Tackle the Test: Free-Response Questions

  1. Question

    List and explain five different actions the government can take to promote long-run economic growth.

    Rubric for FRQ 1 (10 points)

    A maximum of 10 points can be earned for any 5 of the 6 possible actions/descriptions.

    1 point: Build infrastructure

    1 point: The government can provide roads, power lines, ports, rail lines, and related systems to support economic activity.

    1 point: Invest in human capital

    1 point: The government can improve access to quality education.

    1 point: Invest in research and development

    1 point: The government can promote technological progress by having government agencies support and participate in R&D.

    1 point: Provide political stability

    1 point: The government can create and maintain institutions that make and enforce laws that promote stability.

    1 point: Establish and protect property rights

    1 point: Growth is promoted by laws that define what property belongs to whom and by institutions that defend those property rights.

    1 point: Minimize government intervention

    1 point: The government can limit its intervention in the economy and promote competition.

  2. Question

    What roles do physical capital, human capital, technology, and natural resources play in influencing the differences in long-run economic growth rates among countries? (4 points)

    Rubric for FRQ 2 (5 points)

    1 point: Countries that have increased their stock of physical capital more rapidly than others have experienced higher rates of economic growth.

    1 point: Countries that have made relatively large investments in education to add to their human capital have experienced higher rates of economic growth.

    1 point: Countries that have devoted a lot of resources to R&D have enjoyed technological progress, which is a key driver of economic growth.

    1 point: Historically, natural resources played a prominent role in determining productivity, while today they play a less important role in increasing productivity than do increases in human or physical capital in most countries.

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