1. How does Section B of Unit 4: The Global
Economy look like?
As usual, just like Unit 1 and 3, you will
have to choose one of the two data response questions. Each of them has a fixed
mark distribution. Question (a) 5 marks, (b) 8 marks, (c) 10 marks, (d) 12
marks and finally (e) 15 marks
2. How to answer each question?
Question (a) is meant to be ‘simple’. Please
make sure that you have learnt all the key terms/ definitions. 3 marks will be
allocated for the correctly-defined term and 2 marks for two data references.
Sometimes the 3 marks will be shared between two definitions. For example, in
June 2012, Question 4(a) was asking for the definitions of both absolute and
relative poverty. In some cases, you may be asked to explain a phrase. In this
case, only one reference is needed and it carries equally 2 marks
Question (b) onwards maybe a little bit more
complicated. Anyway I am going to simplify it here. Please provide 2 key points
WITH reference and analysis. So technically, 4 marks for each. I hate to say
about this, but I realise that there are irregularities here. Sometimes, 2
marks are given for ONE data reference but sometimes 2 marks will require TWO
data reference. In such circumstance, giving two is the safest
Question (c) onwards will require
evaluations. Here the KAA is 6 marks and evaluation 4 marks. Give 2 key points
WITH reference and short analysis for each. Evaluations can be (2+2) or (1+3)
marks. Again, i have simplified some irregularities here
Question (d) is 12 marks and so the breakdown
will be KAA 7 marks and evaluation 5 marks. Provide 2 key points WITH reference
and short analysis for each. Technically, the combination is 3 marks and 4
marks. Evaluations will be (3+2) marks
Question (e) is 15 marks and the breakdown is
KAA 9 marks while evaluation is 6 marks. Provide 3 key points WITH data
reference and short analysis for each. You may also provide 2 key points
actually which in this case will become (4+5) marks. Evaluations will be (3+3),
(4+2) or (2+2+2) marks. My advice is, go for the third one. Get yourself an ‘insurance’
here
3. Can you forecast what the extracts are going
to be?
To be very frank, it is rather hard to
predict for macroeconomics papers (Unit 2 and 4) than microeconomics (Unit 1
and 3). As all of you aware, macro is rather unique. Every topic seems to be
inter-related. For example, unemployment can be combined with an inflation extract;
unemployment can also be combined with topics like recession, current account
and more. There is no sure-fire way for me to know the exact possible
combinations
However, from the past papers experience,
they do have a tendency to focus on certain topics. So, for paper 4, please go
and strengthen your knowledge on big topics like floating and fixed exchange
rate, reasons for current account deficit, is current account deficit harmful
and factors that can affect competitiveness.
The other popular question will be the
notorious combination of budget deficit and national debt. Please go and
familiarise issues like reasons for increasing budget deficit in the past few
years, impacts of higher national debt, impacts if national debt is immediately
reduced, why eurozone will have great difficulty to exit the recession and
other related topics.
Another popular topic will be on developing
economies. They usually link developing economies with inequality and topics
like FDI, debt cancellation, financial aid/ loans, infrastructure aid, focus on
primary/ secondary sector and EOI. So, go and prepare on issues like the pros
and cons of FDI, pros and cons of debt cancellation, how does financial/
infrastructure aid promotes growth and development, problems with over-dependency
on primary sector and the good and bad of export-oriented growth
4. How much time should be allocated?
Nothing less than 55 minutes. Be careful as
most candidates would have used up most of the time on Section A
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