Every exam board organises A Level Economics a little differently — some group topics broadly, others break them into fine detail, and the wording is never quite the same from one specification to another. To make it possible to use the same set of resources and questions whichever board you're following, we've built a single topic list that every specification maps onto.
Find your exam board's column in the table below. Wherever your specification lists a topic, you'll see which topic it corresponds to — and its official topic code, where the board publishes one. This is also how our question bank and revision resources are organised, so it's worth knowing which topic matches whatever you're currently studying, even if your own specification calls it something slightly different.
Where a cell is blank, that board's specification doesn't have a directly equivalent topic — that's expected, not a mistake; boards genuinely differ in what they cover and at what level of detail.
| Topic | Eduqas | WJEC | AQA | Edexcel/Pearson | OCR | CIE | IB (International Baccalaureate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microeconomics | |||||||
| Scarcity, choice and resource allocation | |||||||
| Economic systems and resource allocation |
3.1.1.3 Economic resources 3.1.1.4 Scarcity, choice and the allocation of resources |
1.1.6 Free market economies, mixed economy and command economy | C1 1.2 The allocation of resources |
1.3 Factors of production 1.4 Resource allocation in different economic systems |
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| Economic methodology |
3.1.1.1 Economic methodology 3.1.1.2 The nature and purpose of economic activity |
1.1.1 Economics as a social science 1.1.2 Positive and normative economic statements |
1.2 Economic methodology |
1.1 What is economics? 1.2 How do economists approach the world? |
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| Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost | Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost | Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost | 3.1.1.4 Scarcity, choice and the allocation of resources | 1.1.3 The economic problem |
C1 1.1 The economic problem C1 1.3 Opportunity cost |
1.1 Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost | |
| Production possibility frontiers (PPFs) | Production possibility frontiers (PPFs) | Production possibility frontiers (PPFs) | 3.1.1.5 Production possibility diagrams | 1.1.4 Production possibility frontiers | 1.5 Production possibility curves | ||
| Specialisation, division of labour and exchange | Specialisation, division of labour and exchange | Specialisation, division of labour and exchange | 3.1.4.2 Specialisation, division of labour and exchange | 1.1.5 Specialisation and the division of labour | C1 2.1 Specialisation and trade | ||
| How resources are allocated in a free market economy | How resources are allocated in a free market economy | How resources are allocated in a free market economy | 3.1.8.1 How markets and prices allocate resources | 1.2.7 Price mechanism | |||
| Demand, supply and the price mechanism | |||||||
| Supply and its determinants | Factors influencing demand and supply in product markets | Factors influencing demand and supply in product markets | 3.1.3.3 The determinants of the supply of goods and services | 1.2.4 Supply | C1 2.3 Supply | 2.1 Demand and supply curves | 2.2 Supply |
| Interrelationships between markets | 3.1.3.6 The interrelationship between markets | C1 2.5 The interaction of markets | 2.4 The interaction of demand and supply | ||||
| Demand and its determinants | Factors influencing demand and supply in product markets | Factors influencing demand and supply in product markets | 3.1.3.1 The determinants of the demand for goods and services | 1.2.2 Demand | C1 2.2 Demand | 2.1 Demand and supply curves | 2.1 Demand |
