Economic development
11.3What the syllabus asks of you
- classification of economies in terms of their level of development
- classification of economies in terms of their level of national income
- indicators of living standards and economic development: monetary indicators including real per capita national income statistics (GDP, GNI, NNI) and purchasing power parity
- indicators of living standards and economic development: issues of comparison using monetary indicators
- indicators of living standards and economic development: non-monetary indicators
- indicators of living standards and economic development: composite indicators: Human Development Index (HDI); Measure of Economic Welfare (MEW); Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
- indicators of living standards and economic development: the Kuznets curve
- comparison of economic growth rates and living standards: over time
- comparison of economic growth rates and living standards: between countries
Drill this topic
Every question on Economic development, untimed, marked as you go.
Make a worksheet
Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
53 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 31 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AIceland had high gross national income per head.
BIceland had high rates of environmental damage.
CIceland had low average life expectancy at birth.
DIceland had low rates of population growth.
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2May / June 2026 · Paper 31 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AMarket exchange rates were used rather than purchasing power parity exchange rates.
BGovernment spending on transfer payments was higher in country Y than in country X.
CInflation was higher in country X than in country Y.
DThe distribution of income was more equal in country X than in country Y.
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3May / June 2026 · Paper 32 · Q27Show mark scheme →
AAustralia has a higher living standard than the US.
BAustralia has a lower inflation rate than the US.
CThe US has a bigger population than Australia.
DThe US has a greater national income than Australia.
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4May / June 2026 · Paper 33 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AIceland had high gross national income per head.
BIceland had high rates of environmental damage.
CIceland had low average life expectancy at birth.
DIceland had low rates of population growth.
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5May / June 2026 · Paper 33 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AMarket exchange rates were used rather than purchasing power parity exchange rates.
BGovernment spending on transfer payments was higher in country Y than in country X.
CInflation was higher in country X than in country Y.
DThe distribution of income was more equal in country X than in country Y.
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6May / June 2026 · Paper 34 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AForeign trade is not included in the figure.
BIt does not take into account changes in population.
CIt does not take into account inflation.
DIt does not take into account the wide differences in the distribution of income.
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7Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 31 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Athe Gini coefficient initially falls as countries develop from low to high income levels
Bthe Gini coefficient initially rises as countries develop from low to high income levels
Cthere is always a negative relationship between GDP per capita and the Gini coefficient
Dthere is always a positive relationship between GDP per capita and the Gini coefficient
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8Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 33 · Q28Show mark scheme →
Achild mortality rate
Bgross national income (GNI) per capita
Clife expectancy at birth
Dyears of schooling
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9Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 33 · Q29Show mark scheme →
AGini coefficient against income per capita (inverted U curve)
BHuman Development Index against income per capita (inverted U curve)
Cinequality against income per capita (inverted U curve)
Dinequality against development (inverted U curve)
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10Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 34 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Avertical (Y) axis variable: cumulative % of income; horizontal (X) axis variable: cumulative % of families
Bvertical (Y) axis variable: measure of inequality; horizontal (X) axis variable: income per capita
Cvertical (Y) axis variable: measure of standard of living; horizontal (X) axis variable: economic growth rate
Dvertical (Y) axis variable: income per capita; horizontal (X) axis variable: optimum population
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11May / June 2025 · Paper 31 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Aaverage years of schooling
BGross National Income per capita
Cinfant mortality rate
Dlife expectancy at birth
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12May / June 2025 · Paper 31 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Aincreased allocation of resources to production of goods that have a high income elasticity of demand
Bincreased government legislation for the protection of employment
Cincreased tax allowances on firms investing in research and development
Dthe decision of developed countries to increase quotas for goods produced by developing countries
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13May / June 2025 · Paper 32 · Q28Show mark scheme →
Apopulation falls, rate of inflation falls, number of years of education rises
Bpopulation falls, rate of inflation rises, number of years of education rises
Cpopulation rises, rate of inflation falls, number of years of education falls
Dpopulation rises, rate of inflation rises, number of years of education rises
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14May / June 2025 · Paper 33 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Aaverage years of schooling
BGross National Income per capita
Cinfant mortality rate
Dlife expectancy at birth
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15May / June 2025 · Paper 33 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Aincreased allocation of resources to production of goods that have a high income elasticity of demand
Bincreased government legislation for the protection of employment
Cincreased tax allowances on firms investing in research and development
Dthe decision of developed countries to increase quotas for goods produced by developing countries
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16Feb / March 2025 · Paper 32 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AAverage incomes are higher in country X than in country Z.
