📚 IGCSE WJEC Economics: Typical Exam Questions Explained | IGCSE WJEC 经济：典型例题详解
Working through past-paper style questions is one of the most effective ways to prepare for IGCSE WJEC Economics. This article presents ten classic exam questions drawn from both Unit 1 (Introduction to Economics) and Unit 2 (National and International Economics). Each example includes a clear step-by-step explanation, key definitions, and typical mark schemes so that you can understand exactly what examiners are looking for. Use these as a revision checkpoint – try answering each question yourself before reading the model solution.
练习历年真题风格的题目是备考 IGCSE WJEC 经济学最有效的方法之一。本文精选了十个来自第一单元（经济学导论）和第二单元（国家与国际经济学）的经典考题。每个例题都配有清晰的逐步解析、关键定义和典型评分标准，帮助你准确理解考官的评分要求。你可以把这些例题当作复习检查点——在阅读参考答案之前，先尝试自己作答。
1. Price Elasticity of Demand (PED) Calculation | 需求价格弹性 (PED) 计算
Typical exam question: ‘The price of a cinema ticket rises from £8 to £10. As a result, the number of tickets sold per week falls from 500 to 400. Calculate the price elasticity of demand (PED) for cinema tickets and explain whether demand is elastic or inelastic.’
典型考题：“电影票的价格从 8 英镑上涨至 10 英镑，结果每周售出的票数从 500 张下降到 400 张。计算电影票的需求价格弹性（PED），并说明该需求是富有弹性还是缺乏弹性。”
Always start with the formula: PED = % change in quantity demanded ÷ % change in price. First calculate the percentage changes using the average (midpoint) method if the question does not specify, but in WJEC IGCSE simple percentage change is usually acceptable unless stated otherwise. Here: % change in Qd = (400 – 500)/500 × 100 = –20%. % change in price = (10 – 8)/8 × 100 = +25%. Therefore PED = –20% / +25% = –0.8. Ignore the minus sign for elasticity interpretation; the value is 0.8. Since 0.8 is less than 1, demand is price inelastic. This means that the percentage change in quantity demanded is smaller than the percentage change in price, so total revenue for the cinema will increase when price rises.
始终从公式入手：PED = 需求量的变化百分比 ÷ 价格的变化百分比。首先计算百分比变化，若无特别说明，WJEC IGCSE 通常接受简单的百分比变化（使用初始值）。这里：需求量变化% = (400 – 500)/500 × 100 = –20%。价格变化% = (10 – 8)/8 × 100 = +25%。因此 PED = –20% / +25% = –0.8。解释弹性时忽略负号，弹性值为 0.8。由于 0.8 小于 1，需求缺乏价格弹性。这意味着需求量的变化百分比小于价格的变化百分比，因此当票价上涨时，影院的总收益将会增加。
2. Shifts in Demand and Supply | 需求与供给的变动
Typical exam question: ‘Using a diagram, explain how an increase in the popularity of electric cars is likely to affect the market for petrol.’
典型考题：“运用图示，解释电动汽车日益普及将如何影响汽油市场。”
Start by identifying the type of good: petrol is a complement to petrol-powered cars and a substitute to electric cars. As more consumers switch to electric cars, the demand for petrol will decrease. This is a leftward shift of the demand curve for petrol. On a standard demand and supply diagram, the demand curve shifts left from D1 to D2, while the supply curve remains unchanged. The new equilibrium occurs at a lower price and a lower quantity. Be sure to label axes (Price of petrol, Quantity of petrol), initial equilibrium E1 and new equilibrium E2 clearly. Also explain the chain of reasoning: electric cars become more popular → fewer petrol cars on the road → demand for petrol falls at every price level → surplus at original price → price falls to clear the market.
首先确定商品的类型：汽油是燃油车的互补品，也是电动车的替代品。随着越来越多消费者转向电动车，对汽油的需求将会减少。这表现为汽油需求曲线向左移动。在常规的供需图上，需求曲线从 D1 左移至 D2，供给曲线保持不变。新的均衡点出现在更低的价格和更低的交易量上。务必清楚地标记坐标轴（汽油价格、汽油数量）、初始均衡点 E1 和新均衡点 E2。同时解释推理链条：电动车变得更受欢迎 → 路上燃油车数量减少 → 在每个价格水平上汽油需求下降 → 在原价格下出现过剩 → 价格下跌以出清市场。
3. Maximum Price and Market Disequilibrium | 最高限价与市场失衡
Typical exam question: ‘A government imposes a maximum price on rented accommodation below the free-market equilibrium. Analyse the likely effects on the housing market.’
