FRQ Unit 5
1. Conceptual Analysis – Economic Systems
(a) Define the characteristics of a command economy and a market economy.
(b) Explain how a mixed economy incorporates elements of both command and market systems.
(c) Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of a command economy in promoting economic stability.
(d) Provide an example of a country that has transitioned from a command economy to a mixed economy. Explain one political or economic challenge faced during this transition.
2. Comparative Analysis – Economic Systems and Government Policies
(a) Describe how economic policymaking differs between authoritarian and democratic regimes.
(b) Explain how market-oriented reforms can strengthen or weaken political legitimacy in hybrid regimes (e.g., Russia or China).
(c) Compare how two AP Comparative Government and Politics core countries have implemented economic liberalization policies in the past 30 years.
(d) Assess how state control over key industries impacts government accountability in authoritarian regimes.
3. Globalization and National Economies
(a) Define globalization in the context of economic policy.
(b) Explain one way globalization has affected national sovereignty in developing countries.
(c) Compare the economic effects of globalization on a developed country and a developing country within the AP Comparative Government and Politics curriculum.
(d) Explain how populist political movements have responded to globalization in one AP Comparative Government and Politics core country.
4. Political Responses to Economic Inequality and Development Challenges
(a) Define economic inequality and explain one way it can impact political stability.
(b) Identify one policy that a democratic regime has implemented to address economic inequality. Explain its effectiveness.
(c) Compare how one democratic regime and one authoritarian regime have responded to economic inequality.
(d) Explain how international organizations (e.g., IMF, World Bank) influence economic development policies in one AP Comparative Government and Politics core country.
5. Democratization and Authoritarian Resilience
(a) Define democratization and identify one factor that promotes democratic consolidation.
(b) Explain how economic development influences democratization in developing countries.
(c) Compare how economic crises have influenced political stability in a democratic and an authoritarian regime.
(d) Assess how state control over economic resources helps sustain authoritarian resilience in one AP Comparative Government and Politics core country.
6. Case Study – Economic Change and Political Outcomes
(a) Identify one AP Comparative Government and Politics core country that has experienced significant economic change in the past 30 years.
(b) Explain how economic liberalization policies in this country have influenced political stability.
(c) Compare how economic change has affected political participation in this country versus another AP Comparative Government and Politics core country.
(d) Assess whether economic growth necessarily leads to democratization, using examples from at least two AP Comparative Government and Politics core countries.
These FRQs assess students' ability to define key concepts, analyze economic and political relationships, and compare case studies across different political systems.
1. Conceptual Analysis – Economic Systems
(a) Define the characteristics of a command economy and a market economy.
(b) Explain how a mixed economy incorporates elements of both command and market systems.
(c) Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of a command economy in promoting economic stability.
(d) Provide an example of a country that has transitioned from a command economy to a mixed economy. Explain one political or economic challenge faced during this transition.
2. Comparative Analysis – Economic Systems and Government Policies
(a) Describe how economic policymaking differs between authoritarian and democratic regimes.
(b) Explain how market-oriented reforms can strengthen or weaken political legitimacy in hybrid regimes (e.g., Russia or China).
(c) Compare how two AP Comparative Government and Politics core countries have implemented economic liberalization policies in the past 30 years.
(d) Assess how state control over key industries impacts government accountability in authoritarian regimes.
3. Globalization and National Economies
(a) Define globalization in the context of economic policy.
(b) Explain one way globalization has affected national sovereignty in developing countries.
(c) Compare the economic effects of globalization on a developed country and a developing country within the AP Comparative Government and Politics curriculum.
(d) Explain how populist political movements have responded to globalization in one AP Comparative Government and Politics core country.
4. Political Responses to Economic Inequality and Development Challenges
(a) Define economic inequality and explain one way it can impact political stability.
(b) Identify one policy that a democratic regime has implemented to address economic inequality. Explain its effectiveness.
(c) Compare how one democratic regime and one authoritarian regime have responded to economic inequality.
(d) Explain how international organizations (e.g., IMF, World Bank) influence economic development policies in one AP Comparative Government and Politics core country.
5. Democratization and Authoritarian Resilience
(a) Define democratization and identify one factor that promotes democratic consolidation.
(b) Explain how economic development influences democratization in developing countries.
(c) Compare how economic crises have influenced political stability in a democratic and an authoritarian regime.
(d) Assess how state control over economic resources helps sustain authoritarian resilience in one AP Comparative Government and Politics core country.
6. Case Study – Economic Change and Political Outcomes
(a) Identify one AP Comparative Government and Politics core country that has experienced significant economic change in the past 30 years.
(b) Explain how economic liberalization policies in this country have influenced political stability.
(c) Compare how economic change has affected political participation in this country versus another AP Comparative Government and Politics core country.
(d) Assess whether economic growth necessarily leads to democratization, using examples from at least two AP Comparative Government and Politics core countries.
These FRQs assess students' ability to define key concepts, analyze economic and political relationships, and compare case studies across different political systems.