018
                                                SCE

SECTION C

Answer any ONE of the two questions in this section in the ANSWER BOOK.

Your answer will be assessed as follows:

                                                                                        MARK
                            STRUCTURE OF ESSAY
                                                                                     ALLOCATION
Introduction
The introduction is a lower-order response.                                            Max. 2
•    A good starting point would be to define the main concept related to the
     question topic.
•    Do not include any part of the question in your introduction.
•    Do not repeat any part of the introduction in the body.
•    Avoid mentioning in the introduction what you are going to discuss in the
     body.
Body
Main part: Discuss in detail/In-depth discussion/Examine/Critically discuss/           Max. 26
Analyse/Compare/Evaluate/Distinguish/Differentiate/Explain

Additional part: Give own opinion/Critically discuss/Evaluate/Critically evaluate/
Draw a graph and explain/Use the graph given and explain/Complete the given            Max. 10
graph/Calculate/Deduce/Compare/Explain/Distinguish/Interpret/Briefly debate/
How/Suggest
Conclusion
Any higher-order conclusion should include:                                            Max. 2
• A brief summary of what has been discussed without repeating facts already
    mentioned
• Any opinion or value judgement on the facts discussed
• Additional support information to strengthen the discussion/analysis
• A contradictory viewpoint with motivation, if required
• Recommendations
TOTAL                                                                                    40

QUESTION 5: MICROECONOMICS                                      40 MARKS – 40 MINUTES

•   Discuss in detail, without the use of graphs, the market structure of a perfect
    market.                                                                   (26 marks)
•   With the aid of a graph, explain economic loss of the perfect competitor.
                                                                              (10 marks)         [40]

QUESTION 6: CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC ISSUES                          40 MARKS – 40 MINUTES

•   Discuss in detail the measures used by government to ensure sustainable
    development.                                                      (26 marks)
•   Evaluate how successful the government has been to conserve and preserve the
    environment in South Africa.                                     (10 marks)                  [40]

                                                                         TOTAL SECTION C:        40
                                                                            GRAND TOTAL:         150

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