典型考题：“政府对租赁住房施加低于自由市场均衡的最高限价。分析这对住房市场可能产生的影响。”
Maximum price (price ceiling) set below equilibrium creates excess demand – a shortage. Draw a diagram: price on vertical axis, quantity on horizontal axis; free market equilibrium at Pₑ, Qₑ. The legal maximum price Pₘₐₓ is below Pₑ. At that price, quantity demanded Qd exceeds quantity supplied Qs. The shortage is Qd – Qs. Effects include: landlords may reduce maintenance, a black market may emerge at higher rents, longer waiting lists for rental properties, and some landlords may exit the market, reducing supply further in the long run. Welfare implications: consumer surplus for those who find housing may increase, but there is a deadweight loss because not all mutually beneficial trades occur.
设定在均衡价格之下的最高限价（价格上限）会造成超额需求——即短缺。画图：纵轴为价格，横轴为数量；自由市场均衡点为 Pₑ、Qₑ。法定最高限价 Pₘₐₓ 低于 Pₑ。在这个价格下，需求量 Qd 超过供给量 Qs。短缺量为 Qd – Qs。其影响包括：房东可能减少维修维护，黑市可能以更高租金出现，租赁住房的等候名单变长，一些房东可能退出市场，长期内进一步减少供给。福利影响：找到住房的消费者剩余可能增加，但由于并非所有互利交易都能达成，会产生无谓损失。
4. Negative Production Externalities | 生产的负外部性
Typical exam question: ‘Explain how a steel factory that pollutes a river leads to market failure. Suggest and evaluate one government policy to correct this market failure.’
典型考题：“解释一家污染河流的钢铁厂如何导致市场失灵。提出并评估一项纠正这种市场失灵的政府政策。”
A negative production externality occurs when the production process imposes harmful effects on third parties that are not reflected in the firm’s private costs. The steel factory’s private marginal cost (PMC) does not include the cost of river pollution. The social marginal cost (SMC) is higher: SMC = PMC + external cost. With free market, output is Q₁ where PMC = marginal private benefit (demand), but socially optimal output is Q* where SMC = MSB (marginal social benefit). Overproduction and deadweight welfare loss occur. Policy: a per-unit tax equal to the marginal external cost internalises the externality. This shifts the PMC curve upward to align with SMC. Evaluation: tax revenues can be used to clean the river, but it is difficult to measure the exact monetary value of pollution, and the tax may reduce the firm’s international competitiveness.
当生产过程对第三方造成有害影响，而这些影响并未反映在企业的私人成本中时，就会发生生产的负外部性。钢铁厂的私人边际成本（PMC）并未包含河流污染的成本。社会边际成本（SMC）更高：SMC = PMC + 外部成本。在自由市场中，产出为 Q₁，此时 PMC = 边际私人收益（需求），但社会最优产出为 Q*，此时 SMC = MSB（边际社会收益）。此时出现过度生产和无谓福利损失。政策：征收等于边际外部成本的单位税，使外部性内部化。这会将 PMC 曲线向上推移，使其与社会边际成本 SMC 对齐。评估：税收收入可用于治理河流，但污染的精确货币价值难以衡量，而且税收可能削弱该企业的国际竞争力。
5. Production Possibility Frontier (PPF) and Opportunity Cost | 生产可能性边界与机会成本
Typical exam question: ‘A farmer can produce either wheat or barley. Data: if all resources are used for wheat, 200 tonnes can be produced; if all for barley, 100 tonnes. Draw the PPF and explain what point A (100 tonnes wheat, 60 tonnes barley) indicates about efficiency.’
典型考题：“一位农民可以生产小麦或大麦。数据：如果所有资源用于小麦，可生产 200 吨；如果全部用于大麦，可生产 100 吨。画出生产可能性边界（PPF），并说明点 A（100 吨小麦，60 吨大麦）表明的效率状况。”
PPF shows the maximum possible output combinations of two goods with given resources. Draw a straight-line PPF (constant opportunity cost) with wheat on horizontal axis (max 200) and barley on vertical axis (max 100). The line joins (200,0) and (0,100). The opportunity cost of 1 tonne of wheat is 0.5 tonnes of barley; of 1 tonne barley is 2 tonnes wheat. Point A (100 wheat, 60 barley) lies inside the PPF – resources are not fully employed or production is inefficient. This could be due to unemployed workers, idle land, or technically inefficient methods. To move to the PPF, the farmer can increase output of one or both goods without any opportunity cost. If the farmer wants to produce more barley from point A, there is no trade-off until reaching the frontier.
