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A-LevelEconomicsInternational economic issues9708/21 · May/June 2020 · Q120 Marks

Nigeria discovered oil 50 years ago and is now the world's sixth biggest oil exporter. The recent increase in global oil prices has had a very large positive effect on the country's balance of trade and has also improved the country's terms of trade. Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria, with a population of over 20 million, and has undergone a successful economic transformation in recent years. It has used the private sector to become the most productive and dynamic part of Nigeria's economy. The owner of one of Nigeria's largest companies has stressed the enormous economic progress that the country has made in recent years: “I'm a great believer in Nigeria because the opportunities here are enormous." His company's success shows what private enterprise can achieve in a mixed economy especially if it is provided with the right incentives by the government. Most Nigerian entrepreneurs are operating in Lagos and entrepreneurship has certainly played a key role in the modern Lagos economy. Start-up initiatives have been encouraged and the need to be innovative has been increasingly recognised, leading to the development of new goods, services and markets. The city is the centre of thriving music, fashion, film and technology industries that have significant influence throughout Africa. A 'free trade zone' on the edge of Lagos has been established where private sector firms pay no business taxes to the government and there are now numerous start-up enterprises that are thriving. The government aims to lower costs, reduce bureaucracy and make the economy more flexible and efficient with the hope of boosting trade. The zone is located next to a deep sea port and has good road connections with both the rest of Nigeria and other countries in the region. Lagos is an important transport hub, with three major ports and West Africa's most important international airport. In 2016 the output of Lagos was valued at US136 billion while Nigeria's total national output was valued at US405 billion. A former governor of the Nigerian central bank, has stated: “Since 2000, Lagos has been transformed. In terms of an improved infrastructure and a supportive economic environment, the government has given firms a greater opportunity to thrive." Source: Adapted from The Financial Times, 26 March 2018

  1. (a)Calculate the percentage of Nigeria's national output that is accounted for by Lagos.[1]
  2. (b)Distinguish between a country's balance of trade and its terms of trade.[3]
  3. (c)Explain the contribution of the factor enterprise to the successful economic transformation of Lagos.[4]
  4. (d)(i)Explain why 'free trade zones' (FTZ) can be considered a supply-side policy.[2]
  5. (d)(ii)Explain how measures to reduce protection through policies such as 'free trade zones' encourage specialisation and the development of comparative advantage in Nigeria.[4]
  6. (e)Discuss whether government intervention to encourage private sector firms, in a mixed economy such as Nigeria, is always likely to be successful.[6]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] US136 billion/US405 billion = 33.58024%
  2. [1] For an explanation of a country's balance of trade, i.e. the difference in the value of the exported and imported goods and services
  3. [1] For an explanation of a country's terms of trade, i.e. the difference in the average prices of exports and imports (index number showing the average price of exports divided by the index number showing the average price of imports × 100/1)
  4. [1] For an explicit distinction between the two concepts, stressing that one involves values and one involves prices.
  5. [4] Candidates could stress the importance of: the majority of Nigerian entrepreneurs are operating in Lagos; entrepreneurship has certainly played a key role in the modern Lagos economy; the encouragement of start-up initiatives can be stressed; the need to be innovative has been increasingly recognised; the development of new goods, services and markets can be stressed; Lagos is the centre of thriving music, fashion, film and technology industries that have significant influence throughout Africa. 4 marks maximum (a max of 2 marks for an explanation of the factor enterprise and a max of 2 marks for link to the successful economic transformation of Lagos)
  6. [2] Role that free trade zones, as a supply-side policy, can play in the development and expansion of the Lagos economy; Role of private sector in helping to turn Lagos into the most productive and dynamic part of the Nigerian economy; link between private ownership, productivity and dynamism can be stressed; Generous tax incentives; this will leave firms with substantial funds to finance development and expansion; Help to lower costs, remove bureaucracy and make the economy more flexible and efficient; Up to 2 marks for explanation of free trade zones as a supply-side policy
  7. [2] Up to 2 marks for explanation of how free trade zones can encourage specialisation in Nigeria
  8. [2] Up to 2 marks for explanation of how free trade zones can encourage the development of comparative advantage in Nigeria
  9. [3] Role of government policy and support to private sector
  10. [3] Role of private sector
  11. 5 marks maximum
  12. [1] Reserve 1 mark for a conclusion
  13. 6 marks maximum

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About this question

Topic
International economic issues, A-Level Economics (syllabus 9708). Structured question, 20 marks.
Source
A-Level Economics, May/June 2020 Paper 2 Variant 1, question 1.

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