BCountry X is the least developed country.
CIncome is equally distributed in country Y.
DThe distribution of income in country Y is more even than in country X.
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17Feb / March 2025 · Paper 32 · Q28Show mark scheme →
Acooking fuel
Belectricity
Cmedication
Dwater
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18Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 31 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Aaverage hours worked by the population.
Benvironmental pollution.
Cinequality in income distribution.
Dlife expectancy at birth.
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19Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 31 · Q29Show mark scheme →
Aan increase in the number of doctors
Ban increase in the gold reserves
Can increase in the number of people per house
Dan increase in the money supply
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20May / June 2024 · Paper 31 · Q28Show mark scheme →
ABangladesh
BIndia
CNigeria
DSouth Africa
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21May / June 2024 · Paper 32 · Q30Show mark scheme →
AGross Domestic Product per head
BGross National Product per head
CHuman Development Index
DMeasure of Economic Welfare
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22May / June 2024 · Paper 33 · Q28Show mark scheme →
ABangladesh
BIndia
CNigeria
DSouth Africa
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23Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 31 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Aenvironmental costs and benefits: no; the value of leisure activity: no; the value of unpaid work: yes
Benvironmental costs and benefits: yes; the value of leisure activity: no; the value of unpaid work: no
Cenvironmental costs and benefits: yes; the value of leisure activity: yes; the value of unpaid work: no
Denvironmental costs and benefits: yes; the value of leisure activity: yes; the value of unpaid work: yes
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24Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 31 · Q28Show mark scheme →
Athe amount of the domestic currency needed to purchase a unit of foreign currency
Bthe quantity of a currency required to purchase the same basket of goods in both countries
Cthe quantity of goods and services that can be purchased by a person on an average income
Dthe value of expenditure by households on goods and services in a country
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25Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 31 · Q30Show mark scheme →
AA reduction in GDP per capita will have no effect on income inequality.
BA reduction in GDP per capita will increase income inequality.
CAn increase in GDP per capita will have no effect on income inequality.
DAn increase in GDP per capita will increase income inequality.
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26Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 32 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Aeducation, GNI per capita and life expectancy
Beducation and GNI per capita only
Ceducation and life expectancy only
DGNI per capita and life expectancy only
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27Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 33 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Aan appreciation in the country's currency
Ban improvement in the average citizen's quality of life
Can improvement in the country's trade balance
Dan increase in the country's real GDP
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28May / June 2023 · Paper 31 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Athe exchange rate
Bthe level of income inequality
Cthe price level
Dthe rate of interest
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29May / June 2023 · Paper 32 · Q27Show mark scheme →
AIndia had a fall in life expectancy at birth.
BIndia had a fall in real national income per head.
CIndia had a rise in environmental pollution and crime rates.
DIndia had a rise in the mean years of schooling of the adult population.
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30May / June 2023 · Paper 33 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Athe exchange rate
Bthe level of income inequality
Cthe price level
Dthe rate of interest
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31Feb / March 2023 · Paper 32 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Achanges in the distribution of GDP: no; level of poverty: no; real income per capita: yes
Bchanges in the distribution of GDP: no; level of poverty: yes; real income per capita: no
Cchanges in the distribution of GDP: yes; level of poverty: yes; real income per capita: no
Dchanges in the distribution of GDP: yes; level of poverty: yes; real income per capita: yes
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32Feb / March 2023 · Paper 32 · Q27Show mark scheme →
AKuznets curve
BLaffer curve
CLorenz curve
DPhillips curve
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33Feb / March 2023 · Paper 32 · Q28Show mark scheme →
Amean years of schooling
Baverage life expectancy at birth
Clevel of real GNP per head
Dsize of population
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34Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 31 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Aincome distribution: equal; hidden economy as % of GDP: large; quality of goods and services produced: constant
Bincome distribution: unequal; hidden economy as % of GDP: large; quality of goods and services produced: improving
Cincome distribution: equal; hidden economy as % of GDP: small; quality of goods and services produced: improving
Dincome distribution: unequal; hidden economy as % of GDP: small; quality of goods and services produced: constant
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35Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 33 · Q20Show mark scheme →
AIt is not possible to use price indices accurately when computing real figures because spending patterns are different.
