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Trade Balances in Historical and International Context Quiz

12 questions economics Grades 9-12

The question sheet

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  1. What does Figure 23.2 (b) factor out by dividing the trade deficit by GDP?

    • Exchange rate changes
    • Inflation and real economic growth
    • Only inflation
    • Only population growth
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Inflation and real economic growth

    Source evidence

    PDF page 570: current account balance and merchandise account balance yet again, this time as a share of the GDP for that year. By dividing the trade deficit in each year by GDP in that year, Figure 23.2 (b) factors out both inflation and growth in the real economy.

  2. What time span does Figure 23.2 cover?

    • 1960 to 2015
    • 1950 to 2000
    • 1980 to 2010
    • 1970 to 2016
    Reveal answer

    Answer: 1960 to 2015

    Source evidence

    PDF page 571: Figure 23.2 Current Account Balance and Merchandise Trade Balance, 1960–2015 (a) The current account

  3. What was the U.S. trade pattern from the 1960s into the 1970s?

    • Large trade deficits
    • No trade at all
    • Mostly small trade surpluses
    • Balanced trade every year
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Mostly small trade surpluses

    Source evidence

    PDF page 571: By either measure, the U.S. balance of trade pattern is clear. From the 1960s into the 1970s, the U.S. economy had mostly small trade surpluses—that is, the graphs in Figure 23.2 show positive numbers. However, starting in the 1980s, the trade deficit increased rapidly, and after a tiny surplus in 1991, the current account trade deficit became even larger in the late 1990s and into the mid-2000s. However, the trade deficit declined in 2009 after the recession had taken hold, then rebounded partially in 2010 and has remained stable up through 2016.

  4. When did the U.S. trade deficit begin to increase rapidly?

    • In the 1980s
    • In the 1960s
    • In the 1970s
    • In the 2010s
    Reveal answer

    Answer: In the 1980s

    Source evidence

    PDF page 571: By either measure, the U.S. balance of trade pattern is clear. From the 1960s into the 1970s, the U.S. economy had mostly small trade surpluses—that is, the graphs in Figure 23.2 show positive numbers. However, starting in the 1980s, the trade deficit increased rapidly, and after a tiny surplus in 1991, the current account trade deficit became even larger in the late 1990s and into the mid-2000s. However, the trade deficit declined in 2009 after the recession had taken hold, then rebounded partially in 2010 and has remained stable up through 2016.

  5. In which year did the U.S. have a tiny current account surplus?

    • 1991
    • 2009
    • 2001
    • 1985
    Reveal answer

    Answer: 1991

    Source evidence

    PDF page 571: By either measure, the U.S. balance of trade pattern is clear. From the 1960s into the 1970s, the U.S. economy had mostly small trade surpluses—that is, the graphs in Figure 23.2 show positive numbers. However, starting in the 1980s, the trade deficit increased rapidly, and after a tiny surplus in 1991, the current account trade deficit became even larger in the late 1990s and into the mid-2000s. However, the trade deficit declined in 2009 after the recession had taken hold, then rebounded partially in 2010 and has remained stable up through 2016.

  6. What happened to the U.S. trade deficit in 2009?

    • It disappeared entirely
    • It declined
    • It grew larger
    • It became a surplus
    Reveal answer

    Answer: It declined

    Source evidence

    PDF page 571: By either measure, the U.S. balance of trade pattern is clear. From the 1960s into the 1970s, the U.S. economy had mostly small trade surpluses—that is, the graphs in Figure 23.2 show positive numbers. However, starting in the 1980s, the trade deficit increased rapidly, and after a tiny surplus in 1991, the current account trade deficit became even larger in the late 1990s and into the mid-2000s. However, the trade deficit declined in 2009 after the recession had taken hold, then rebounded partially in 2010 and has remained stable up through 2016.

