CAIE A-Level Economics AS 6.5 Policies to Correct Imbalances in the Current Account of the Balance of Payments Questions

Practise comparing expenditure-reducing, expenditure-switching, protectionist and supply-side policies for current-account imbalances and evaluating their time horizon and costs.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Economics 9708
Level
AS

Exam points

  • trace higher taxes or interest rates to lower domestic demand and import expenditure
  • explain tariffs, quotas, depreciation or export subsidies as expenditure-switching measures
  • evaluate long-run productivity and investment policies against retaliation, inflation and fiscal cost

Question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

Why may a government seek to reduce a current account surplus on the balance of payments?

A

to lower inflation

B

to lower unemployment

C

to raise the economic growth rate

D

to raise the exchange rate

Question 2

[Maximum number: 1]

Which combination of policies would be most effective in reducing a balance of payments current account surplus?

a decrease in
tariffs on imports

a devaluation of the
exchange rate

an expansionary
monetary policy

no

yes

no

no

no

yes

yes

no

yes

yes

yes

no

Question 3

[Maximum number: 1]

A government raises interest rates to improve the current account of the balance of payments.
What might reduce the effectiveness of this policy?

A

a fall in domestic growth

B

consumer pessimism

C

increased domestic saving

D

price-elastic demand for exports

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