AS/A Level in Economics

Course summary

In A level Economics you will look at the fundamental forces which affect our lives, such as employment, prices, international trade and poverty. Economists are often in healthy debate with each other over these issues. It is this controversy which makes Economics lively and interesting and allows you the opportunity to make judgements and form opinions. Economics concerns the allocation of society’s scarce resources amongst the many alternative uses to which they could be put. Economics is a fascinating subject because it includes the study of how people behave and interact with each other. The dynamics between consumers, manufacturers and government makes economics a vibrant topic. Of course, Economics can also lead to an exciting career. Both the A level and AS Economics specifications are split into two main sections; the first section in each is concerned with microeconomic issues and the second covers mostly macroeconomic issues. Although these two sections are covered in both qualifications which take either one year (AS) or two years (A level) to complete, they are co-teachable for classes which contain both students taking AS and those studying the first year of the linear A level. There is additional subject content of both micro and macroeconomics covered at A level in the second year of the course.