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Subjects · Leaving Cert Economics

Leaving Cert Economics: Competitiveness & exchange rates

How often Competitiveness & exchange rates comes up on the Economics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 4 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Competitiveness & exchange rates, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Competitiveness & exchange rates.

(a)If the euro appreciates against the US dollar, Irish exports to the US become…
  1. Cheaper, so more competitive
  2. Dearer, so less competitive
  3. Unaffected in price
(b)Which Irish body reports on the country's competitiveness?
  1. Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
  2. Residential Tenancies Board
  3. National Competitiveness and Productivity Council
(c)Which would improve Ireland's international competitiveness?
  1. Productivity rising faster than wages
  2. Higher energy costs for Irish firms
  3. Rising unit labour costs in industry
Show the answers

(a) Dearer, so less competitive

(b) National Competitiveness and Productivity Council

(c) Productivity rising faster than wages

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Competitiveness & exchange rates.

Higher Level

Asked on 4 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q15
2023Q13, Q15
2022Q15
2021Q14

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Competitiveness & exchange rates questions

Competitiveness & exchange rates, 3 marks

Why can't Ireland devalue its own currency to regain competitiveness?

  1. The IMF forbids any country to devalue
  2. It has a fixed exchange rate with sterling
  3. It uses the euro, shared with other countries
Show the answer

It uses the euro, shared with other countries

The euro's value is set on markets for the whole euro area. Ireland must regain competitiveness through lower costs or higher productivity instead.

Competitiveness & exchange rates, 2 marks

Which is a non-price factor in a country's competitiveness?

  1. A weaker currency against the dollar
  2. Product quality and reliable delivery
  3. Lower wage costs than rival countries
Show the answer

Product quality and reliable delivery

Buyers also value quality, design, after-sales service and reliability. Lower costs and a weaker currency make goods cheaper, so they are price factors.

Other Economics topics

All of Leaving Cert Economics