Subject / Business & Economics - Economics
Head of Department / Ms D. Masanga –
Teachers / Mrs E. Martino -
Ms F. Morrell -
Ms D. Kusi -
Class
Course / AS/A Level Economics
Qualification Name / GCE Economics
Examination Board / Eduqas (part of WJEC)
Teachers / Ms D Masanga
Ms D Kusi
Course Structure & Assessment Make Up
Course Structure
Component 1: Introduction to Economics Principles (microeconomics)
1  Scarcity and choice
2  Demand and supply in product markets
3  Demand and supply in labour markets
4  Resource allocation
5  Market failure
Component 2: Exploring Economic Issues (macroeconomics)
1  Macroeconomic theory
2  Macroeconomic objectives
3  Policy instruments
4  International trade
Assessment:
Paper 1:
·  40% of AS marks
·  1 hour examination
·  60 marks
Questions
Compulsory short answers and structured questions covering all AS content (microeconomics and macroeconomics).
Paper 2:
·  60% of AS marks
·  2 hour examination
·  80 marks
Questions
Compulsory data response questions covering all AS content (microeconomics and macroeconomics).
Both papers will also assess quantitative skills that are relevant to the subject content, including being able to:
 calculate, use and understand ratios and fractions
 calculate, use and understand percentages and percentage changes
 understand and use the terms mean, median and relevant quantiles
 construct and interpret a range of standard graphical forms
 calculate and interpret index numbers
 make calculations of elasticity and interpret the result
 interpret, apply and analyse information in written, graphical and numerical forms.
Before the qualification can be awarded, students must undertake both assessments
Deadlines for Coursework / Examination Dates
N/A / AS Economics Paper 1 and Paper 2 - Summer 2017

Suggested reading

·  A Level Economics Student Book (Fifth Edition)

Author: Alan Anderton
Publisher: Pearson Education
ISBN-13: 978-1405892353

·  Microeconomics

Authors: Andrew Threadgould and Amy Meachen

Publisher: Anforme

ISBN-13: 978-1-78014-009-4

·  Economics

Eduqas digital download

Author: Simon Harrison
Publisher: Eduqas

Additional Reading

Accessible books

·  Thaler R & Sunstein C, Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness, ISBN-13: 978-0141040011, Penguin, 2009

·  Ariely D, Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, ASIN: B004SSZRAS, Harper Perennial, 2010

·  Kahneman, D, Thinking Fast and Slow, ISBN-13: 978-0141033570, Penguin, 2012 (Note: This is a less accessible book but many teachers and some students will find it interesting.)

Pamphlets (The New Economics Foundation)

·  Behavioural Economics | New Economics Foundation

·  Economics in policy-making 11: Behavioural economics – dispelling the myths

Behavioural economics sections in advanced texts

·  Sloman, Wride & Garrett, Economics (8th Ed) Pages 124 – 128

·  Perloff, Microeconomics (6th Ed) Pages 124 – 127

·  Pindyck & Rubinfeld, Microeconomics (8th Ed) Pages 189 – 197

Online resources

·  Podcasts (Social Science Bites)

·  About Social Science Bites

·  iTunes - Podcasts - Social Science Bites by Edmonds and Warburton(including Daniel Kahneman on bias and Robert Shiller on behavioural economics)

·  The ultimatum game

·  Foundation for Teaching Economics - The Ultimatum Game

·  TED talks on behavioural economics

o  TED: Behavioural economics

o  An application of behavioural economics to pensions

·  Hardcastle D, How can we incentivise pensions saving – a behavioural perspective DWP Working Paper 109

·  A critique of behavioural economics

·  Harford T, Behavioural economics and public policy, Financial Times, 2014

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