| Price determination and market equilibrium | The determination of equilibrium price and output in a freely competitive market | The determination of equilibrium price and output in a freely competitive market | 3.1.3.5 The determination of equilibrium market prices | 1.2.6 Price determination | C1 2.5 The interaction of markets | 2.4 The interaction of demand and supply | 2.3 Competitive market equilibrium |
| Consumer and producer surplus | Consumer and producer surplus | Consumer and producer surplus | 3.1.5.11 Consumer and producer surplus | 1.2.8 Consumer and producer surplus | C1 2.4 Consumer and producer surplus | 2.5 Consumer and producer surplus | |
| Elasticities | |||||||
| Price elasticity of demand (PED) | Price, income and cross price elasticities of demand, price elasticity of supply | Price, income and cross price elasticities of demand, price elasticity of supply | 3.1.3.2 Price, income and cross elasticities of demand | 1.2.3 Price, income and cross elasticities of demand | C1 2.6 Elasticity | 2.2 Price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand | 2.5 Elasticity of demand |
| Income elasticity of demand (YED) | Price, income and cross price elasticities of demand, price elasticity of supply | Price, income and cross price elasticities of demand, price elasticity of supply | 3.1.3.2 Price, income and cross elasticities of demand | 1.2.3 Price, income and cross elasticities of demand | C1 2.6 Elasticity | 2.2 Price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand | 2.5 Elasticity of demand |
| Cross elasticity of demand (XED) | Price, income and cross price elasticities of demand, price elasticity of supply | Price, income and cross price elasticities of demand, price elasticity of supply | 3.1.3.2 Price, income and cross elasticities of demand | 1.2.3 Price, income and cross elasticities of demand | C1 2.6 Elasticity | 2.2 Price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand | 2.5 Elasticity of demand |
| Price elasticity of supply (PES) | Price, income and cross price elasticities of demand, price elasticity of supply | Price, income and cross price elasticities of demand, price elasticity of supply | 3.1.3.4 Price elasticity of supply | 1.2.5 Elasticity of supply | C1 2.6 Elasticity | 2.3 Price elasticity of supply | 2.6 Elasticity of supply |
| Consumer and producer theory | |||||||
| Marginal utility and consumer behaviour | 3.1.2.1 Consumer behaviour | 1.2.1 Rational decision making | C1 2.7 The concept of the margin | 7.1 Utility | |||
| Behavioural economics |
3.1.2.3 Aspects of behavioural economic theory 3.1.2.4 Behavioural economics and economic policy |
1.2.10 Alternative views of consumer behaviour | 2.4 Critique of the maximizing behaviour of consumers and producers | ||||
| Indifference curves and budget lines | 7.2 Indifference curves and budget lines | ||||||
| Costs, revenue and profit | |||||||
| Revenue and profit | Costs, revenues and profits | Costs, revenues and profits |
3.1.4.6 Marginal, average and total revenue 3.1.4.7 Profit |
3.3.1 Revenue 3.3.4 Normal profits, supernormal profits and losses |
C1 3.3 Revenue and profit | 7.5 Types of cost, revenue and profit, short-run and long-run production | |
| Economies and diseconomies of scale |
3.1.4.5 Economies and diseconomies of scale 3.1.4.3 The law of diminishing returns and returns to scale |
3.3.3 Economies and diseconomies of scale | C1 3.2 Costs and economies of scale | ||||
| Costs of production | Costs, revenues and profits | Costs, revenues and profits |
3.1.4.1 Production and productivity 3.1.4.3 The law of diminishing returns and returns to scale 3.1.4.4 Costs of production |
3.3.2 Costs | C1 3.2 Costs and economies of scale | 7.5 Types of cost, revenue and profit, short-run and long-run production | |
| The growth of firms | The growth of firms | The growth of firms |
3.1.2 Business growth 3.1.3 Demergers |
7.7 Growth and survival of firms | |||
| Productive, allocative and dynamic efficiency | Efficiency | Efficiency |