BPeople in developed countries enjoy very different amounts of leisure time to people in developing countries.
CThe extent of the unrecorded economy is very different in the two countries.
DThe purchasing power parity theory has been used to make comparisons.
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36May / June 2022 · Paper 31 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Aif there is dependence on barter in internal trade
Bif subsistence agriculture dominates total economic activity
Cif services are an important component of exports
Dif there is extreme income inequality
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37May / June 2022 · Paper 31 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Athe rise and then fall in the balance of trade deficit following a devaluation
Bthe rise and then fall in the economic growth rate as the GDP increases
Cthe rise and then fall in inequality as the level of income per head rises
Dthe rise and then fall in tax revenue as the tax rate is increased
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38May / June 2022 · Paper 32 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Anegative externalities, such as pollution
Bproperty income received from abroad
Cregrettable necessities
Dthe value of non-marketed activities and leisure
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39May / June 2022 · Paper 32 · Q20Show mark scheme →
ACroatia
BNorway
CUnited Arab Emirates
DQatar
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40May / June 2022 · Paper 33 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Aif there is dependence on barter in internal trade
Bif subsistence agriculture dominates total economic activity
Cif services are an important component of exports
Dif there is extreme income inequality
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41May / June 2022 · Paper 33 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Athe rise and then fall in the balance of trade deficit following a devaluation
Bthe rise and then fall in the economic growth rate as the GDP increases
Cthe rise and then fall in inequality as the level of income per head rises
Dthe rise and then fall in tax revenue as the tax rate is increased
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42Feb / March 2022 · Paper 32 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Aadult literacy rate
Baverage life expectancy at birth
Clevel of real GNP per head
Dsize of population
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43Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 31 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AP is a market economy.
BQ is a developed economy.
CR is a developing economy.
DS is an economy with a Gini coefficient = 0.
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44Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 31 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Achanges in the average price level
Bthe level of direct taxation
Cthe level of national income
Dthe size of the population
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45Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 31 · Q29Show mark scheme →
Abecause a country's stage of economic development depends on its level of output rather than its growth rate
Bbecause it is the allocation rather than the overall level of a country's resources which determines its economic well-being
Cbecause of the concern about quality of life rather than quantity of output
Dbecause the prime determinant of economic development is investment rather than consumption
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46Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 32 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Afrequent government manipulation and misuse of data
Bno account is taken of inflation
Cthe restricted scope of the data's content and coverage
Dthe shadow economy is greater than the official economy
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47Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 33 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AThe distribution of income may have changed considerably over the period.
BThe general price level is likely to have changed over the period.
CThe size of the population may have changed over the period.
DThe workforce may have produced greater output by working for more hours per week.
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48Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 33 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Achild mortality per thousand population ✓, GNI per capita at $PPP ✗, life expectancy at birth ✓, mean years of schooling ✓
Bchild mortality per thousand population ✓, GNI per capita at $PPP ✓, life expectancy at birth ✗, mean years of schooling ✗
Cchild mortality per thousand population ✓, GNI per capita at $PPP ✗, life expectancy at birth ✓, mean years of schooling ✓
Dchild mortality per thousand population ✗, GNI per capita at $PPP ✓, life expectancy at birth ✓, mean years of schooling ✓
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49May / June 2021 · Paper 31 · Q19Show mark scheme →
ACountry X collects more income tax than country Y.
BCountry X has a higher national income than country Y.
CCountry Y has less income inequality than country X.
DCountry Y is less economically developed than country X.
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50May / June 2021 · Paper 31 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Athe cost of paid work
Bthe cost of producing armaments
Cthe estimated cost of damage to the environment
Dthe negative impact on the shadow economy
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51May / June 2021 · Paper 33 · Q19Show mark scheme →
ACountry X collects more income tax than country Y.
BCountry X has a higher national income than country Y.
CCountry Y has less income inequality than country X.
DCountry Y is less economically developed than country X.
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52May / June 2021 · Paper 33 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Athe cost of paid work
Bthe cost of producing armaments
Cthe estimated cost of damage to the environment
Dthe negative impact on the shadow economy
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53Feb / March 2021 · Paper 32 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Athe failure to include unpaid work in the home
Bthe freedom to make informed economic choices
Cthe proportion of GNP used for weapons of war
Dthe removal of taxes from all forms of consumer expenditure
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