IB Economics (HL / SL)
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Useful articles for Econ IA and examples in writing essay NEW 2020***
Scroll down for IB Business and Management IA and EE topic ideas Microeconomics 2 Mar 2020 Minimum price on Alcohol in Wales Source: BBC 22 Jul 2019 Maylasian government imposed a sugary tax to reduce obesity Source: SCMP 5 Dec 2018 France fuel tax rise proposal Source: CNN international 1 May 2018 A 25 cents increase on fuel tax in Auckland Source: Auckland Herald 8 Jan 2018 New subsidy system for farmers in UK after Brexit Source: The Ecologist 15 Dec 2017 Minimum alcohol price raise cost by up to 90% in Scotland Source: Guardian 9 Dec 2017 Minimum price support farmers in Indian Source: Food Tank.com 6 Dec 2017 Price ceiling on Potatoes in Jordan Source: MENAFA.com 3 Oct 2016 Google faces EU fine over Android anti-competitive practices Source: International Business Times 1 Dec 2015 COP21 Climate Summit (Tackling climate change) Source: CNN 20 Oct 2015 Low milk price in New Zealand Source: Stuff.co.nz 2 Jul 2015 BCC to cut 1000 staff as fewer people watch TV Source: The Guardian 19 Mar 2015 Chinese government subsidises new energy cars Source: WantChina Times 5 Mar 2015 China releases price control on drugs Source: Wall Street Journal 23 Feb 2015 New plastic bag levy implemented on 1 Apr 2015 in Hong Kong Source: WenWuiPo 10 Feb 2015 (for HL only) Qualcoom to pay $975 million to resolve China anti-monopoly disputes Source: Reuters 8 Jan 2015 US China agree to adopt measures limiting greenhouse gas emissions, a 26-28% cut relative to 2005 levels by 2025 Source: Olean Times Herald Macroeconomics 23 Mar 2020 NZ Central bank starts quantitative easing Source: Reuters 22 Jul 2019 EU Central Bank keep interest low as growth slows Source: BBC 7 Oct 2018 Chinese slashes bank's reserve requirement to spur growth Source: Reuters 23 April 2018 Chinese economy moving towards domestic demand driven Source: SCMP 23 April 2018 US interest rate rises Source: CNBC 3 Jan 2018 Interest rate expected to jump multiple times in 2018 Source: KOMOnews.com 18 Dec 2017 Lower corporation tax in US boosts the economy Source: The hill 26 Feb 2017 Highlights of Hong Kong budget 2017 - Widen tax base - Spending on education and technology - Income and corporation tax return 28 Feb 2017 Trump's $1 Trillion infrastructure Source: Bloomberg 21 Sep 2016 The Bank of Japan unveils new monetary tools Source: The Economist 24 Feb 2016 2016 Budget plan HK Source: SCMP 30 Nov 2015 Macau's GDP sinks 24% compared to a year ago Source:Bloomberg 27 Nov 2015 Japan calls for a minimum wage rise Source: Financial Times 14 Oct 2015 Further cut in interest rate likely lower than 2.75% in New Zealand Source: Business Standard 24 Sep 2015 Norway cuts rate to 0.75% to save economy from oil slump Source: Bloomberg May 2015 Youth unemployment rate in Hong Kong reaches 8.5% Source: Trading economics 24 Apr 2015 Korea's exports feared to drop Source: Yonhap News 19 Apr 2015 China;s central bank cuts reserve ratio to 18.5% Source: The Guardian 13 Mar 2015 Russian central bank cuts interest rate by 1% to 14% Source: Wall Street Journal 11 Mar 2015 South Korea cuts interest rate by 0.25% to 1.75% Source: Wall Street Journal 11 Mar 2015 Bank of Thailand cuts its interest rate by 0.25% to 1.75% to boost economic growth Source: Bloomberg 5 Mar 2015 Brazil raises interest rate to 12.75% to curb inflation Source: BBC News 5 Mar 2015 China to invest US$128 Billion on rail construction to facilitate regional development Source: Bloomberg 26 Feb 2015 Highlights of Hong Kong budget 2015
23 Feb 2015 Singapore raises top marginal tax rate from 20% to 22% Source: Bloomberg 4 Feb 2015 The People;s Bank of China lower its required reserve ratio to 19.5% to boost economic growth Source: CNBC 3 Feb 2015 The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut interest rate the first time since August 2013 to 2.25% to stimulate growth Source: The Sydney Morning Herald 22 Jan 2015 EU's expansionary monetary policy by €1.1 trillion stimulus package Source: National AE 13 Jan 2015 UK's inflation falls to 0.5% in December, the lowest since 2000 Source: BBC News International Economics 21 Mar 2020 Tariff cuts for Chinese import in US Source: CNBC (Reuters) 14 Aug 2019 Rising yen hurts Suzuki Source: CNBC (Reuters) 4May 2018 Argentina raises interest rate to 40% to defend peso Source: The independent 15 Dec 2017 US threats on leaving NAFTA Source: Reuters 13 Apr 2015 US sets final dumping duties on transport containers from China Source: Reuters 12 Feb 2015 US launches trade challenges against China on providing export subsidy Source: The Wall Street Journal 8 Feb 2015 Japan had a reduced current account surplus to ¥187.2 billion in December 2014 due to the weak yen lowering the value of net income from abroad Source: The Wall Street Journal 30 Jan 2015 Australian dollar hits lowest point since global financial crisis Source: The conversation 10 Oct 2014 China reintroduces tariff on coal imports Source: CleanTechnica Development 1 Nov 2015 World bank lifts poverty line to US$1.9/day Source: The Guardian |
Video Class: How to write a good commentary for IB Economics IA (International)
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Video Class: How to write a good commentary for IB Economics IA (Microeconomics)
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Structure of the Syllabus (HL/SL) (First exam: 2022)
