aqa a level economics model essays

How to Write Essays for AQA A-Level Economics

How should you structure your response to a 25-mark question? This post covers a few possible ways you could structure your answer.

There is no “right” structure. Different structures, including ones not mentioned here, can access high marks. However starting off with a general structure can be a good way to start off writing essays in economics.

What matters most importantly is making sure to show your knowledge, apply to the real world, analyse and evaluate. Having depth to your answers is helpful too.

To practice your essay writing skill on up-to-date questions, see the link below for practice papers for A-level exams in 2024.

Below I suggest one possible essay structure and then apply it to an example essay.

Suggested Structure

Introduction – this is where you should define key terms.

• In each point, you are looking to make your point and explain it through a chain of analysis and (often) a graph.
• Adding a fact or information about the current state of the economy helps achieve application points. For statistics on the UK economy, I usually use the website Trading Economics .
• Particularly where the point feels short or when you have the time, consider an additional chain of analysis to extend the point.

Evaluation: I have discussed evaluation examples in my previous posts. See the blue buttons below for these posts:

Conclusion:

• Answer the question directly, using the wording of the question.
• Justify your answer to the question. For example, is there an important factor that sways your point of view?
• You could also add a bonus evaluative factor that may support your point of view or that could

Example Essay Plan

Consider the following essay title that I have made up:

“Evaluate whether the UK Government should increase the corporate tax rate for the UK economy” (25 marks).

To answer this question using the structure above, we could write about the following:

Introduction:

• Define key terms e.g. corporate tax rate, what the corporate tax rate is in the UK.
• Effect on aggregate demand.
• Reduced incentive to invest means lower investment so aggregate demand shifts left on an aggregate demand – aggregate supply diagram. So real GDP will fall.
• This could be extended by discussing multiplier and/or accelerator effects.
• Add a fact about how the current UK Government has planned corporation tax rates to rise.
• Investment may depend on factors other than corporate tax rates, for example economic growth via the accelerator effect, the expected profitability of the investment, etc. So the fall in investment could be minor.
• Effect on long-run aggregate supply.
• Reduced incentive to grow or start a business, as well as lower investment, may decrease productivity and productive potential. The LRAS may shift left and real GDP could fall.
• It could also mean businesses are more likely to avoid or evade taxes, or even move abroad to an area with lower tax rates. This could further harm productive capacity.
• Adding information about the UK economy’s weak productivity record in recent decades could support this point.
• This depends on the rates of corporate tax in other countries. If other countries raise their corporation tax at the same time, then businesses are less likely to move abroad. Recently world leaders agreed to a 15% minimum corporate tax rate for example.
• Raising corporate tax increases tax revenue for a given level of economic activity.
• This means a reduced budget deficit, reduced future debt interest payments and less of an impact on future generations from current budget deficits.
• A fact about the UK Government’s currently high budget deficit, because of pandemic spending, could support this point.
• This depends on the current position of the UK economy on the Laffer curve.
• If the corporation tax rate is currently raising peak revenue on the Laffer curve, then increasing tax rate may decrease revenue, as it reduces incentives to start a business or expand, reducing taxable corporate profits.

• A final judgement on the question. For example, higher corporate tax rates could be effective at raising revenue.
• A justification: This is because governments have committed to a minimum global corporate tax rate and so there is less likely to be moves abroad to avoid the tax. You could argue the other way round instead.
• A factor that may influence your judgement. For example, the level of interest rates could affect the level of interest payments and in turn whether the Government needs to raise as much revenue in the short term.

Alternative Structure

Other teachers suggest this structure below. This structure allows more depth to points but should also come with a longer conclusion ideally and can be appropriate depending on the essay title:

Introduction

Point 1 – for

Point 2 – against

This can work too, provided the analysis and evaluation is sufficiently detailed.

More Resources

For an online course covering AQA exam technique, click the blue button here:

For practice AQA Economics-style papers, please see the link below (paid resource):

Latest Posts

• 12 Practice Papers for A Level Economics 2024
• The economics of why people give gifts
• 11 Practice Questions in style of Edexcel Economics Paper 2
• What economic theory says about immigration
• 25 Practice Questions in style of Edexcel Economics Paper 1

Unemployment | A-Level Economics Model Essays

Discuss the view that falling unemployment will inevitably lead to trade-offs with other macroeconomic policy objectives (25 marks).