3.1.4.8 Technological change 3.1.5.10 Market structure, static efficiency, dynamic efficiency and resource allocation 3.1.5.8 The dynamics of competition and competitive market processes |
3.4.1 Efficiency | 7.3 Efficiency and market failure | ||
| Market structures | |||||||
| Contestable markets | 3.1.5.9 Contestable and non-contestable markets | 3.4.7 Contestability | C1 4.5 Contestable markets | ||||
| Price discrimination | 3.1.5.7 Price discrimination | ||||||
| Background to market structures | Background to market structures | Background to market structures | 3.1.5.1 Market structures | ||||
| Business objectives | Business objectives | Business objectives | 3.1.5.2 The objectives of firms |
3.1.1 Sizes and types of firms 3.2.1 Business objectives |
C1 3.1 Business objectives | 7.8 Differing objectives and policies of firms | |
| Perfect competition | Perfect competition | Perfect competition | 3.1.5.3 Perfect competition | 3.4.2 Perfect competition | C1 4.1 Perfect competition | 7.6 Different market structures | |
| Monopolistic competition | Monopolistic competition | Monopolistic competition | 3.1.5.4 Monopolistic competition | 3.4.3 Monopolistic competition | C1 4.3 Monopolistic competition | 7.6 Different market structures | |
| Monopoly | Monopoly | Monopoly | 3.1.5.6 Monopoly and monopoly power | 3.4.5 Monopoly | C1 4.2 Monopoly | 7.6 Different market structures | |
| Oligopoly | Oligopoly | Oligopoly | 3.1.5.5 Oligopoly | 3.4.4 Oligopoly | C1 4.4 Oligopoly | 7.6 Different market structures | |
| Competition policy | Competition policy | Competition policy | 3.1.8.7 Competition policy | 3.6.1 Government intervention | |||
| Privatisation, nationalisation and regulation | Privatisation | Privatisation | 3.1.8.8 Public ownership, privatisation, regulation and deregulation of markets | 3.6.1 Government intervention | |||
| Labour markets | |||||||
| Monopsony | 3.1.6.4 Wage/employment determination in imperfectly competitive labour markets |
3.4.6 Monopsony 3.6.1 Government intervention |
C1 5.3 The interaction of labour markets | ||||
| National minimum wage | 3.1.6.6 The National Minimum Wage | 3.5.3 Wage determination in competitive and non-competitive markets | 8.3 Labour market forces and government intervention | ||||
| Discrimination in the labour market | 3.1.6.7 Discrimination in the labour market | ||||||
| Wage determination | Wage determination | Wage determination |
3.1.6.1 The demand for labour, marginal productivity theory 3.1.6.2 Influences upon the supply of labour to different markets 3.1.6.3 Wage/employment determination in perfectly competitive labour markets 3.1.6.4 Wage/employment determination in imperfectly competitive labour markets |
3.5.1 Demand for labour 3.5.2 Supply of labour 3.5.3 Wage determination in competitive and non-competitive markets |
C1 5.1 Demand for labour C1 5.2 Supply of labour |
8.3 Labour market forces and government intervention | |
| Labour market issues | Labour market issues | Labour market issues | 3.1.6.5 The influence of trade unions in determining wages and levels of employment | 3.5.3 Wage determination in competitive and non-competitive markets | C1 5.3 The interaction of labour markets | 8.3 Labour market forces and government intervention | |
| Market failure and government intervention | |||||||
| Externalities | Understanding market failure | Understanding market failure |
3.1.8.2 The meaning of market failure 3.1.8.4 Positive and negative externalities in consumption and production |
1.3.1 Types of market failure 1.3.2 Externalities |
C1 2.8 Market failure and externalities | 7.4 Private costs and benefits, externalities and social costs and benefits | 2.8 Market failure - externalities and common pool or common access resources |
| Public goods and private goods | Understanding market failure | Understanding market failure |
3.1.8.2 The meaning of market failure 3.1.8.3 Public goods, private goods and quasi-public goods |
1.3.1 Types of market failure 1.3.3 Public goods |
C1 2.10 Public goods | 1.6 Classification of goods and services | 2.9 Market failure - public goods |
