Page 1 of 81
APC2602 EXAM WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
APC2602 — Political Economy of Africa
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO AFRICA'S POLITICAL ECONOMY (Questions 1–25)
1. What is the primary purpose of the APC2602 module on Political Economy of Africa?
A. To study African history in isolation
B. To enable students to analyse, describe and explain the relationship between politics and
economics in the African context
C. To focus exclusively on South African politics
D. To examine European colonial history only
Rationale: The purpose of this module is for students to acquaint themselves with the political
economy of Africa, understand why some African economies decay, and explain what political
and economic survival strategies are.
2. Which of the following best describes the scope of political economy as a discipline?
A. The study of political institutions only
B. The study of economic systems only
C. The study of the relationship between politics and economics, and how power shapes
economic outcomes
D. The study of international relations only
1|Page
,Page 2 of 81
Rationale: Political economy examines the relationship between politics and economics,
including how political power shapes economic outcomes and how economic structures
influence political systems.
3. What is the significance of Claude Ake's 1976 article "Explanatory notes on the political
economy of Africa"?
A. It was the first article on African history
B. It provided foundational concepts for understanding Africa's political economy
C. It focused on European colonialism only
D. It was the first article published in Africa
Rationale: Ake's 1976 article is a foundational text that provides explanatory notes on the
political economy of Africa, helping students understand the relationship between politics and
economics in the African context.
4. According to the study plan for APC2602, how many weeks does the module span?
A. 8 weeks
B. 10 weeks
C. 13 weeks
D. 16 weeks
Rationale: The study plan for APC2602 outlines a 13-week course focusing on the development
of Africa's political economy.
5. Which of the following is NOT a learning unit in the APC2602 module?
A. Introduction to Africa's political economy
B. Concepts in political economy
C. European history and civilization
D. Approaches and theories relevant to Africa's political economy
Rationale: The learning units include introduction to Africa's political economy, concepts in
political economy, approaches and theories, the political economy of precolonial and colonial
2|Page
,Page 3 of 81
Africa, Africa's integration in the international economy, and Africa and the global political
economy.
6. What historical period does Learning Unit 4 of APC2602 focus on?
A. Precolonial and colonial Africa
B. Post-independence Africa only
C. The 21st century only
D. Prehistoric Africa only
Rationale: Learning Unit 4 focuses on the political economy of precolonial and colonial Africa.
7. Why did Africa's exports fall from 4.2 percent of total world exports in 1960 to 1.5 percent
in 1995?
A. Because African countries stopped trading
B. Because of declining commodity prices and structural economic weaknesses
C. Because of increased global competition and unfavourable terms of trade
D. Because of government policies that restricted exports
Rationale: Africa's share of world exports declined significantly due to declining commodity
prices, unfavourable terms of trade, and structural weaknesses in African economies.
8. According to World Bank data, what percentage of people in sub-Saharan Africa lived on $1
a day in 2005?
A. 25 percent
B. 50 percent
C. 75 percent
D. 10 percent
Rationale: In 2005, the World Bank reported that in sub-Saharan Africa, 50 percent of people
lived on $1 a day, which was 70 cents a day among the poorest.
9. What was Africa's per capita GDP gap compared to other low-income countries in 2004?
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, Page 4 of 81
A. Africa was 40.4 percent below other low-income countries
B. Africa was 20 percent above other low-income countries
C. Africa was equal to other low-income countries
D. Africa was 10 percent below other low-income countries
Rationale: Harbeson and Rothchild (2009) note that Africa was still 40.4 percent below other
low-income countries in per capita GDP in 2004.
10. Which of the following best defines "political economy" in the African context?
A. The study of African political parties
B. The study of how political power and economic structures interact to shape development
outcomes
C. The study of African economic history only
D. The study of international trade agreements
Rationale: Political economy in the African context examines how political power and economic
structures interact to shape development outcomes, including why some African economies
decay.
11. What is the key difference in productivity growth between Africa and other developing
regions?
A. Investment in Africa yields higher returns
B. Investment in Africa yields less than half the return in other developing regions
C. Africa has higher productivity growth than other regions
D. Africa has the same productivity growth as other regions
Rationale: The key difference is lower productivity growth, as investment in Africa still yields
less than half the return in other developing regions.