Unemployment is the percentage of people who are willing and able to work but are unable to find work. Trade-offs from lower unemployment can include some of the other policy objectives , such as a stable price level and a stable balance of payments on the current account.

If there is lower unemployment, it is likely that AD has shifted to the right. This is especially the case if cyclical unemployment has fallen, as it is the unemployment caused by a lack of AD in the economy, for example during the financial crisis or COVID. If AD shifts to the right, real GDP rises and unemployment falls, but there would be an increase in price levels, from P1 to P2, as seen below.

Inflation (rise in average price levels) happens because higher AD (C+I+G+X-M) is linked to more spending from consumers, firms and the government. For example, if more people have jobs then more people will have a higher disposable income, which will lead to greater spending in the UK economy. Also, to reduce cyclical unemployment in the first place, it is possible that the government introduced fiscal policy, which means more government spending, also leading to higher AD and higher inflation. Also, if there is higher inflation, relative prices will be lower abroad, so more people may buy goods and services from abroad, leading to higher imports and lower exports (as goods are more expensive in the UK). This means that the current account deficit may also worsen due to lower unemployment. Overall, lower unemployment has trade-offs with the inflation and balance of payments objectives.

In evaluation, we only considered reducing cyclical unemployment by increasing demand so that doesn't mean that trade-offs are inevitable. Also, if there is a high amount of cyclical unemployment, there may have been a recession before, suggesting we are in a negative output gap and have high spare capacity. Increasing employment from a low output does not cause a large increase in inflation, as inflation was already low.

Unemployment can also be reduced in another way without causing any major trade-offs. This can be done by using supply-side policies. Supply-side policies are policies that aim to increase LRAS by improving incentives. For example, if new infrastructure and roads are built, then this can lead to an increase in LRAS. This is the case in real life with HS2, which itself creates jobs to implement, but increases mobility of labour even further by easily allowing people to travel across the UK. If the government are able to increase LRAS at the same time that AD rises, then this will reduce the strain on the economy as there would be greater capacity and productive potential.

The diagram above shows that we would be able to increase employment from y1 to y2, while only seeing a small rise in inflation because the supply-side policies can complement short-run economic growth by increasing capacity and reducing strain on price levels. Overall, there would be little conflict between macroeconomic objectives.

However, it is important to consider that supply-side policies are not easy to implement as they require a lot of spending and time. This means there is a high opportunity cost, which can lead to worse outcomes in relation to health, policing, or equality. Also, supply-side policies can take years to put in place, with HS2 being planned to launch after roughly 10 years.

Overall, lower unemployment can often lead to other issues such as inflation or worsened balance of payments but this is not inevitable, as the conflict can be prevented by using supply-side policies.

Intro: definitions and objectives

AD goes up. Diagram. Main trade-off is inflation. Inflation can lead to more imports.

We only considered reducing cyclical unemployment (AD going up), we don't know where the economy was before (was there spare capacity?)

Argument 2: lower UE does NOT always lead to trade offs e.g. ...

Overall, falling unemployment often leads to trade-offs such as higher inflation but this is not inevitable, for example (refer to something that you said).

You might also like...

Edexcel a-level economics 25 marker | externalities, edexcel as level economics | every 20 mark essay, privatisation | aqa a-level economics model essay, financial market failure | a-level economics model essay, wage differentials | a-level economics model essay.

AS Economics Model Essays

£ 8.00

• A selection of 40 AS Level model economic essays
• Comprehensive answers which illustrate – how to answer the question, include sufficient evaluation and get the top A grade.
• E-book (pdf) sent within a couple of hours after purchase.
• I have chosen questions which are appropriate for all exam boards – AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC.
• Suitable for new 2016 AS syllabus
• The model answers are comprehensive and written to a high grade A standard.
• For Network license (unlimited use in schools) – £70.00

Description

Model essays will help.

• Essay writing technique.
• How to answer the question asked.
• How to evaluate questions which require it.
• Separate page giving advice on the important evaluation component of the exam.
• The essays were all written exclusively for this pdf guide.
• List of 41 questions included in the pdf at the bottom.

The cost for AS Level Essays is only £8.00

View: sample of AS essays

Using the Model Essays

• A good way to use this guide is to take a question and write down an essay plan of what you would write for the question. Then have a look at my answer, see what is missing, consider whether you understood what the question was asking.
• Also, note how much evaluation I will add for any question which asks for Discuss, Evaluate, Assess e.t.c
• There are other points that could be made in these essays, there are often different ways that you can get full marks. But, one feature of these essays is that they don’t waste any words writing about issues not relevant to the question.
• How Long Should Essays Be? These essays are not necessarily long because I only include information relevant to answering the question. It is beneficial to learn how to write specifically to answer the question.

