Poland is experiencing changes to its population and economy. The country's death rate is falling. Despite Poland's high unemployment rate, more people are migrating to the country, especially from Spain and Italy. Poland is moving closer to a market economy with an increasing proportion of its labour force employed in the private sector.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2015). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [2] (a) The number of deaths per 1,000 of the country's population per year (2) The number of deaths per 1,000 of the country's population (1)
2. [4] (b) • improvements in nutrition (1) will improve the health of the population (1) • improvements in medical care (1) will enable people to live longer/due to, e.g. better hospitals (1) • improvements in education (1) may result in more informed choices on, e.g. diet and exercise (1) • improvements in housing (1) will reduce number of people suffering from a range of illnesses (1) • improvements in working conditions (1) reduce accidents at work/improve health of workers (1) • reduction in/end of military conflicts (1) reduce number of casualties (1) • improvements in sanitation (1) reduce the risk of disease (1) • improvements in water quality (1) reduce the risk of disease (1) • people following a healthier lifestyle (1), e.g. giving up smoking (1) • increase in income (1) people may be able to afford a healthier lifestyle/better living standard (1)
3. [6] (c) • the unemployment rate may still be below that in the countries they are migrating from (1) • the unemployment rate may be falling whilst it may be rising in their own countries (1) • there may still be job vacancies in areas that they have skills in (1) • people may move to set up a firm (1) as wage cost may be lower (1) • living conditions (1), e.g. health care/education may be better in the country (1) • people may be escaping persecution/wars/famines or moving due to family ties (1) • people may not be aware of the high unemployment rate (1) • there may be fewer restrictions on migrating to the country than to other countries (1) • unemployment benefits may be higher in the country (1) • the people may be rich and not have to work (1) and may be attracted by lower prices in the country (1)
4. [8] (d) Up to 5 marks for the advantages: • consumer sovereignty (1) consumers determine the goods and services produced (1) producers make what consumers want (1) • may be more choice (1) people can decide who to work for (1) may be choice of suppliers (1) • may be efficient (1) due to competition (1) drive down costs (1) lower prices (1) profit incentive (1) ability to earn high wages (1) Up to 5 marks for the disadvantages: • may be inequality of income (1) the rich can increase their earning potential through saving/receiving a better education (1) some vulnerable groups, e.g. the sick may find it difficult to earn an income (1) • private sector monopolies may develop (1) these may charge high prices (1) reduce quality (1) restrict choice (1) • decisions will be based on private costs and benefits (1) existence of external costs and benefits (1) can cause inefficient choices (1) • certain beneficial products (merit goods) (1) may be under-consumed and so under-produced (1) • certain harmful products (demerit goods) (1) may be over-consumed (1) and so over-produced (1) • some products (public goods) (1) may not be produced (1) difficult to stop non-buyers consuming the product (1) • advertising can distort choice (1) producers can influence what consumers want to buy (1)