Question 26June 20260455/121 mark
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Paper 1 multiple-choice questions and Paper 2 structured questions, from the original Cambridge material. Paper 2 case studies and mark schemes are reproduced as extracted text, with data tables and charts kept as cropped images rather than retyped. A question tagged under a second chapter shows that as a cross-link; it is only filed once, under its primary chapter.
About Firms and production
Firms and production: demand for factors of production, labour-intensive and capital-intensive production, and productivity.
36 past paper questions on this topic since 2019, across 20 exam sessions.
How often it comes up
| Year | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Total | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 5 | 7 | |
| 2023 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 4 | 9 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Every 2025–2026 question on Firms and production
The whole topic on one page, with answers and mark schemes. Printing this page prints just this list.
Paper 1 · Multiple choice (3)
Question 14June 20260455/131 mark
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BCorrect answer
Question 14Oct/Nov 20250455/131 mark
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Paper 2 · Structured questions (2)
Stimulus: 0455/23
Seoul, the capital city of the Republic of Korea, is home to many large firms which have very high productivity levels. The Republic of Korea has grown rapidly due to advances in technology and successful supply-side policy measures. However, this rapid economic growth has led to some market failures.
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Question 5(a)May/Jun 20260455/232 marks
Define ‘productivity’.
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Define ‘productivity’. Accept but do not expect productivity in terms of another input / factor of production, e.g. capital Productivity is the rate of production / level of output per worker (1) per time period / per hour (1) it measures efficiency (1)
Stimulus: 0455/21
Japan has faced significant periods of deflation in recent decades. Despite efforts to stimulate the economy through fiscal policy measures and monetary policy measures, economic growth remains low. Some economists have also argued that the monetary policy used by the central bank is one of the causes of low productivity in Japan.
Question 3(b)Oct/Nov 20250455/214 marks
Explain two influences on productivity.
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Explain two influences on productivity. One mark each for two influences identified and one mark each for two explanations. Logical explanation which might include the following. If more than two influences are given, consider the first Quality of factors of production (1) better quality improves three. efficiency / poor quality reduces efficiency (1). Working conditions / wages (1) influencing worker motivation (1) technology (1) machine speed / effects on capital productivity (1) education (1) skilled workers / effects on labour productivity (1). Healthcare (1) healthier workers capable of producing higher output / sick workers take time off work (1). Effectiveness of institutions (1) amount of bureaucracy affects efficiency (1) use of resources (1) whether wasted or used efficiently (1). Question Answer Marks Guidance
31 more questions from 2019–2024
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IGCSE Economics questions by topic
Each topic opens this practice tool with only that topic’s questions, plus how often it comes up and every question on it in one list.
- Ch 1The nature of the economic problem
- Ch 2Factors of production
- Ch 3Opportunity cost
- Ch 4Production possibility curves
- Ch 5Microeconomics and macroeconomics
- Ch 6The role of markets in allocating resources
- Ch 7Demand
- Ch 8Supply
- Ch 9Price determination
- Ch 10Price changes
- Ch 11Price elasticity of demand
- Ch 12Price elasticity of supply
- Ch 13Market economic system
- Ch 14Market failure
- Ch 15Mixed economic system
- Ch 16Money and banking
- Ch 17Households
- Ch 18Workers
- Ch 19Trade unions
- Ch 20Firms
- Ch 21Firms and production
- Ch 22Firms, costs, revenue and objectives
- Ch 23Market structure
- Ch 24The role of government
- Ch 25The macroeconomic aims of government
- Ch 26Fiscal policy
- Ch 27Monetary policy
- Ch 28Supply-side policies
- Ch 29Economic growth
- Ch 30Employment and unemployment
- Ch 31Inflation and deflation
- Ch 32Living standards
- Ch 33Poverty
- Ch 34Population
- Ch 35Differences in economic development between countries
- Ch 36International specialisation
- Ch 37Free trade and protection
- Ch 38Foreign exchange rates
- Ch 39Current account of balance of payments