Unit 1: Introduction to Economics
1.1 What is Economics?
1.2 How do economics approach the world?
Unit 2: Microeconomics
2.1 Demand
2.2 Supply
2.3 Competitive Market Equilibrium
2.4 Critique of the Maximising behaviour of consumers and producers
2.5 Elasticity of demand
2.6 Elasticity of supply
2.7 Role of government in Microeconomics
2.8 Market failure - externalities and common access resources
2.9 Market failure - public goods
(HL only)
2.10 Market failure - asymmetric information
2.11 Market failure - market power
2.12 Market's ability to achieve equality
Unit 3: Macroeconomics
3.1 Measuring economic activity and illustrating its variations
3.2 Variations in economic activity - AD and AS
3.3 Macroeconomic Objectives
3.4 Economics of inequality and poverty
3.5 Monetary policy
3.6 Fiscal policy
3.7 Supply side policy
Unit 4: The global economy
4.1 Benefits of international trade
4.2 Types of trade protection
4.3 Arguments for and against trade protection
4.4 Economic integration
4.5 Exchange rates
4.6 Balance of payments
4.7 Sustainable development
4.8 Measuring development
4.9 Barriers to economic growth and development
4.10 Economic growth and economic development strategies
Assessment
Paper 1: Essay question (a choice of one out of three questions) 1 hour 15 minutes
Paper 2: Data response (a choice of one out of three questions) 1 hour 45 minutes
Paper 3 (HL only): Policy paper (answer all 2 questions) 1 hour 45 minutes
Internal Assessment (HL/ SL)
3 commentaries of 800 words
Structure of the Syllabus (HL/ SL) (Last exam: 2021)
Section 1: Microeconomics
1.1 Demand and Supply (Some topics HL only-mainly calculations and how to draw demand and supply curve from functions)
1.2 Elasticity
1.3 Government intervention (Some topics HL only – mainly calculations and tax incidence)
1.4 Market failure (Some topics HL only – Asymmetric information and monopoly in market failure)
1.5 Theory of the firm (HL only)
Section 2: Macroeconomics
2.1 The level of economic activity (one topic HL only – mainly calculations of GDP and real GNP data)
2.2 AD – AS model (one topic HL only – mainly multiplier)
2.3 Macroeconomic objectives (Some topics HL only – mainly calculations and Phillips Cruve)
2.4 Fiscal policy
2.5 Monetary policy
2.6 Supply-side policy
Section 3: International economics
3.1 International Trade (Some topics HL only – mainly calculations of protectionist measures, Comparative and absolute advantage)
3.2 Exchange rate (one topic HL only – mainly calculations)
3.3 The balance of payments (Some topics HL only – mainly calculations, methods to correct current account deficits, Marshall-Lerner condition and J-curve effects)
3.4 Economic integration (Some topics HL only –Trade diversion and trade creation)
3.5 Terms of trade (HL only)
Section 4: Development economics
4.1 Economic development
4.2 Measuring development
4.3 The role of domestic factors
4.4 The role of international trade (one topic HL only –the impact of reliance on primary products on terms of trade)
4.5 The role of foreign direct investment (FDI)
4.6 The role of foreign aid
4.7 The role of international debt
4.8 The balance between markets and intervention
Examination formats
Paper 1 Essay (1.5 hr) (HL/ SL) (50 marks)
Section A
Microeconomics (Answer one question from a choice of two)
Section B
Macroeconomics (Answer one question from a choice of two)
Paper 2 Data response (1.5 hr) (HL/SL) (40 marks)
Section A
International economics (Answer one question from a choice of two)
Section B
Development economics (Answer one question from a choice of two)
Paper 3 Calculations and short questions (HL only) (50 marks)
Section 1-4 (Micro, Macro, International and Development)
Answer two questions from a choice of three
IB Econ IA criteria
Internal Assessment (HL/ SL)(45 marks)