生产可能性边界显示了在给定资源下两种商品的最大产出组合。画一条直线 PPF（机会成本不变），横轴为小麦（最大 200 吨），纵轴为大麦（最大 100 吨）。该线连接 (200,0) 和 (0,100) 两点。1 吨小麦的机会成本是 0.5 吨大麦；1 吨大麦的机会成本是 2 吨小麦。点 A（100 吨小麦，60 吨大麦）位于 PPF 内部——资源未得到充分利用或生产效率低下。这可能是因为工人失业、土地闲置或技术上无效率。要移动到 PPF 上，农民可以在没有任何机会成本的情况下增加一种或两种产品的产量。如果农民想从点 A 增加大麦产量，在到达边界之前不存在权衡取舍。
6. Calculating and Interpreting Inflation | 通货膨胀的计算与解读
Typical exam question: ‘A typical consumer basket costs £1,200 in 2022 and £1,284 in 2023. Calculate the inflation rate. Explain two problems that unexpectedly high inflation may cause for savers and lenders.’
典型考题：“某典型消费篮子 2022 年花费 1200 英镑，2023 年花费 1284 英镑。计算通货膨胀率。解释意外的高通胀可能给储蓄者和贷款人带来的两个问题。”
Inflation rate = (new index – old index)/old index × 100 = (1284 – 1200)/1200 × 100 = 84/1200 × 100 = 7%. This represents a general rise in the price level. For savers, if the nominal interest rate on savings is below the inflation rate, the real value of savings erodes – purchasing power falls. Savers become worse off if inflation is unanticipated and interest rates do not adjust. For lenders, if a loan is made at a fixed nominal interest rate, unexpectedly high inflation means the money repaid will have less real value than expected. The lender’s real return decreases. This redistributes wealth from lenders to borrowers. It can also discourage future lending and saving.
通货膨胀率 = (新指数 – 旧指数)/旧指数 × 100 = (1284 – 1200)/1200 × 100 = 84/1200 × 100 = 7%。这代表物价水平的普遍上涨。对于储蓄者，如果储蓄的名义利率低于通货膨胀率，储蓄的实际价值就会缩水——购买力下降。如果通货膨胀是未预期到的，且利率未能相应调整，储蓄者就会受损。对于贷款人，如果贷款以固定名义利率发放，意外的高通胀意味着收回的货币实际价值低于预期。贷款人的实际回报下降。这导致财富从贷款人向借款人再分配，也可能抑制未来的借贷与储蓄。
7. Fiscal Policy and the Multiplier Effect | 财政政策与乘数效应
Typical exam question: ‘The government increases spending on infrastructure by £20 million. The marginal propensity to consume (MPC) is 0.75. Calculate the final increase in national income. Explain one limitation of using fiscal policy to manage the economy.’
典型考题：“政府增加基础设施支出 2000 万英镑，边际消费倾向（MPC）为 0.75。计算国民收入的最终增加额。解释运用财政政策管理经济的一个局限性。”
Multiplier k = 1/(1 – MPC) = 1/(1 – 0.75) = 1/0.25 = 4. Final increase in national income = initial injection × multiplier = £20 million × 4 = £80 million. This shows the cumulative rounds of spending created as one person’s spending becomes another’s income. Limitation: time lags – it takes time to implement infrastructure projects (recognition lag, decision lag, execution lag). The economy may have already recovered by the time spending takes effect, resulting in overheating. Also, increased government borrowing may crowd out private investment.
乘数 k = 1/(1 – MPC) = 1/(1 – 0.75) = 1/0.25 = 4。国民收入的最终增加额 = 初始注入 × 乘数 = 2000 万英镑 × 4 = 8000 万英镑。这显示了当一个人的支出成为另一个人的收入时所创造的一轮轮累积支出。局限性：时间滞后——基础设施项目需要时间实施（认识时滞、决策时滞、执行时滞）。当支出生效时，经济可能已经复苏，从而导致经济过热。此外，政府借贷增加可能会挤出私人投资。
8. Exchange Rate Changes and Current Account | 汇率变动与经常账户
Typical exam question: ‘The UK pound depreciates against the euro. Explain how this is likely to affect the UK’s current account balance in the short run and long run.’
典型考题：“英镑对欧元贬值。解释这在短期和长期将如何影响英国的经常账户余额。”
A depreciation means the pound becomes cheaper relative to the euro. In the short run, the current account may worsen before it improves – this is the J‑curve effect. Immediately after depreciation, the value of imports (priced in foreign currency) rises, while export volumes do not change instantly; thus the trade balance can deteriorate. In the long run, UK exports become cheaper for eurozone buyers, so export volume rises. Imports from the eurozone become more expensive for UK consumers, so import volume falls. Provided the Marshall‑Lerner condition holds (sum of PED for exports and imports > 1), the current account will improve. Other factors include the degree of spare capacity in the UK and whether UK firms can increase production to meet higher export demand.
