ECS3707 EXAM
PACK 2023
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
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CONFIDENTIAL Jan/Feb 2022
Question 1
1.1 Study the table below and answer questions 1.2.1 to 1.2.2
Selection of Countries: Human Development Index 2020
Rank Country HDI value Life Expected Mean years GNI per
expectancy years of of capita
schooling schooling $(PPP)
1 Norway 0,957 82,4 18,1 12,9 66494
2 Ireland 0,955 82,3 18,7 12,7 68371
3 Hong Kong 0,949 84,9 16,9 12,3 62985
4 Iceland 0,949 83,0 19,1 12,8 54682
13 UK 0,937 81,3 17,5 13,2 40071
17 USA 0,926 82,4 16,2 13,4 63826
38 Portugal 0,864 82,1 16,5 9,3 33967
43 Chile 0,851 80,2 16,4 10,6 23261
58 Panama 0,815 78,5 12,9 10,2 29558
70 Cuba 0,783 78,8 14,3 11,8 8621
79 Thailand 0,777 77,2 15,0 7,9 17781
85 China 0,761 76,9 14,0 8,1 16057
100 Botswana 0,735 69,9 12,8 9,6 16347
114 South Africa 0,709 64,1 13,8 10,2 12129
130 Namibia 0,646 63,7 12,6 7,0 9357
131 India 0,645 69,7 12,6 6,5 6681
148 Angola 0,581 61,2 11,8 5,2 6104
156 Comoros 0,554 64,3 11,2 5,1 3099
174 Malawi 0,483 64,3 11,2 4,7 1035
187 Chad 0,398 54,2 7,3 2,5 1555
Source & link; http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/latest-human-development-index-ranking
1.1.1 Compare Botswana, Panama, Cuba, Thailand and South Africa in terms of HDI indicators
and GNI per capita $(PPP). (10)
1.1.2 Discuss the extent of human development divergencies when comparing Norway, Portugal
and Namibia. (10)
1.2 In 2020, South Africa's real GDP had decreased by about 6.43 percent compared to the
previous year. Explain in two or three sentences why, according to the Harrod-Domar
growth equation, economic growth portrayed this tendency. (5)
TOTAL [25]
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CONFIDENTIAL Jan/Feb 2022
Question 2
2.1 Make use of the figure below from the IMF to discuss the extent of poverty, inequality and
economic growth over the past couple of decades. Your answer must reflect on all relevant
economic indicators. (10)
Source and link: https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/01/29/na012820six-charts-on-south-africas-persistent-and-multi-
faceted-inequality
2.2 The debate on whether high population growth is good or bad for economic growth and
development is still not resolved. Discuss points and arguments of consensus that have been
reached on the issue of population growth that can be used for policy formulation.
(8)
2.3 What is the relationship between the age structure of a population and its dependency
burden? Your answer should reflect on life expectancy at birth, mortality rates and
dependency ratios. (7)
TOTAL [25]
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CONFIDENTIAL Jan/Feb 2022
Question 3
3.1 State the definition of health used by the World Health Organisation and outline some
difficulties in measuring the health status of developing countries and communities. (10)
3.2 A paradoxical relationship exists between high levels of rural-urban migration and urban
unemployment and underemployment. Make use of the Harris-Todaro migration model to
explain this phenomenon.
(a) Describe the basic characteristics of the Todaro migration model.
(b) Discuss the policy implications of the Todaro migration model.
(15)
TOTAL [25]
Question 4
The table below depicts BRICS countries FDI net in-and-out flows (BoP current US$) and (% of
GDP) for 2019/2020. Make use of the data below in order to answer Questions 4.1 to 4.3.
Country Year FDI, net inflows FDI net outflows FDI net FDI net
(BoP current US$) (BoP current US$) inflows (% of outflows
Thousands Thousands GDP) (% of GDP)
Most recent value Most recent value
Brazil 2020 69,174.41 -3,467,253.50 3.7 -0.2
China 2020 187,169.82 109,921,813.79 1.3 0.7
India 2020 50,610.65 11,122,667.60 1.8 0.4
Russian Federation 2020 31,974.77 5,721,920.00 1.9 0.4
South Africa 2020 5,116.10 -1,959,793.27 1.5 -0.6
Source and link: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD
4.1 Differentiate between portfolio investments, foreign direct investment, transfer pricing and
foreign aid. (5)
4.2 Compare BRICS countries in terms of FDI net in-and-out flows. Your answer must also
reflect sustainable economic growth and development. (10)
4.3 Outline arguments against widening the gap of foreign direct investments along with
disputed issues of multinational corporations’ functionality in developing countries. (10)
TOTAL [25]
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UNISA 2022