Cambridge International A Level Economics (9708) 2026-2028 Syllabus

Based on Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics (9708) 2026-2028 Official Syllabus

AS Level content

1 Basic economic ideas and resource allocation (AS Level)

1.1 Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost

Check out our Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost GUIDE.
Check out our Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost Topic Question (Easy).
Check out our Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost Topic Question (Hard).

  • 1.1.1 fundamental economic problem of scarcity
  • 1.1.2 need to make choices at all levels (individuals, firms, governments)
  • 1.1.3 nature and definition of opportunity cost, arising from choices
  • 1.1.4 three basic questions of resource allocation
    • what to produce
    • how to produce
    • for whom to produce

1.2 Economic methodology

Check out our Economic methodology GUIDE.

  • 1.2.1 economics as a social science
  • 1.2.2 positive and normative statements (the distinction between facts and value judgements)
  • 1.2.3 meaning of the term ceteris paribus
  • 1.2.4 importance of the time period (short run, long run, very long run)

1.3 Factors of production

Check out our Factors of production GUIDE.

1.4 Resource allocation in different economic systems

Check out our Resource allocation in different economic systems GUIDE.

1.5 Production possibility curves

Check out our Production possibility curves GUIDE.

  • 1.5.1 nature and meaning of a production possibility curve (PPC)
  • 1.5.2 shape of the PPC: constant and increasing opportunity costs
  • 1.5.3 causes and consequences of shifts in a PPC
  • 1.5.4 significance of a position within a PPC

1.6 Classification of goods and services

Check out our Classification of goods and services GUIDE.

  • 1.6.1 nature and definition of free goods and private goods (economic goods)
  • 1.6.2 nature and definition of public goods
  • 1.6.3 nature and definition of merit goods: under-consumption as a result of imperfect information in the market
  • 1.6.4 nature and definition of demerit goods: over-consumption as a result of imperfect information in the market

2 The price system and the microeconomy (AS Level)

Check out our The price system and the microeconomy OVERVIEW (AS Level).

2.1 Demand and supply curves

Check out our Demand and supply curves GUIDE.
Check out our Demand and supply curves Topic Question (Easy).

  • 2.1.1 effective demand
  • 2.1.2 individual and market demand and supply
  • 2.1.3 determinants of demand
  • 2.1.4 determinants of supply
  • 2.1.5 causes of a shift in the demand curve (D)
  • 2.1.6 causes of a shift in the supply curve (S)
  • 2.1.7 distinction between the shift in the demand or supply curve and the movement along these curves

2.2 Price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand

Check out our Price elasticity of demand GUIDE.
Check out our Income elasticity of demand GUIDE.
Check out our Cross elasticity of demand GUIDE.

Check out our PED, YED, and XED Topic Questions (Easy).

  • 2.2.1 definition of price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand (PED, YED, XED)
  • 2.2.2 formulae for and calculation of price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand
  • 2.2.3 significance of relative percentage changes, the size and sign of the coefficient of:
  • 2.2.4 descriptions of elasticity values: perfectly elastic, (highly) elastic, unitary elasticity, (highly) inelastic, perfectly inelastic
  • 2.2.5 variation in price elasticity of demand along the length of a straight-line demand curve
  • 2.2.6 factors affecting:
    • price elasticity of demand
    • income elasticity of demand
    • cross elasticity of demand
  • 2.2.7 relationship between price elasticity of demand and total expenditure on a product
  • 2.2.8 implications for decision-making of price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand

2.3 Price elasticity of supply

Check out our Price elasticity of supply GUIDE.

Check out our PES Topic Questions (Easy).

  • 2.3.1 definition of price elasticity of supply (PES)
  • 2.3.2 formula for and calculation of price elasticity of supply
  • 2.3.3 significance of relative percentage changes, the size and sign of the coefficient of price elasticity of supply
  • 2.3.4 factors affecting price elasticity of supply
  • 2.3.5 implications for speed and ease with which firms react to changed market conditions

2.4 The interaction of demand and supply

Check out our Understanding Demand and Supply Interactions: Economics Beginner Guide.

2.5 Consumer and producer surplus

Check out our Consumer and producer surplus GUIDE.

  • 2.5.1 meaning and significance of consumer surplus
  • 2.5.2 meaning and significance of producer surplus
  • 2.5.3 causes of changes in consumer and producer surplus
  • 2.5.4 significance of price elasticity of demand and of supply in determining the extent of these changes

3 Government microeconomy intervention (AS Level)

Check out our Government microeconomy intervention OVERVIEW (AS Level).

3.1 Reasons for government intervention in markets

Check out our Reasons for government intervention in markets GUIDE.

  • 3.1.1 addressing the non-provision of public goods
  • 3.1.2 addressing the over-consumption of demerit goods and the under-consumption of merit goods
  • 3.1.3 controlling prices in markets

3.2 Methods and effects of government intervention in markets

Check out our Methods and effects of government intervention in markets GUIDE.

Check out our Methods and effects of government intervention in markets Topic Question (Easy).

3.3 Addressing income and wealth inequality

Check out our Addressing income and wealth inequality GUIDE.