贬值意味着英镑相对于欧元变得更便宜。短期内，经常账户可能在改善之前先恶化——这就是 J 曲线效应。贬值后，进口价值（以外币计价）立即上升，而出口量不会瞬间变化，因此贸易差额可能恶化。长期来看，英国出口品对欧元区买家来说变得更便宜，因此出口量上升。来自欧元区的进口品对英国消费者来说变得更昂贵，因此进口量下降。只要马歇尔—勒纳条件成立（出口与进口需求价格弹性之和大于 1），经常账户就会改善。其他因素包括英国的闲置产能程度，以及英国企业能否增加产量以满足更高的出口需求。
9. Types of Unemployment | 失业的类型
Typical exam question: ‘Distinguish between cyclical unemployment and structural unemployment. For each type, suggest one appropriate policy to reduce it.’
典型考题：“区分周期性失业和结构性失业。针对每种类型，提出一项合适的降低失业的政策。”
Cyclical unemployment (demand‑deficient) occurs when the economy is operating below full employment due to insufficient aggregate demand, typically during a recession. Structural unemployment arises from a mismatch between workers’ skills or location and the jobs available, often caused by deindustrialisation or technological change. Policy for cyclical unemployment: expansionary fiscal policy (increased government spending or tax cuts) to boost aggregate demand; alternatively, the central bank can lower interest rates. Policy for structural unemployment: supply‑side measures such as government‑funded retraining programmes to equip workers with skills needed in growing industries, or improving geographical mobility through housing market reforms and relocation subsidies. Evaluation should note that cyclical policies risk inflation if the economy is near full capacity, while retraining takes time and may not match available jobs perfectly.
周期性失业（需求不足型）发生在经济在低于充分就业的水平运行，原因是总需求不足，通常出现在衰退期间。结构性失业是由于工人技能或所在地与现有岗位不匹配造成的，通常由去工业化或技术变革引起。针对周期性失业的政策：扩张性财政政策（增加政府支出或减税）以提振总需求；或者中央银行降低利率。针对结构性失业的政策：供给侧措施，如政府资助的再培训计划，让工人掌握成长型行业所需的技能，或者通过住房市场改革和搬迁补贴提高地域流动性。评估时应指出，若经济接近满负荷运行，周期性政策有引发通胀的风险，而再培训需要时间且未必能完美匹配可用岗位。
10. Protectionism – Tariffs | 保护主义——关税
Typical exam question: ‘A country imposes a tariff on imported steel. Using a diagram, illustrate the effect on domestic steel price, quantity produced by domestic firms, and quantity imported. Then evaluate two reasons why a country might use protectionist measures despite the risk of retaliation.’
典型考题：“某国对进口钢铁征收关税。运用图示说明对国内钢铁价格、国内企业产量以及进口量的影响。然后评估尽管存在报复风险，一国仍可能采取保护主义措施的两个理由。”
Draw a demand-supply diagram for steel. World supply is perfectly elastic at world price P(world). Without tariff, domestic quantity supplied is Q1, domestic demand Q2, imports Q2 – Q1. A tariff shifts the world supply curve upward by the tariff amount to P(world)+tariff. New domestic price rises to that level. Domestic quantity supplied increases to Q3; domestic demand contracts to Q4; imports fall to Q4 – Q3. Government receives tariff revenue equal to (Q4 – Q3) × tariff per unit. Reasons for protectionism: (1) Protecting infant industries – young domestic firms may need temporary protection from foreign competition to grow and achieve economies of scale. (2) Protecting jobs in domestic steel industry to avoid structural unemployment and social hardship. Evaluation: retaliation from trading partners can harm export industries. Consumers face higher prices and less choice. Infant industries may become inefficient without competitive pressure. Tariff revenue may be a small gain compared to overall welfare loss.
画出钢铁的供需图。世界供给在世界价格 P(世界) 处完全弹性。无关税时，国内供给量为 Q1，国内需求为 Q2，进口量为 Q2 – Q1。关税使世界供给曲线向上平移关税额至 P(世界)+关税。新的国内价格上升至该水平。国内供给量增至 Q3，国内需求缩减至 Q4，进口降至 Q4 – Q3。政府获得关税收入，等于 (Q4 – Q3) × 每单位关税。采取保护主义的原因：（1）保护幼稚产业——新兴的国内企业可能需要暂时免受外国竞争，以便成长并实现规模经济。（2）保护国内钢铁行业的工作岗位，避免结构性失业和社会困难。评估：贸易伙伴的报复可能损害出口行业。消费者面临更高价格和更少选择。幼稚产业在没有竞争压力的情况下可能变得低效率。与总体福利损失相比，关税收入可能是很小的收益。
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