I have marked 1,000s of A level exam papers during the past 6 years I have worked for Edexcel. Being an examiner gives a very good idea of what is necessary to get full marks.

List of AS Micro Essays in Guide

• Evaluate the case for and against governments intervening to try to stabilise the price of copper, for example, through setting up a buffer stock scheme.
• Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of various methods of government intervention to correct market failure arising from aircraft emissions.
• Starbucks, Cafe Nero and others have seen rapid expansion in the UK. Discuss the likely effects on the retail market for coffee if there is a large increase in city centre rents.
• In the UK, students face increasing tuition fees. Discuss the benefits and costs to society of abolishing all tuition fees.
• Discuss three policies to reduce the level of cigarette smoking amongst under 21s.
• Discuss the extent to which governments should subsidise companies who are developing cars which run on clean fuels such as hydrogen?
• Discuss whether the government is mistaken to worry about monopoly power?
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the government intervening in agricultural markets?
• Discuss the effects on UK business of a rise in fuel prices.
• Discuss whether the government should end free health care for people and make them take out private health care insurance like in the US?
• Discuss the role that pollution permits could play in reducing global warming.
• Discuss the case for implementing a congestion charge for driving into Birmingham city centre.
• Discuss the micro economic effects of finding and exploiting extensive oil reserves in the Antarctic.
• Discuss whether governments should subsidise food prices.
• Assess whether environmental problems caused by rubbish disposal can best be dealt with by market forces or government intervention.
• Explain why poor housing conditions and homelessness can lead to negative externalities and evaluate the role that governments could play in avoiding market failure in the housing market.
• Evaluate the view that the provision and maintenance of flood defences should be paid for solely by the government.
• Discuss whether the government should subsidise food prices?
• Discuss whether a minimum price for alcohol would help to reduce market failure in this particular market.
• Evaluate the impact of a guaranteed minimum price in the beef market on consumers and producers. Use an appropriate diagram in your answer.

List of Macro Economic Essays

• Evaluate government policies which might improve the UK balance of trade in goods and services.
• Evaluate the importance of rising productivity in bringing about an improvement in the UK balance of payments on current account.
• Discuss the role of supply side policies in improving rates of economic growth.
• Evaluate the impact of a slowdown in the US on the UK economy.
• Discuss how a government might try to deal with economic shocks.
• Discuss the impact of a rise in the savings ratio on the UK economy.
• Evaluate the importance of managing aggregate demand to bring about a sustained reduction in the rate of unemployment in the UK economy.
• Evaluate the effect of a fall in house prices on the UK macro economy.
• Discuss whether government policies can overcome a recession.
• Discuss the economic effects of an increase in the inflation rate.
• Discuss the impact of an increase in government expenditure on the UK economic performance.
• Discuss the impact on the EU economy of a rise in the value of the Euro against its main trading partners
• Discuss the relative merits of interest rates and tax increases as a means to control inflation in the UK.
• Discuss the effects of a rise in exports on UK aggregate demand.
• Discuss the extent to which shifting resources into the public sector will help the government achieve its macro economic objectives.
• Discuss the effectiveness of a cut in the rate of interest in influencing consumption and investment
• Discuss the impact of an increase in inward investment into the UK economy.
• Evaluate the importance of supply-side policies in achieving the objectives of low inflation and low unemployment.
• Discuss the effectiveness of monetary policy in dealing with a period of inflation.
• Assess the contribution that fiscal and monetary policies can make in maintaining a stable economy.

Related products

Economics Revision Guide

Understanding Real World Economics

IB Economics revision guide

Edexcel (A) Economics A-level revision guide

AQA A-Level Economics Past Papers

This section includes recent A-Level Economics past papers from AQA (7135 & 7136). You can download each of the AQA A-Level Economics past papers and marking schemes by clicking the links below.

