ECONOMICS A (PEARSON)

A Level Course Outline

Who should study this course?

This course will be suited to those students who enjoyed AS economics and now want to go into more depth and complexity while also exploring new topics. It will particularly suit those wishing to apply to university for economics as well as being a complimentary A-level to many other subjects.

What does the course aim to do?

A-level Economics assumes much of the knowledge from AS and introduces students to a few new areas. Microeconomics now covers the theory of the firm while macroeconomics extends to cover the global economy. It is also designed to:

• Provide an insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the UK economy
• Show the challenges facing the UK economy
• Develop the knowledge and skills students need to understand and deal with the issues they face in a more competitive world
• Develop a more critical approach in analysing issues

What topics will I cover?

• How competitive are UK markets?
• How and why do firms grow?
• What problem does a large budget deficit and national debt pose for a country?
• Is a new economic order emerging?
• Development economics - why some countries are rich and others poor
• How has Brexit impacted the British economy?

What skills will I develop?

Economics enables students to maturely understand how the UK economy functions and will be an asset when working in the business environment.

Students will be able to use the knowledge for their own benefit and will have a healthy grasp of issues that affect their everyday lives.

After completing the subject, students will be able to confidently debate economic issues and learn the skills of arguments and counter-argument.

What are the challenging aspects of the course?

• Learning abstract business economic theory and relating it to the real world
• Questioning the relevance of economic models in the wake of the global economic crisis
• Time pressure
• Diagrammatic analysis in business economics
• Writing long discursive essays

ECONOMICS A (EDX) A level Specification
Component 1 (9ECO/01) 35% of A-level Available in May/June 2 hours 100 marks	Markets and business behaviour Component 1 will assess microeconomics. The paper comprises three sections. Section A comprises a range of multiple-choice and short answer questions. Section B comprises a data response question. Section C comprises a choice of extended open-response questions. Students select one from a choice of two.
Component 2 (9ECO/02) 35% of A-level Available in May/June 2 hours 100 marks	The national and global economy Component 2 will assess macroeconomics. The paper comprises three sections. Section A comprises a range of multiple-choice and short answer questions. Section B comprises a data response question. Section C comprises a choice of extended open-response questions. Students select one from a choice of two.
Component 3 (ECO/03) 30% of A-level Available in June 2 hours 100 marks	Microeconomics and macroeconomics. Component 3 will assess content from all the syllabus. Students are required to apply their knowledge and understanding, make connections and use higher-order skills. The paper comprises two sections. Each section comprises one data response broken down into a number of parts, including a choice of extended open-response questions; students select one from a choice of two.

Core Textbook
Edexcel A Level Economics 5th Edition
Peter Smith

Further Reading

23 Things They Don't Teach You About Capitalism
Ha-Joon Chang

The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order
Gary Gerstle

Doughnut Economics
Kate Raworth