Courses

Economics

Year 11 and 12 ATAR Pathway|Commerce

Economics

Matt Hildebrandt
Curriculum Leader – Humanities and Social Sciences

Economics

Conrad Hogg

Economics investigates the choices which all people, groups and societies face as they confront the ongoing problem of satisfying their unlimited wants with limited resources. Economics aims to understand and analyse the allocation, utilisation and distribution of scarce resources that determine our wealth and well-being. Economics develops the knowledge, reasoning and interpretation skills that form an important component of understanding individual, business and government behaviour at local, national and global levels.

The Economics ATAR course encompasses the key features that characterise an economist’s approach to a contemporary economic event or issue: the ability to simplify the essence of a problem; to collect economic information and data to assist analysis and reasoning; to think critically about the limits of analysis in a social context; and to draw inferences that assist with decision-making, the development of public policy and the improvement in economic well-being.

The Economics ATAR course develops reasoning, logical thinking, and interpretation skills demanded by the world of work, business and government. These skills relate to a variety of qualifications in vocational, technical and university education contexts. The learning experiences available through studying this course explore the knowledge, values and opinions that surround the complex range of economic events and issues facing our community, such as unemployment, income distribution, business strategy and international relations.

Economic literacy developed through this course enables students to actively participate in economic and financial decision-making, which promotes both individual and societal wealth and well-being.

Courses

Year 11 ATAR Course

Unit 1 - Microeconomics

This unit is an introduction to microeconomics and explores the role of the market in determining the well-being of individuals and society. Students explore the workings of real world markets with an emphasis on the Australian economy.

Unit 2 - Macroeconomics

This unit is an introduction to macroeconomics and explores economic growth, inflation and unemployment with an emphasis on the Australian economy. Students learn it is important to measure and monitor changes in these macroeconomic indicators as changes in the level of economic activity affect the well-being of individuals and society.

Assessments

  • Year 11 assessment is wholly school-based. The final mark will be divided between school examination marks, in-class assessment marks, and marks from research and in-class validation assessments.

Year 12 ATAR Course

Unit 3 - Australia and the Global Economy

This unit explores the interdependence of Australia and the rest of the world. Australia is a relatively open economy and, as such, is influenced by changes in the world economy.

Unit 4 - Economic Policies and Management

This unit explores the economic objectives of the Australian Government and the actions and policies taken in the pursuit of these objectives. Changes in the level of economic activity influence the policy mix and the government’s capacity to achieve its objectives.

Assessments

  • Year 12 assessment is a combination of school-based assessments and the WACE examination. The school mark will comprise marks from school examinations, in-class assessments, and marks from research and in-class validation assessments.