Question 23M.1.SL.TZ1.b
| Date | May 2023 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 15] | Reference code | 23M.1.SL.TZ1.b |
| Level | SL | Paper | 1 | Time zone | TZ1 |
| Command term | Discuss | Question number | b | Adapted from | N/A |
Using real-world examples, discuss the view that economic growth will always lead to economic development.
[15]
Refer to Paper 1 markbands for May 2022 forward, available under the "My tests" tab > supplemental materials.
Answers may include:
- Terminology: economic growth, economic development.
- Explanation: of the view in terms of the impact that economic growth may have on output and employment, on real GDP/GNI per capita at PPP and thus on human welfare and living standards; the impact on government tax revenues and the ability of governments to increase their spending on education, health care and infrastructure; GNI per capita at PPP as part of the HDI.
- Diagram: use of a PPC diagram to show the difference between growth and development and/or the use of an AD/AS diagram to show economic growth.
- Synthesis (discuss): a challenge to the view in terms of the fact that development is multi-dimensional and an increase in GDP/GNI might have no impact on several indicators of development such as health and education, economic, social and gender inequality, energy, quality of the environment; consideration of “always”.
- Examples: real-world examples of countries which have experienced growth and development and/or countries that have experienced growth without development.
N.B. It should be noted that definitions, theory, and examples that have already been given in part (a), and then referred to in part (b), should be rewarded.
Examiners should be aware that candidates may take a different approach which, if appropriate, should be rewarded.
Assessment Criteria
Part (b) 15 marks
Surprisingly, this question proved to be challenging for candidates. The concept of economic growth seems to be somewhat understood and diagrams to illustrate it were often provided with some real-world examples of countries where economic growth has taken place. However, the concept of economic development is not well understood. The stronger responses used real-world examples to demonstrate countries that have experienced economic growth and have used this growth to increase their spending on education, health care, etc. This was then compared to countries that have experienced growth but did not use it for development purposes. Candidates needed to recognize that development is a multidimensional concept and that an increase in GDP/GNI may have no impact on the indicators of development.