3 commentaries of 750 words
For each commentary
Unit 1: Introduction to Economics
1.1 What is Economics?
1.2 How do economics approach the world?
Unit 2: Microeconomics
2.1 Demand
2.2 Supply
2.3 Competitive Market Equilibrium
2.4 Critique of the Maximising behaviour of consumers and producers
2.5 Elasticity of demand
2.6 Elasticity of supply
2.7 Role of government in Microeconomics
2.8 Market failure - externalities and common access resources
2.9 Market failure - public goods
(HL only)
2.10 Market failure - asymmetric information
2.11 Market failure - market power
2.12 Market's ability to achieve equality
Unit 3: Macroeconomics
3.1 Measuring economic activity and illustrating its variations
3.2 Variations in economic activity - AD and AS
3.3 Macroeconomic Objectives
3.4 Economics of inequality and poverty
3.5 Monetary policy
3.6 Fiscal policy
3.7 Supply side policy
Unit 4: The global economy
4.1 Benefits of international trade
4.2 Types of trade protection
4.3 Arguments for and against trade protection
4.4 Economic integration
4.5 Exchange rates
4.6 Balance of payments
4.7 Sustainable development
4.8 Measuring development
4.9 Barriers to economic growth and development
4.10 Economic growth and economic development strategies
Assessment
Paper 1: Essay question (a choice of one out of three questions) 1 hour 15 minutes
Paper 2: Data response (a choice of one out of three questions) 1 hour 45 minutes
Paper 3 (HL only): Policy paper (answer all 2 questions) 1 hour 45 minutes
Internal Assessment (HL/ SL)
3 commentaries of 800 words
Structure of the Syllabus (HL/ SL) (Last exam: 2021)
Section 1: Microeconomics
1.1 Demand and Supply (Some topics HL only-mainly calculations and how to draw demand and supply curve from functions)
1.2 Elasticity
1.3 Government intervention (Some topics HL only – mainly calculations and tax incidence)
1.4 Market failure (Some topics HL only – Asymmetric information and monopoly in market failure)
1.5 Theory of the firm (HL only)
Section 2: Macroeconomics
2.1 The level of economic activity (one topic HL only – mainly calculations of GDP and real GNP data)
2.2 AD – AS model (one topic HL only – mainly multiplier)
2.3 Macroeconomic objectives (Some topics HL only – mainly calculations and Phillips Cruve)
2.4 Fiscal policy
2.5 Monetary policy
2.6 Supply-side policy
Section 3: International economics
3.1 International Trade (Some topics HL only – mainly calculations of protectionist measures, Comparative and absolute advantage)
3.2 Exchange rate (one topic HL only – mainly calculations)
3.3 The balance of payments (Some topics HL only – mainly calculations, methods to correct current account deficits, Marshall-Lerner condition and J-curve effects)
3.4 Economic integration (Some topics HL only –Trade diversion and trade creation)
3.5 Terms of trade (HL only)
Section 4: Development economics
4.1 Economic development
4.2 Measuring development
4.3 The role of domestic factors
4.4 The role of international trade (one topic HL only –the impact of reliance on primary products on terms of trade)
4.5 The role of foreign direct investment (FDI)
4.6 The role of foreign aid
4.7 The role of international debt
4.8 The balance between markets and intervention
Examination formats
Paper 1 Essay (1.5 hr) (HL/ SL) (50 marks)
Section A
Microeconomics (Answer one question from a choice of two)
Section B
Macroeconomics (Answer one question from a choice of two)
Paper 2 Data response (1.5 hr) (HL/SL) (40 marks)
Section A
International economics (Answer one question from a choice of two)
Section B
Development economics (Answer one question from a choice of two)
Paper 3 Calculations and short questions (HL only) (50 marks)
Section 1-4 (Micro, Macro, International and Development)
Answer two questions from a choice of three
IB Econ IA criteria
Internal Assessment (HL/ SL)(45 marks)
3 commentaries of 750 words
- Each article should be from a different section of the syllabus
- Each article should be from different sources
- Each article was published no earlier than 1 year before the writing of the commentary
For each commentary
- Diagram 3 marks
- Terminology 2 marks
- Application 2 marks
- Analysis 3 marks
- Evaluation 4 marks