| Merit and demerit goods / information failure | Understanding market failure | Understanding market failure |
3.1.2.2 Imperfect information 3.1.8.2 The meaning of market failure 3.1.8.5 Merit and demerit goods |
1.3.1 Types of market failure 1.3.4 Information gaps |
C1 2.9 Information failure | 1.6 Classification of goods and services | 2.10 Market failure - asymmetric information (HL) |
| Monopoly power as market failure | Understanding market failure | Understanding market failure |
3.1.8.2 The meaning of market failure 3.1.8.6 Market imperfections |
2.11 Market failure - market power (HL) | |||
| Government intervention in markets | Why and how governments intervene in markets | Why and how governments intervene in markets | 3.1.8.9 Government intervention in markets |
1.2.9 Indirect taxes and subsidies 1.4.1 Government intervention in markets 3.6.1 Government intervention 3.6.2 The impact of government intervention |
C1 2.11 Government intervention |
3.1 Reasons for government intervention in markets 3.2 Methods and effects of government intervention in markets 8.1 Government policies to achieve efficient resource allocation and correct market failure |
2.7 Role of government in microeconomics |
| Government failure | The effects of government intervention | The effects of government intervention | 3.1.8.10 Government failure |
1.4.2 Government failure 3.6.2 The impact of government intervention |
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| Income and wealth distribution | |||||||
| Measuring income and wealth inequality | 3.1.7.1 The distribution of income and wealth |
4.2.1 Absolute and relative poverty 4.2.2 Inequality |
C2 2.7 Income distribution and welfare |
3.3 Addressing income and wealth inequality 8.2 Equity and redistribution of income and wealth |
2.12 The market's inability to achieve equity (HL) 3.4 Economics of inequality and poverty |
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| Causes of inequality | 3.1.7.2 The problem of poverty | 4.2.2 Inequality | C2 2.7 Income distribution and welfare | 3.4 Economics of inequality and poverty | |||
| Policies to redistribute income and wealth | 3.1.7.3 Government policies to alleviate poverty and influence distribution |
3.3 Addressing income and wealth inequality 8.2 Equity and redistribution of income and wealth |
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| Macroeconomics | |||||||
| National income and macroeconomic measurement | |||||||
| Measuring national income |
3.2.1.2 Macroeconomic indicators 3.2.1.3 Uses of index numbers 3.2.1.4 Uses of national income data |
2.4.1 National income | C2 2.6 Trends in macroeconomic indicators | 4.1 National income statistics | 3.1 Measuring economic activity and illustrating its variations | ||
| The circular flow of income | The circular flow of income model | The circular flow of income model | 3.2.2.1 The circular flow of income |
2.4.1 National income 2.4.2 Injections and withdrawals |
C2 1.1 Circular flow of income |
4.2 Introduction to the circular flow of income 9.1 The circular flow of income |
|
| Aggregate demand and aggregate supply | |||||||
| The multiplier and accelerator | 2.4.4 The multiplier | C2 1.5 The multiplier and the accelerator | |||||
| Aggregate demand and its components |
The components of aggregate demand (AD) The AD function |
The components of aggregate demand (AD) The AD function |
3.2.2.3 The determinants of aggregate demand 3.2.2.4 Aggregate demand and the level of economic activity 3.2.2.2 Aggregate demand and aggregate supply analysis |
2.2.1 The characteristics of AD 2.2.2 Consumption (C) 2.2.3 Investment (I) 2.2.4 Government expenditure (G) 2.2.5 Net trade (X-M) |
C2 1.2 Aggregate demand | 4.3 Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply analysis | 3.2 Variations in economic activity - aggregate demand and aggregate supply |
| Keynesian AD/AS analysis | Long run aggregate supply (LRAS) | Long run aggregate supply (LRAS) | 3.2.2.6 Determinants of long-run aggregate supply | 2.3.3 Long-run AS | |||
