Economics addresses some of the most pressing questions that society faces today.  It looks at markets and how they provide for society’s needs and wants. It examines how individuals and businesses manage their resources, and the need for government intervention. The issues of regulation in the financial sector are investigated and global environmental issues and their potential solutions are reviewed. Economics is essentially about choice – why choices must be made and the consequences of those choices.

The study of this A level will open up the thought-provoking world of economics and help to develop a variety of thinking and communication skills including investigating, analysing, evaluating, reasoning, drawing conclusions and making judgements.  Economics requires the ability to interpret data in both written and diagrammatical forms and a good head for numbers is useful.

The content of the AS units in the CCEA Specification provides students with a good understanding of how market forces of supply and demand work at both a micro and macro level, and an understanding of why and how the government intervenes.

At A2 level, students will develop their understanding of economic concepts by studying the implications of price and output decisions in a variety of market structures, and the importance of trade and globalisation. They will have the opportunity to investigate the factors affecting the growth of developing economies and the nature and effectiveness of government policies in a global economy.

Assessment is through two written examinations at AS (40% of A level) and a further two written examinations at A2 (60% of A level).  Each examination includes short answer questions; one data response (AS) or case study question (A2) and one essay question from a choice of two.