CAIE IGCSE Economics 4 Government and the Macroeconomy Topic Practice

Read the source material carefully before answering Question 1.
Source material: Changes in the Malawian economy

Malawi is a low-income East African country. It is often affected by natural disasters including droughts, floods and storms. In January 2022, Malawi was hit by Storm Ana. This damaged agricultural crops, factories, forests and power stations.

More than three-quarters of Malawi's labour force are employed in agriculture. Two of the country's main crops are tea and sugar. The quantity of tea offered for sale is affected by weather conditions, government subsidies and the price of fertilisers. The global market for sugar has been affected by health reports which identified the possible harmful effects of consuming too much sugar.

Three of the priorities of the Malawian Government are to develop new industries, raise education standards and develop more sustainable sources of energy. The proportion of Malawian children who finish their primary education ( 5-11 years of age) is relatively low. Table 1.1 shows GDP per head and the percentage of children who complete primary education in selected countries in 2022.

Only a small proportion of Malawi's population has access to electricity. Most households rely on wood and charcoal for cooking and heating. Using wood as a fuel contributes to the destruction of the country's forests and reduces air quality. The country does, however, get 3000 hours of sunshine a year. This means it could develop solar energy. There would be an initial cost to install solar panels and to reduce the risk of storm damage. Solar energy plants (also known as solar farms) can take up a large area and create visual pollution. However, a successful solar energy industry could decrease Malawi's imports of fuel and might affect its exchange rate.

Malawi's foreign exchange rate fell in 2022. The country's currency, the kwacha, bought fewer US dollars. This depreciation affected Malawi's current account of the balance of payment, its inflation rate and its economic growth rate. Some economists suggested that the Malawian Government should stop the kwacha falling further in value.

Discuss whether or not Malawi should develop a solar energy industry.

What is not likely to be included in a government budget?

What is the money supply?

Some countries engage in dumping by selling their products at less than cost price in Cambodia. The Cambodian Government wants the country to become a high-income economy by 2050. It uses fiscal, monetary and supply-side policies to increase its economic growth rate. Cambodia subsidises some infant industries. The country has one of the world's largest deficits on the current account of its balance of payments (as a percentage of GDP). Some economists suggest cutting taxes would reduce this deficit.

Explain two differences between monetary policy and supply-side policy.