Course Description Economics is split into two distinct areas – microeconomics, which is the study of industries and individual firms, and macroeconomics, which covers the national economy and the way in which economic decisions impact on businesses. In microeconomics in Year 12 you will learn about supply and demand and how individual markets work, the actions governments may take to influence these markets and way in which markets react to external factors. You will consider issues such as the effect of the housing boom on house prices, how the national minimum wage affects markets and how the price of a litre of petrol is determined. In Year 12 macroeconomics we consider national economic issues such as how interest rates and inflation affect each other and the businesses and individuals within the economy, what causes recessions and the policies available to governments to address slowdowns or booms in the economy and how and why the government tries to reduce unemployment levels. In Year 13, we consider the economics of businesses and globalisation, including poverty and the Eurozone. Economics is contemporary and rooted in the real world, and you will look at topical news events and discuss and debate their consequences as well as learning about economic theory and identifying it in the economic environment we live in. Interesting fact about studying this at S6C Lessons involve lots of discussion and student input – student examples, ideas and arguments and debate and questioning is actively encouraged. Support from your subject teacher is always available, and small group or one to one sessions run where necessary to support your learning.