12. According to the study guide, what was Africa's per capita income decline in the 1980s?
A. 4.2 percent decline since 1986
B. 10 percent decline since 1980
4|Page
APC2602 EXAM WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
APC2602 — Political Economy of Africa
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO AFRICA'S POLITICAL ECONOMY (Questions 1–25)
1. What is the primary purpose of the APC2602 module on Political Economy of Africa?
A. To study African history in isolation
B. To enable students to analyse, describe and explain the relationship between politics and
economics in the African context
C. To focus exclusively on South African politics
D. To examine European colonial history only
Rationale: The purpose of this module is for students to acquaint themselves with the political
economy of Africa, understand why some African economies decay, and explain what political
and economic survival strategies are.
2. Which of the following best describes the scope of political economy as a discipline?
A. The study of political institutions only
B. The study of economic systems only
C. The study of the relationship between politics and economics, and how power shapes
economic outcomes
D. The study of international relations only
1|Page
,Page 2 of 81
Rationale: Political economy examines the relationship between politics and economics,
including how political power shapes economic outcomes and how economic structures
influence political systems.
3. What is the significance of Claude Ake's 1976 article "Explanatory notes on the political
economy of Africa"?
A. It was the first article on African history
B. It provided foundational concepts for understanding Africa's political economy
C. It focused on European colonialism only
D. It was the first article published in Africa
Rationale: Ake's 1976 article is a foundational text that provides explanatory notes on the
political economy of Africa, helping students understand the relationship between politics and
economics in the African context.
4. According to the study plan for APC2602, how many weeks does the module span?
A. 8 weeks
B. 10 weeks
C. 13 weeks
D. 16 weeks
Rationale: The study plan for APC2602 outlines a 13-week course focusing on the development
of Africa's political economy.
5. Which of the following is NOT a learning unit in the APC2602 module?
A. Introduction to Africa's political economy
B. Concepts in political economy
C. European history and civilization
D. Approaches and theories relevant to Africa's political economy
Rationale: The learning units include introduction to Africa's political economy, concepts in
political economy, approaches and theories, the political economy of precolonial and colonial
2|Page
,Page 3 of 81
Africa, Africa's integration in the international economy, and Africa and the global political
economy.
6. What historical period does Learning Unit 4 of APC2602 focus on?
A. Precolonial and colonial Africa
B. Post-independence Africa only
C. The 21st century only
D. Prehistoric Africa only
Rationale: Learning Unit 4 focuses on the political economy of precolonial and colonial Africa.
7. Why did Africa's exports fall from 4.2 percent of total world exports in 1960 to 1.5 percent
in 1995?
A. Because African countries stopped trading
B. Because of declining commodity prices and structural economic weaknesses
C. Because of increased global competition and unfavourable terms of trade
D. Because of government policies that restricted exports
Rationale: Africa's share of world exports declined significantly due to declining commodity
prices, unfavourable terms of trade, and structural weaknesses in African economies.
8. According to World Bank data, what percentage of people in sub-Saharan Africa lived on $1
a day in 2005?
A. 25 percent
B. 50 percent
C. 75 percent
D. 10 percent
Rationale: In 2005, the World Bank reported that in sub-Saharan Africa, 50 percent of people
lived on $1 a day, which was 70 cents a day among the poorest.
9. What was Africa's per capita GDP gap compared to other low-income countries in 2004?
3|Page
, Page 4 of 81
A. Africa was 40.4 percent below other low-income countries
B. Africa was 20 percent above other low-income countries
C. Africa was equal to other low-income countries
D. Africa was 10 percent below other low-income countries
Rationale: Harbeson and Rothchild (2009) note that Africa was still 40.4 percent below other
low-income countries in per capita GDP in 2004.
10. Which of the following best defines "political economy" in the African context?
A. The study of African political parties
B. The study of how political power and economic structures interact to shape development
outcomes
C. The study of African economic history only
D. The study of international trade agreements
Rationale: Political economy in the African context examines how political power and economic
structures interact to shape development outcomes, including why some African economies
decay.
11. What is the key difference in productivity growth between Africa and other developing
regions?
A. Investment in Africa yields higher returns
B. Investment in Africa yields less than half the return in other developing regions
C. Africa has higher productivity growth than other regions
D. Africa has the same productivity growth as other regions
Rationale: The key difference is lower productivity growth, as investment in Africa still yields
less than half the return in other developing regions.
12. According to the study guide, what was Africa's per capita income decline in the 1980s?
A. 4.2 percent decline since 1986
B. 10 percent decline since 1980
4|Page
