Part (b) essays ask which barrier matters most. Weigh each barrier with four tests.
Four tests for "most important"
Is it a root cause?
Weak institutions or inequality can cause other barriers, like low schooling.
How many does it hold back?
A barrier that touches most people weighs more.
Can policy fix it?
Debt can be rescheduled; being landlocked cannot be changed.
Which country?
The answer changes with the country's situation.
The points to remember
- Always bring in other barriers: one barrier alone gets 12 at most.
- Cover growth and development when both are asked: one alone gets 9 at most.
Free preview
This is the free notes preview
You're reading the free notes. Aimnova Pro unlocks the full study experience — and you can try it with your first topic free to keep:
- FlashcardsLock in vocabulary and key terms with spaced repetition.
- Practice questionsAnswer exam-style questions and get instant AI marking.
- Mock exams & past-paper vaultSit full mocks and see exactly how examiners award marks.
- Personalised study planA daily plan built around your exam date and weak areas.
The answer depends on the country.
Same question, different answers
| Country | A heavy barrier | Why it weighs most there |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Weak institutions, conflict | Rich in minerals, yet most people stay poor |
| Zambia | Primary dependence | Copper earns most of its exports, so incomes follow its price |
| Sri Lanka | Indebtedness | It defaulted on its foreign debt in 2022 |
| South Africa | Income inequality | One of the highest Gini coefficients in the world |
The points to remember
- Use a real country on each side of the argument.
- End with "it depends on…" and say on what.
See how examiners mark answers
Answer exam-style questions with model answers. Learn exactly what earns marks and what doesn't.
Paper 1 asked this in November 2024, as part (b) for 15 marks.
Using real-world examples, discuss the view that rising income inequality is the most important economic barrier to economic growth and economic development.
Model answer plan
See the answer broken into clear points, with guidance on how each point earns marks.
How the 15 marks are given
| Marks | What your answer needs |
|---|---|
| 13–15 | Theory fully explained, terms right all the way through, balanced evaluation, real examples fully developed to support the argument |
| 10–12 | Theory explained, terms mostly right, evaluation mostly balanced, real examples developed |
| 7–9 | Theory partly explained, some evaluation but one-sided, examples partly developed |
| 4–6 | Theory only described, evaluation superficial, examples only named |
| 1–3 | Theory stated but not relevant, no evaluation |