Entry requirementsBasic English reading and writing skills.
Academic titleAS/A2 - A level in Economics. Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level.Specification: Edexcel (AS) 8EC01 and Edexcel (A2) 9EC01
Course description
Course summaryThis course is designed to allow you to study at your own pace and is designed to develop an interest and understanding of economics in the real world, both on a business and personal level.
No prior knowledge of the subject is required, however basic knowledge is desirable.
It is recommended that students have attained GCSE or equivalent communication and literacy skills in English and numeracy skills in mathematics.
Read on to find out more about our A Level Economics distance learning course and how you can learn with our amazing materials and online support.
Course Outline
An outline of what is offered in our A Level Economics course:
AS Level
Unit 1: ECON1 – Markets and Market Failure• The Economic Problem
• The Allocation of Resources in Competitive Markets
• Production and Efficiency
• Market Failure
• Government Intervention in the Market
Unit 2: ECON2 – The National Economy• Introduction to Macroeconomics
• How the Macro-economy works
• Economic performance
• Macroeconomic policy
A2 Level
Unit 3: ECON3 – Business Economics and the Distribution of Income• The Firm: Objectives, Costs and Revenues
• Competitive Markets
• Marketing Strategies
• Concentrated Markets
• The Labour Market
• Government Intervention in the Market
Unit 4: ECON4 – The National and International Economy
• Macroeconomic Indicators
• Managing the national economy
• The international economy
Course Content
Unit 1: ECON1 – Markets and Market Failure
The Economic Problem• Nature and Purpose of Economic Activity
• Economic Resources
• The Economic Objectives of Individuals, Firms and Government
• Scarcity, choice and the allocation of resources
• Production Possibility Diagrams
• Value Judgements, Positive and Normative statements
The Allocation of Resources in Competitive Markets
• The Determinants of the Demand for Goods and Services
• Price, Income and Cross Elasticity’s of Demand
• The Determinants of the Supply of Goods and Services
• Price Elasticity of Supply
• The Determination of Equilibrium Market Prices
• Demand and Supply Analysis to Particular Markets
• The Interrelationship Between Markets
• How Markets and Prices Allocate Resources
Production and Efficiency• Specialisation, Division of Labour and Exchange
• Production
• Economies and Diseconomies of Scale
Market Failure
• The Meaning of Market Failure
• Public Goods
• Externalities in Consumption and Production
• Merit and Demerit Goods
• Monopoly and the Allocation of Resources
• Immobility of Factors of Production
• Inequalities in the Distribution of Income and Wealth
Government Intervention in the Market
• Rationale for Government Intervention
• Methods of Government Intervention to Correct Distortions
• The Impact of Government Intervention on Market Outcomes
• Government Failure
Unit 2: ECON2 – The National EconomyIntroduction to Macroeconomics
• The Measurement of macroeconomic performance
• Macroeconomic Indicators
• The Economic Cycle
How the Macro-economy works: AD/AS analysis, the circular flow of income and related concepts
• Circular flow of income
• Aggregate Demand (AD) and Aggregate Supply (AS) Analysis
• The Determinants of Aggregate Demand
• Aggregate Demand and the Level of Economic Activity
• Determinants of Short-Run Aggregate Supply
• Determinants of Long-Run Aggregate Supply
Economic Performance
• The Objectives of Government Economic Policy
• Economic Growth
• Inflation and Deflation
• Employment and Unemployment
• The Balance of Payments on Current Account
Unit 3: ECON3 – Business Economics and the Distribution of Income
The Firm: Objectives, Costs and Revenues
• The objectives if firms
• The Divorce of ownership from control
• The Law of diminishing returns and returns to scale
• Fixed and Variable Costs,Marginal, Average and Total Costs
• Economies and Diseconomies of Scale
• Technological Change
• Total, Average and Marginal Revenue
Competitive Markets
• The Model of Perfect Competition
• Competition and the Efficient Allocation of Resources
• The Dynamics of Competition and Competitive Market Processes
Concentrated Markets• Monopoly and Oligopoly
• Price Makers and Price Takers
• The Growth of Firms
• Sources of Monopoly Power
• The Model of Monopoly
• Collusive and Non-Collusive Oligopoly
• Interdependence in Oligopolistic Markets
• Price Discrimination
• Consumer and Producer Surplus
• Contestable and Non-contestable Markets
• Market Structure, Static Efficiency and Dynamic Efficiency
The Labour Market• The Demand for Labour, Marginal Productivity Theory
• Influences upon the Supply of Labour to Different Markets
• Competitive Labour Markets
• Imperfectly Competitive Labour Markets
• The Impact of a National Minimum Wage Rate
• Discrimination in the Labour Market
Government Intervention in the Market
• Market failure and Government failure
• Competition Policy
• Notions of Equity
• The Problem of Poverty
• Cost Benefit Analysis
Unit 4: ECON4 – The National and International Economy
Macroeconomic Indicators
• The Economic Cycle and Economic Growth
• Uses of National Income Data
• Unemployment
• Inflation and Deflation
Managing the National Economy
• Macroeconomic Models and Policies
• Fiscal Policy
• Supply-Side Policies
• Monetary Policy, the
• Money Supply and Interest Rates
• Exchange Rate Policy
The International Economy
• Globalisation
• Trade
• The balance of payments
• Exchange rate systems
• The European Union
Summary of Assessments
Unit 1: ECON1 – Markets and Market Failure
• 50% of AS Level
• 25% of A Level
• 1 hour 15 minutes examination
• 75 marks
Section A: 25 compulsory objective test items, 25 marks
Section B: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 50 marks
Unit 2: ECON2 – The National Economy• 50% of As Level
• 30% of A Level
• 1 hour 15 minutes examination
• 75 marks
Section A: 25 compulsory objective test items, 25 marks
Section B: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 50 marks
Unit 3: ECON3 – Business Economics and the Distribution of Income• 25% of A Level
• 2 hour examination
• 80 marks
Section A: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks, one question will always relate to the global context and the other to the European Union context.
Section B: Three optional essay questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks
Unit 4: ECON4 – The National and International Economy
• 25 % of A Level
• 2 hour examination
• 80 marks
Section A: Two optional data response questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks, one question will always relate to the global context and the other to the European Union context.
Section B: Three optional essay questions are set; candidates answer one, 40 marks