2025 NYJC Paper 1

NANYANG JUNIOR COLLEGE 2025 JC2 Preliminary Examination H2 ECONOMICS Paper No: 9570/01 3rd September 2025 Time : 1400 – 1630 hrs Wednesday Duration : 2 hours 30 mins INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Do not turn over this paper until you are told to do so. Write your name, class and the name of your Economics tutor in the space provided on the answer booklet. You are required to answer ALL questions. The number of marks is given in the brackets at the end of each part question. Write your answers on the answer booklet provided. If you use more than one answer booklet, slot the additional booklets into the first booklet. Please start each case study on a fresh page. You are advised to spend several minutes reading through the questions and data before you begin writing your answers.

2 JC2 H2 Economics 9570/01 There are 9 printed pages including this cover page. Answer all questions Question 1: Impact of Sustainable Fashion in Developing Economies Figure 1: Global Cotton Production and Consumption Extract 1: The Rise of Brazil’s Cotton Export Brazil’s cotton harvests have grown significantly over the past two decades, mirroring its emergence as a farming powerhouse. Brazil is the biggest exporter of soyabeans and coffee; and last year it surpassed the US as top shipper of corn. Low prices for c orn have pushed farmers to plant cotton instead of a second corn crop. Brazil’s soaring output has more than offset the impact of consecutive years of drought in the US forced growers, to abandon 6mn acres of crop which have knocked production there to 12.5mn bales in 2023 from 17.5mn two years earlier. Over the past few years shoppers have increasingly opted for polyester and other man-made petroleum-based fibres, which are cheaper and quicker to produce than cotton, but have a much larger environmental toll. Source: Financial Times, 16 July 2024 Extract 2: Cotton farmers globally faced an unfavorable plight Cotton farmers globally faced an unfavorable plight during the 2022 -2024 period due to a combination of factors impacting production and profitability. Drought and climate change led to decreased yields, while low global prices and rising production costs squeezed farmer's incomes. Additionally, pest and disease outbreaks, labor shortages, and market volatility further exacerbated their challenges. Many farmers have been relying on personal resources to cover operational costs, a practice that is unsustainable in the long term. The combination of these factors has placed immense

3 JC2 H2 Economics 9570/01 pressure on economic health and the livelihoods of cotton farmers. As such, some governments thus implement programs such as minimum support price to support farmers. Source: Department Of Agricultural & Applied Economics, University Of Georgia, 2024 Extract 3: Fast Fashion Pollution and Climate Change ‘