June 2022 - AQA A-Level Economics Past Papers (7136)

A-Level Paper 1: Markets and Market Failure (7136/1) Download Past Paper    -    Download Mark Scheme

A-Level Paper 2: National and international economy (7136/2) Download Past Paper    -    Download Mark Scheme

A-Level Paper 3: Economics principles and issues (7136/3) Download Insert    -    Download Past Paper    -    Download Mark Scheme

November 2021 - AQA A-Level Economics Past Papers (7136) (Labelled as June 2021)

November 2020 - AQA A-Level Economics Past Papers (7135 & 7136) (Labelled as June 2020)

A-Level Paper 3: Economics principles and issues (7136/3) Download Insert    -    Download Past Paper    -    Download Mark Scheme  

AS Paper 1: The Operation of Markets and Market Failure (7135/1) Download Insert    -    Download Past Paper    -    Download Mark Scheme

AS Paper 2: The National Economy in a Global Context (7135/2) Download Insert    -    Download Past Paper    -    Download Mark Scheme

June 2019 - AQA A-Level Economics Past Papers (7135 & 7136)

June 2018 - AQA A-Level Economics Past Papers (7135 & 7136)

June 2017 - AQA A-Level Economics Past Papers (7135 & 7136)

A-Level Paper 3: Economics principles and issues (7135/3) Download Insert    -    Download Past Paper    -    Download Mark Scheme

AQA A-Level Economics Specimen Papers (7136)

For more A-Level Economics past papers from other exam boards  click here .

Get £10 off your first lesson on PMT Tuition. Use the code PMTAPRIL10 . Book before 30 April, new accounts only.

AQA Paper 1 (7136/1)

SOAS - BA Japanese and Economics

I can help you achieve your potential

You can find all AQA Economics A-Level Paper 1 past papers and mark schemes below:

Question Papers

• June 2017 QP
• June 2018 QP
• June 2019 QP
• June 2020 QP
• June 2021 QP
• June 2022 QP
• Specimen QP

Mark Schemes

• June 2017 MS
• June 2018 MS
• June 2019 MS
• June 2020 MS
• June 2021 MS
• June 2022 MS
• Specimen MS

Connect with PMT Education!

• Revision Courses
• Past Papers
• Solution Banks
• University Admissions
• Numerical Reasoning
• Legal Notices

• International
• Schools directory
• Resources Jobs Schools directory News Search

AQA Economics Essay Book - Some Model Answers

Subject: Economics

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

22 April 2024

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

A book of answers to some tricky AQA Economics questions.

Students might like to highlight the analysis and evaluation in different colours.

Teachers may like to use them as model answers for homework or revision.

Free for all to copy and use as they please.

If you like them, please leave a positive review.

Creative Commons "Sharealike"

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

Brilliant for showing examples of chains of analysis and evaluation in context.

Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:

• Centre Services
• Associate Extranet
• All About Maths

Request blocked

This request has been blocked as part of the aqa security policy.

Your support ID is: 14772493162323461062

If you're seeing this message in error, call us on 0800 197 7162 (or +44 161 696 5995 outside the UK) quoting the support ID above.

Return to previous page

Live revision! Join us for our free exam revision livestreams Watch now →

Reference Library

Collections

• See what's new
• All Resources
• Student Resources
• Assessment Resources
• Teaching Resources
• CPD Courses
• Livestreams

Study notes, videos, interactive activities and more!

Economics news, insights and enrichment

Currated collections of free resources

Browse resources by topic

• All Economics Resources

Resource Selections

Currated lists of resources

Exam Support

AQA A-Level Economics Exam Topics 2024

Last updated 23 Apr 2024

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share by Email

Whilst the whole specification can be tested, we've identified some rarely-tested topics that might be ripe for testing in the summer 2024 exam series.

Download this resource

You might also like

As economics exam technique: a quick word on demonstrating application, understanding command words in exam questions, as microeconomics revision advice (revision presentation), edexcel a2 economics (unit 3) business economics revision advice, as micro multiple choice: business objectives, as micro multiple choice: price elasticity of supply, as micro multiple choice: what will increase productivity, as micro multiple choice: subsidies for social housing, our subjects.

• › Criminology
• › Economics
• › Geography
• › Health & Social Care
• › Psychology
• › Sociology
• › Teaching & learning resources
• › Student revision workshops
• › Online student courses
• › CPD for teachers
• › Livestreams
• › Teaching jobs

Boston House, 214 High Street, Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, LS23 6AD Tel: 01937 848885

• › Contact us
• › Terms of use
• › Privacy & cookies

© 2002-2024 Tutor2u Limited. Company Reg no: 04489574. VAT reg no 816865400.