Studying A Level Economics allows pupils to apply for university courses in Pure Economics, Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE), and Business Economics. There are no prerequisites for entry to the course, other than pass grades in Maths and English GCSEs and at least five other subjects. Economics also combines well with other A Level subjects such as Maths, Computer Science, Geography, Psychology, DT, History and Politics.

The Economics A Level course is divided into four themes and consists of three externally examined papers. Pupils are introduced to Economics by building knowledge of core microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts and by investigating economic theory through real-world businesses and the environments in which they operate. As the course progresses into the second year of study, pupils develop greater breadth and depth of knowledge, with increasing applications to more complex concepts and models.

Pupils will also need to apply their knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar contexts in the assessment, while demonstrating an awareness of current economic events and policies.

Theme 1: Markets, Consumers and Firms

• Scarcity, choice and potential conflicts
• Enterprise, business and the economy
• Introducing the market
• Role of credit in the economy
• Market failure and government intervention
• Revenue, costs, profits and cash

Theme 2: The Wider Economic Environment

• Business growth and competitive advantage
• Firms, consumers and elasticities of demand
• Productive efficiency
• Life in a global economy
• Economic cycle
• Introduction to macroeconomic policy

Theme 3: The Global Economy

• Globalisation
• Economic factors in business expansion
• Impact of globalisation on global companies
• Impact of globalisation on local and national economies
• Global labour markets
• Inequality and redistribution

Theme 4: Making Markets Work

• Competition and market power
• Market power and market failure
• Market failure across the economy
• Macroeconomic policies and impact on firms and individuals
• Risk and the financial sector

Examination Board: Edexcel
Specification: 9EB0

Mrs M. McIntyre – Head of Economics