Economics AS/A Level

Economics is a wide ranging subject which touches on every aspect of commercial life. As a result, study of Economics will broaden your understanding of the business world and encourage you to evaluate some of the consequences of business and government decisions. Study of Economics is useful to those intending to enter the business and commercial world since it is included as a core subject in the examinations of all the professional bodies.

Economics is a difficult subject to summarise in a few lines and is probably unlike many of the subjects which you will have studied at school. It is an academic subject which provides a good link between science and arts subjects. It is scientific in its investigative nature and requires good logical and analytical skills together with the ability to produce convincing written argument.

During the Economics course you will consider issues such as:

What are the effects of taxation policy?

• Why do exchange rates change and does a trade deficit matter?
• Is it possible to reduce regional differences in unemployment?
• What influences the purchasing patterns of consumers and can a business predict these?
• Analysing public transport efficiency and ways to reduce road congestion.
• How can governments promote better care of the environment?
• What are the arguments for the cancellation of developing countries debt?
• What is the impact on the Eurozone in light of some member states’ budget deficits?
• The causes and consequences of globalisation.

If you study Economics you will discover, as with any subject concerned with human behaviour, that there is often more than one way of interpreting the observed facts. You will study the theories which try to explain economic behaviour, and will be free to weigh up the alternative arguments and draw your own conclusions.

Economics is externally assessed (OCR exam board) through two examinations each academic year; the first exam is taken in January with the final exam in June.

The subject is ideal to study alongside Maths, Biology/Physics/Chemistry, Government and Politics, History, English and other more traditional subjects. For those wishing to study Economics at degree level, prospective students should aim to achieve an A grade in Maths GCSE to ensure a greater choice of universities.