| Aggregate supply (short run and long run) |
The aggregate supply (AS) function Short run aggregate supply (SRAS) Long run aggregate supply (LRAS) AD/AS analysis |
The aggregate supply (AS) function Short run aggregate supply (SRAS) Long run aggregate supply (LRAS) AD/AS analysis |
3.2.2.2 Aggregate demand and aggregate supply analysis 3.2.2.5 Determinants of short-run aggregate supply 3.2.2.6 Determinants of long-run aggregate supply |
2.3.1 The characteristics of AS 2.3.2 Short-run AS 2.3.3 Long-run AS 2.4.3 Equilibrium levels of real national output |
C2 1.3 Aggregate supply C2 1.4 The interaction of aggregate demand and supply |
4.3 Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply analysis | 3.2 Variations in economic activity - aggregate demand and aggregate supply |
| Neoclassical AD/AS analysis | Long run aggregate supply (LRAS) | Long run aggregate supply (LRAS) | 3.2.2.6 Determinants of long-run aggregate supply | 2.3.3 Long-run AS | |||
| Macroeconomic objectives and performance | |||||||
| Phillips curve |
The short run Phillips curve The long run Phillips curve |
The short run Phillips curve The long run Phillips curve |
3.2.3.4 Possible conflicts between macroeconomic policy objectives | 2.6.4 Conflicts and trade-offs between objectives and policies | C2 2.8 The Phillips Curve | ||
| Macroeconomic policy objectives and conflicts | Government policy objectives | Government policy objectives |
3.2.1.1 The objectives of government economic policy 3.2.3.4 Possible conflicts between macroeconomic policy objectives |
2.6.1 Possible macroeconomic objectives 2.6.4 Conflicts and trade-offs between objectives and policies 4.5.4 Macroeconomic policies in a global context |
C2 3.4 Policy conflicts |
5.1 Government macroeconomic policy objectives 10.1 Government macroeconomic policy objectives 10.2 Links between macroeconomic problems and their interrelatedness 10.3 Effectiveness of policy options to meet all macroeconomic objectives |
3.3 Macroeconomic objectives |
| Economic growth | Economic growth | Economic growth | 3.2.3.1 Economic growth and the economic cycle |
2.1.1 Economic growth 2.5.1 Causes of growth 2.5.2 Output gaps 2.5.3 Trade (business) cycle 2.5.4 The impact of economic growth |
C2 2.1 Economic growth |
4.4 Economic growth 9.2 Economic growth and sustainability |
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| Unemployment | Unemployment | Unemployment | 3.2.3.2 Employment and unemployment | 2.1.3 Employment and unemployment | C2 2.3 Employment |
4.5 Unemployment 9.3 Employment/unemployment |
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| Inflation and deflation | Inflation and deflation | Inflation and deflation | 3.2.3.3 Inflation and deflation | 2.1.2 Inflation | C2 2.4 Inflation | 4.6 Price stability | |
| The balance of payments | The balance of payments | The balance of payments | 3.2.6.3 The balance of payments |
2.1.4 Balance of payments 4.1.7 Balance of payments |
C2 2.5 Balance of payments |
6.3 Current account of the balance of payments 6.5 Policies to correct imbalances in the current account of the balance of payments 11.1 Policies to correct disequilibrium in the balance of payments |
4.6 Balance of payments |
| Fiscal policy and public finances | |||||||
| Public sector (national) debt | Control of the national (public sector) debt | Control of the national (public sector) debt | 4.5.3 Public sector finances | ||||
| Fiscal policy and the budget | Fiscal policy | Fiscal policy | 3.2.5.1 Fiscal policy |
2.6.2 Demand-side policies 4.5.1 Public expenditure 4.5.2 Taxation |
C2 3.1 Fiscal policy | 5.2 Fiscal policy | 3.6 Demand management - fiscal policy |
| Monetary policy | |||||||
| Quantitative easing and unconventional monetary policy | Monetary policy | Monetary policy | 2.6.2 Demand-side policies | C2 3.2 Monetary policy | |||
| Monetary policy and interest rates | Monetary policy | Monetary policy | 3.2.4.3 Central banks and monetary policy |
