Economics is about choice and the impact of our choices on the rest of society. It relates to every aspect of our lives, from the decisions we make as individuals or families to those made by governments and businesses. The A Level course at Notre Dame is structured into four clear and coherent themes reflecting today’s global economy and economic development. In Year 12 you will study: Theme 1: Introduction to Markets and Market Failure This unit is an introduction to the market economy and the workings of markets. You will learn how consumers make decisions and how markets operate efficiently and what happens when they do not. Theme 2: The UK Economy – Performance and Policy Measures In this unit you will learn the principles of macroeconomics. This involves examining the role of the government in helping markets to operate and whether the government can alleviate problems of unemployment, inflation and slow economic growth. N In Year 13 you will study: Theme 3: Business Behaviour and the Labour Market This unit builds on Theme 1 and looks at the operation of firms from the point of view of their costs and their behaviour. You will consider whether monopolies should be controlled and how government might intervene to deter anti-competitive behaviour. Theme 4: The Global Perspective. In this synoptic unit you will bring together your knowledge of micro- and macro-economics to understand the growth of nations and the problems that poor countries face. You will also develop an understanding of the role of taxation and government expenditure in building economies.