UPSC Mains 2019 Economics Optional Paper I questions

30 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2019. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Economics Optional PYQs

  1. Under competition, the cost function is given as C(y) = y* +1, where y is output. Derive the inverse supply curve and show how the supply curve looks like.

  2. What determines the degree of price discrimination under monopoly market?

  3. How does 'carbon trading' help in reducing environment degradation?

  4. How is Human Development Index calculated by UNDP? Can there be a better method of assigning weights to various indicators?

  5. Show that in a simple Keynesian model, equal expansion in tax and government expenditure does not always lead to balanced budget theorem.

  6. Tragedy of the commons' leads to over-exploitation of resources. Analyze.

    15 marks

  7. The following data are given for an economy: Consumption function, C=250+0-5 - 7" - 5007 Investment function, 75250-5007 Real money demand function, L /P=0-5Y —500r Nominal money supply, M = 7650 Price level, P =7 Tax = T = Government expenditure = G = 200 Here Y = Real income, r = Real rate of interest, L = Nominal money demand, P = Price level. (i) Find the equations for 78 and LM curves, and solve for Y and r. (i) Find out the multiplier formula for money supply change and then calculate the change in output if money supply changes by 50.

  8. Nominal money supply, M = 7650

  9. Here Y = Real income, r = Real rate of interest, L = Nominal money demand, P = Price level. (i) Find the equations for JS and LM curves, and solve for Y and r. (i) Find out the multiplier formula for money supply change and then calculate the change in output if money supply changes by 510.

    15 marks

  10. How can controls on foreign trade contribute to the development of developing countries?

    20 marks

  11. The role of income and substitution effect is crucial in producing backward bending labour supply curve when a tax is imposed on wages. Do you agree?

    15 marks

  12. In case of perfect capital mobility, explain the difference of the impact of an increase in money supply on GDP under two alternative exchange rate regimes—one fixed and the other flexible.

    15 marks

  13. Reflect on the inefficiency and socially undesirable aspects of monopolistic competition market situation vis-a-vis the perfect competition, both in the short and in the long run.

    20 marks

  14. What is the follower's problem in a duopoly model and how does it differ from the leader's problem?

    15 marks

  15. Can public-private partnership function effectively in the area of physical infrastructure?

    15 marks

  16. What are the features based on which the new trade theories are built that are distinctly different from the old theories?

    20 marks

  17. Explain how money multiplier will be affected if there happens to be partial hoarding by public in each round as well as excess cash reserve holding by banks over the minimum required.

  18. In what sense is Friedman's quantity theory said to be a 'restatement' of Fisher's theory? Explain.

  19. What criteria will have to be satisfied to obtain a Pareto efficient allocation?

  20. Automatic stabilizers are supposed to mitigate cyclical fluctuations, but there exist limitations which dampen the effect of these stabilizers. Analyze.

  21. What are the obstacles to international macro-economic policy coordination? Discuss.

  22. How is the Marshallian equilibrium different from Walrasian equilibrium?

    15 marks

  23. Discuss the essential features of the growth models which incorporate research and development.

    15 marks

  24. In the contemporary world, many countries are not following Kuznets' pattern of structural change. Give reasons.

    20 marks

  25. Arise In what way does the concept of a positive optimal tariff apply to only large countries and not to small countries? Explain.

  26. Keynesian demand for money is one of the key concepts of Keynesian theory of unemployment. Illustrate.

    15 marks

  27. Can multinational investment defeat the objective of inclusive growth? Give reasons for your answer.

    20 marks

  28. What makes monetary policy ineffective even in the short run? Explain.

    15 marks

  29. Trade can be growth-promoting or growth-inhibiting. Argue in terms of the established theories.

    20 marks

  30. What are the causes of market failure in agriculture? How may government intervention mitigate this?

    15 marks

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Other 2019 papers

GS Paper 1 · GS Paper 2 · GS Paper 3 · GS Paper 4 (Ethics) · Essay · Anthropology Optional Paper I · Anthropology Optional Paper II · Geography Optional Paper I · Geography Optional Paper II · History Optional Paper I · History Optional Paper II · Philosophy Optional Paper I · Philosophy Optional Paper II · PSIR Optional Paper I · PSIR Optional Paper II · Psychology Optional Paper I · Psychology Optional Paper II · Public Administration Optional Paper I · Public Administration Optional Paper II · Sociology Optional Paper I · Sociology Optional Paper II · Agriculture Optional Paper I · Agriculture Optional Paper II · Commerce & Accountancy Optional Paper I · Commerce & Accountancy Optional Paper II · Economics Optional Paper II · Law Optional Paper I · Law Optional Paper II · Management Optional Paper I · Management Optional Paper II · Medical Science Optional Paper I · Medical Science Optional Paper II