2.6.2 Demand-side policies 4.4.3 Role of central banks |
C2 3.2 Monetary policy C2 5.1 Money and interest rates |
5.3 Monetary policy | 3.5 Demand management (demand-side policies) - monetary policy |
| Financial sector and stability | |||||||
| Money and banking | Financial stability | Financial stability | 3.2.4.2 Commercial banks and investment banks | 4.4.3 Role of central banks | C2 5.1 Money and interest rates | 9.4 Money and banking | |
| Financial markets and institutions | Financial stability | Financial stability | 3.2.4.1 The structure of financial markets and financial assets | 4.4.1 Role of financial markets | C2 5.2 The financial sector | ||
| Financial regulation | Financial stability | Financial stability | 3.2.4.4 The regulation of the financial system | C2 5.3 Financial regulation | |||
| Financial stability and asset bubbles | Financial stability | Financial stability | 4.4.2 Market failure in the financial sector | ||||
| Supply-side policy | |||||||
| Supply-side policies | Supply side policies | Supply side policies | 3.2.5.2 Supply-side policies | 2.6.3 Supply-side policies | C2 3.3 Supply side policy | 5.4 Supply-side policy | 3.7 Supply-side policies |
| Global economics | |||||||
| International trade | |||||||
| Protectionism (Including Tariff Diagrams) | Protectionism | Protectionism | 3.2.6.2 Trade | 4.1.6 Restrictions on free trade | C2 4.4 Trade policies and negotiations | 6.2 Protectionism |
4.2 Types of trade protection 4.3 Arguments for and against trade control/protection |
| Globalisation | Globalisation | Globalisation | 3.2.6.1 Globalisation | 4.1.1 Globalisation | C2 4.3 Globalisation | 11.6 Globalisation | |
| Terms of Trade | |||||||
| Free trade and comparative advantage |
Advantages and disadvantages of free trade Trade and the UK |
Advantages and disadvantages of free trade Trade and the UK |
3.2.6.2 Trade |
4.1.2 Specialisation and trade 4.1.3 Pattern of trade 4.1.4 Terms of trade 4.1.9 International competitiveness |
C2 4.1 International trade C2 4.3 Globalisation |
6.1 The reasons for international trade | 4.1 Benefits of international trade |
| Trading blocs and economic integration | European Union | European Union | 3.2.6.2 Trade | 4.1.5 Trading blocs and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) | C2 4.4 Trade policies and negotiations | 4.4 Economic integration | |
| Exchange rates | |||||||
| Exchange rate policy | Exchange rates and exchange rate policy | Exchange rates and exchange rate policy | 3.2.6.4 Exchange rate systems | 4.1.8 Exchange rates |
6.5 Policies to correct imbalances in the current account of the balance of payments 11.1 Policies to correct disequilibrium in the balance of payments |
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| Exchange rate determination | Exchange rates and exchange rate policy | Exchange rates and exchange rate policy | 3.2.6.4 Exchange rate systems | 4.1.8 Exchange rates | C2 4.2 Exchange rates |
6.4 Exchange rates 11.2 Exchange rates |
4.5 Exchange rates |
| Economic development | |||||||
| Measuring economic development | Measurement | Measurement | 3.2.6.5 Economic growth and development | 4.3.1 Measures of development | C2 2.2 Development |
11.3 Economic development 11.4 Characteristics of countries at different levels of development |
4.8 Measuring development |
| Obstacles to development | Obstacles | Obstacles | 3.2.6.5 Economic growth and development | 4.3.2 Factors influencing growth and development | 11.5 Relationship between countries at different levels of development | 4.9 Barriers to economic growth and/or economic development | |
| Strategies for development | Solutions | Solutions | 3.2.6.5 Economic growth and development | 4.3.3 Strategies influencing growth and development |
C2 2.2 Development C2 5.2 The financial sector |
4.7 Sustainable development 4.10 Economic growth and/or economic development strategies |
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