  7. According to the text, which economies have consistently run trade surpluses?

    • Japan, France, and Germany
    • Mexico and Brazil
    • India and Nigeria
    • United States and Canada
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Japan, France, and Germany

    Source evidence

    PDF page 572: the U.S. economy has consistently run trade deficits in recent years, Japan and many European nations, among them France and Germany, have consistently run trade surpluses. Some of the other countries listed include Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America; Nigeria, along with South Africa competing to be the largest economy in Africa; and China, India, and Korea. The first column offers one measure of an economy's globalization: exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP. The second column shows the trade balance. Usually, most countries have trade surpluses or deficits that are less than 5% of GDP. As you can see, the U.S. current account balance is –2.6% of GDP, while Germany's is 8.4% of GDP.

  8. According to the text, what was the U.S. current account balance as % of GDP?

    • 3.1%
    • –2.6%
    • –5.4%
    • 8.4%
    Reveal answer

    Answer: –2.6%

    Source evidence

    PDF page 572: the U.S. economy has consistently run trade deficits in recent years, Japan and many European nations, among them France and Germany, have consistently run trade surpluses. Some of the other countries listed include Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America; Nigeria, along with South Africa competing to be the largest economy in Africa; and China, India, and Korea. The first column offers one measure of an economy's globalization: exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP. The second column shows the trade balance. Usually, most countries have trade surpluses or deficits that are less than 5% of GDP. As you can see, the U.S. current account balance is –2.6% of GDP, while Germany's is 8.4% of GDP.

  9. Usually, most countries have trade surpluses or deficits that are less than what share of GDP?

    • 1%
    • 10%
    • 20%
    • 5%
    Reveal answer

    Answer: 5%

    Source evidence

    PDF page 572: the U.S. economy has consistently run trade deficits in recent years, Japan and many European nations, among them France and Germany, have consistently run trade surpluses. Some of the other countries listed include Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America; Nigeria, along with South Africa competing to be the largest economy in Africa; and China, India, and Korea. The first column offers one measure of an economy's globalization: exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP. The second column shows the trade balance. Usually, most countries have trade surpluses or deficits that are less than 5% of GDP. As you can see, the U.S. current account balance is –2.6% of GDP, while Germany's is 8.4% of GDP.

  10. According to Table 23.4, what was Germany's exports as a percentage of GDP?

    • 31.5%
    • 17.6%
    • 22.1%
    • 46.8%
    Reveal answer

    Answer: 46.8%

    Source evidence

    PDF page 572: Exports of Goods and Services Current Account Balance United States 17.6% –2.6% Japan 16.2% 3.1% Germany 46.8% 8.4% United Kingdom 27.2% –5.4% Canada 31.5% –3.2% Sweden 45.6% 5.2% Korea 45.9% 7.7% Mexico 35.4% –2.9% Brazil 13.0% –3.3% China 22.1% 3.0% India 19.9% –1.1% Nigeria 10.7% -3.3% World - 0.0%

  11. According to Table 23.4, which country had the largest current account surplus as % of GDP?

    • Germany
    • Korea
    • China
    • Japan
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Germany

    Source evidence

    PDF page 572: Exports of Goods and Services Current Account Balance United States 17.6% –2.6% Japan 16.2% 3.1% Germany 46.8% 8.4% United Kingdom 27.2% –5.4% Canada 31.5% –3.2% Sweden 45.6% 5.2% Korea 45.9% 7.7% Mexico 35.4% –2.9% Brazil 13.0% –3.3% China 22.1% 3.0% India 19.9% –1.1% Nigeria 10.7% -3.3% World - 0.0%

  12. According to the text, which country is described as the largest economy in Latin America?

    • Brazil
    • Mexico
    • India
    • Nigeria
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Brazil

    Source evidence

    PDF page 572: the U.S. economy has consistently run trade deficits in recent years, Japan and many European nations, among them France and Germany, have consistently run trade surpluses. Some of the other countries listed include Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America; Nigeria, along with South Africa competing to be the largest economy in Africa; and China, India, and Korea. The first column offers one measure of an economy's globalization: exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP. The second column shows the trade balance. Usually, most countries have trade surpluses or deficits that are less than 5% of GDP. As you can see, the U.S. current account balance is –2.6% of GDP, while Germany's is 8.4% of GDP.

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