CAIE A-Level Economics 2.1.7 Shifts Versus Movements

CAIE A-Level Economics 2.1.7 Shifts Versus Movements
Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics 9708 syllabus for exams in 2026, 2027 and 20282026–2028

Practise distinguishing own-price movements along demand or supply from whole-curve shifts caused by non-price determinants and representing both changes accurately on diagrams.

How this is tested

  • identify a change in the good's own price as a movement along its existing curve
  • identify income, tastes, related prices or production costs as causes of a curve shift
  • draw movement and shift diagrams with the unchanged curve, new curve and directional arrows labelled

Question 7

[Maximum number: 1]

Market demand curves normally slope downwards. They may also shift from D1\mathrm{D}_{1} to either D2\mathrm{D}_{2} or D3\mathrm{D}_{3}.

Figure for Question 7 — CAIE A-Level Economics

What would cause a movement along D1D_{1} for good X and not a shift to either D2D_{2} or D3D_{3} ?

A

advertising of good X increases sales

B

consumer incomes rise

C

the price of good X falls

D

the prices of other goods fall