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Ian Goff

How to write your Economics IA


Writing frame to get you started. Points 1 to 4 in blue.
There is a rubric for self and peer assessment.
Examples of articles for Micro, Macro and International IA’s
Commentary exemplar
Teachers role in the process.

Micro, Macro and International Commentaries for the IA Portfolio


1. Select an article that covers your chosen syllabus section and
economics topic. Introduce the article. State the diagrams and theory
you will use.
Must be written within a year of the date you start the commentary, each
article from a different source and syllabus section. I have chosen rent
controls in New York.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/28/nyregion/for-the-second-year-rents-in-
some-stabilized-apartments-in-new-york-city-will-not-increase.html?_r=0
2. Draw the diagram and explain the article with consistent
reference to the diagram and theory and reference back to the
article. Effective application.
Do you have relevant, accurate and correctly labelled diagrams, with a full
explanation that refers to both the article and the diagram. All curves are
labelled and shifts and movements are explained. Terminology relevant to
the article is used appropriately throughout the commentary.
3. There is effective economic analysis relating to the article.
Relevant economic concepts and theories are applied to the article
throughout the commentary to explain exactly what the article means from
an economics perspective.

There must be direct reference to the article and the country.

4. Evaluation
Evaluation may include any of the following:
Effect on different stakeholder groups (this is the most valuable section at
4/14).  Which stakeholders benefit (land owners) and which are the losers? 
First time buyers trying to get onto the housing market?
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Ian Goff

Policy analysis - strengths and weaknesses advantages and


disadvantages of ….. (max + min prices, market based policies v command
and control …..fiscal and monetary ……)
Stakeholder effects - consumer producer and governments, low income v
high income households, urban dwellers v rural dwellers.

Short-run vs. Long-run analysis - a SR solution could be …. taxes to


reduce consumption however a LR option could be educating young people
as to the advantages of not ….. along with social advertising warning of the
risks associated with …..

Prioritising arguments - the best solution in my opinion would be …..


however the alternative would work effectively because …..

Questioning the validity of a theory - the diagram clearly shows that the
tax will reduce the number of smokers in HK however the real impact will
depend on the PED and the degree of addiction to nicotine.
Definite conclusion or judgement as to the best option (link to SR and LR
or stakeholders most affected.

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IA Reflections.
To what extent have you done this?
Criterion A (Diagrams) _____ marks (3)
Do you have relevant, accurate and correctly labelled diagrams, with a full
explanation that refers to both the article and the diagram.
Criterion B (Terminology)_____ marks (2)
Terminology relevant to the article is used appropriately throughout the
commentary.
Criterion C (Application)_____ marks (2)
Relevant economic concepts and/or theories are applied to the article
appropriately throughout the commentary.
Criterion D (Analysis) _____ marks (3)
There is effective economic analysis relating to the article.
Criterion E (Evaluation)_____ marks (4)
Judgments made that are supported by effective and balanced reasoning.

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Commentary exemplar

The tax is going to be set at 50pence per unit so we know the tax is a
specific tax.

The article makes clear the current price per unit and the suggested
minimum price so effective application of the diagram is possible.

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Example 2


It is clear from the article that energy drinks are causing a serious
health problem. The article suggest a tax on energy drinks. What kind
of tax would it be and how effective would it be as a short term
solution? What are the long term options.

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Teachers role in the process

As part of the learning process, teachers can give advice to students on a first
draft of the internally assessed work.

This advice should be in terms of the way the work could be improved, but
this first draft must not be heavily annotated or edited by the teacher.

The next version handed to the teacher after the first draft must be the final
one (page 88).

Ian Goff
March 2018

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