IB Economics SL 3.3.7 Inflation Versus Unemployment Questions

Answers may include:
- Terminology: inflation, unemployment.
- Explanation: explanation of the view in terms of the various costs of inflation such as uncertainty, redistributive effects, effects on saving, damage to export competitiveness, impact on economic growth, inefficient resource allocation.
- Diagram: AD/AS diagram(s) showing inflation and/or demand-deficient unemployment, and/or a demand for and supply of labour diagram to show structural unemployment.
- Synthesis (discuss): a challenge to the view in terms of the various costs of unemployment such as the various economic, social and personal costs;
the importance of the types of inflation and unemployment occurring, the duration and rates of inflation and unemployment, the relative difficulty of implementing policies to address inflation and unemployment;
consideration of "more significant" and the possibility that they are both equally serious.
- Examples: real-world examples of the impact of high rates of inflation and unemployment.
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.

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

Assessment Criteria

Marks

Level descriptor

0

- The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.

1-3

- The response indicates little understanding of the specific demands of the question.

- Economic theory is stated but it is not relevant.

- Economic terms are stated but they are not relevant.

- The response contains no evidence of synthesis or evaluation.

- A real-world example(s) is identified but it is irrelevant.

4-6

- The response indicates some understanding of the specific demands of the question.

- Relevant economic theory is described.

- Some relevant economic terms are included.

- The response contains evidence of superficial synthesis or evaluation.

- A relevant real-world example(s) is identified.

7-9

- The response indicates understanding of the specific demands of the question, but these demands are only partially addressed.

- Relevant economic theory is partly explained.

- Some relevant economic terms are used appropriately.

- Where appropriate, relevant diagram(s) are included.

- The response contains evidence of appropriate synthesis or evaluation but lacks balance.

- A relevant real-world example(s) is identified and partly developed in the context of the question.

10-12

- The specific demands of the question are understood and addressed.

- Relevant economic theory is explained.

- Relevant economic terms are used mostly appropriately.

- Where appropriate, relevant diagram(s) are included and explained.

- The response contains evidence of appropriate synthesis or evaluation that is mostly balanced.

- A relevant real-world example(s) is identified and developed in the context of the question.

13-15

- The specific demands of the question are understood and addressed.

- Relevant economic theory is fully explained.

- Relevant economic terms are used appropriately throughout the response.

- Where appropriate, relevant diagram(s) are included and fully explained.

- The response contains evidence of effective and balanced synthesis or evaluation.

- A relevant real-world example(s) is identified and fully developed to support the argument.