Question 1 Report
The diagram shows a production possibility curve for Island A, which uses its factors of production to make rice and solar panels. Point X lies inside the curve.
(a) What does point X show about the use of Island A's resources? [2]
(b) Explain how international trade could enable Island A to consume at a point outside its production possibility curve. [3]
(a) Point X lies inside the production possibility curve, so Island A has unemployed or underused resources. [1] Its output is below the maximum it could produce with its existing resources and technology. [1]
(b) International trade does not move the production possibility curve itself, which shows the country’s production limit. Instead, Island A can specialise in a good in which it has a comparative advantage. [1] It exports that good and earns foreign currency. [1] It can then use the export revenue to import other goods, allowing its consumers to consume a combination beyond its own production possibility curve. [1]
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