4 The Macroeconomy (AS Level)

4.1 National income statistics

Check out our National income statistics GUIDE.

Check out our National income statistics Topic Question (Easy).

4.2 Introduction to the circular flow of income

Check out our Introduction to the circular flow of income GUIDE.

  • 4.2.1 circular flow of income in a closed economy and an open economy: the flow of income between households, firms and government and the international economy
  • 4.2.2 injections and leakages (multiplier not required)
  • 4.2.3 equilibrium and disequilibrium (marginal and average propensities not required)

4.3 Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply analysis

  • 4.3.1 definition of Aggregate Demand (AD)
  • 4.3.2 components of AD and their meanings: AD = C + I + G + (X - M)
  • 4.3.3 determinants of AD (detailed knowledge of the components of AD is not required)
  • 4.3.4 shape of the AD curve (downward sloping)
  • 4.3.5 causes of a shift in the AD curve
  • 4.3.6 definition of Aggregate Supply (AS)
  • 4.3.7 determinants of AS
  • 4.3.8 shape of the AS curve in the short run (SRAS, upward sloping line or sweeping curve) and the long run (LRAS, either a vertical line or in three sections – highly elastic, upward sloping, vertical)
  • 4.3.9 causes of a shift in the AS curve in the short run (SRAS) and in the long run (LRAS)
  • 4.3.10 distinction between a movement along and a shift in AD and AS
  • 4.3.11 establishment of equilibrium in the AD/AS model and the determination of the level of real output, the price level and employment
  • 4.3.12 effects of shifts in the AD curve and the AS curve on the level of real output, the price level and employment

4.4 Economic growth

4.5 Unemployment

4.6 Price stability


5 Government macroeconomic intervention (AS Level)

Check out our Government macroeconomic intervention Topic Question (Easy).

5.1 Government macroeconomic policy objectives

  • 5.1.1 use of government policy to achieve macroeconomic objectives: price stability, low unemployment, economic growth (policy conflicts and trade-offs are not required)

5.2 Fiscal policy

5.3 Monetary policy

5.4 Supply-side policy

  • 5.4.1 meaning of supply-side policy, in terms of its effect on LRAS curves
  • 5.4.2 objectives of supply-side policy: increasing productivity and productive capacity
  • 5.4.3 tools of supply-side policy, for example training, infrastructure development, support for technological improvement
  • 5.4.4 AD/AS analysis of the impact of supply-side policy on the equilibrium national income and the level of real output, the price level and employment

6 International economic issues (AS Level)

6.1 The reasons for international trade

Check out our Free Trade, Absolute Advantage, Comparative Advantage Topic Question (Easy).

  • 6.1.1 distinction between absolute advantage and comparative advantage
  • 6.1.2 benefits of specialisation and free trade (trade liberalisation), including the trading possibility curve
  • 6.1.3 exports, imports and the terms of trade:
    • measurement of the terms of trade
    • causes of changes in the terms of trade
    • impact of changes in the terms of trade
  • 6.1.4 limitations of the theories of absolute and comparative advantage

6.2 Protectionism

6.3 Current account of the balance of payments

6.4 Exchange rates

  • 6.4.1 definition of exchange rate
  • 6.4.2 determination of a floating exchange rate
  • 6.4.3 distinction between depreciation and appreciation of a floating exchange rate
  • 6.4.4 causes of changes in a floating exchange rate: demand and supply of the currency
  • 6.4.5 AD/AS analysis of the impact of exchange rate changes on the domestic economy’s equilibrium national income and the level of real output, the price level and employment

6.5 Policies to correct imbalances in the current account of the balance of payments


A Level content (A2)

7 The price system and the microeconomy (A Level)

7.1 Utility

Check out our Utility Topic Question (Easy).

Check out our Utility Topic Question (Hard).

7.2 Indifference curves and budget lines

7.3 Efficiency and market failure

7.4 Private costs and benefits, externalities and social costs and benefits

7.5 Types of cost, revenue and profit, short-run and long-run production

7.6 Different market structures

7.7 Growth and survival of firms

7.8 Differing objectives and policies of firms


8 Government microeconomic intervention (A Level)

8.1 Government policies to achieve efficient resource allocation and correct market failure

8.2 Equity and redistribution of income and wealth

8.3 Labour market forces and government intervention

  • 8.3.1 demand for labour as a derived demand
  • 8.3.2 factors affecting demand for labour in a firm or an occupation
  • 8.3.3 causes of shifts in and movement along the demand curve for labour in a firm or an occupation
  • 8.3.4 marginal revenue product (MRP) theory:
    • definition and calculation of marginal revenue product
    • derivation of an individual firm’s demand for labour using marginal revenue product
  • 8.3.5 factors affecting the supply of labour to a firm or to an occupation:
    • wage and non-wage factors
  • 8.3.6 causes of shifts in and movement along the supply curve of labour to a firm or an occupation
  • 8.3.7 wage determination in perfect markets:
  • 8.3.8 wage determination in imperfect markets:
    • influence of trade unions on wage determination and employment in a labour market
    • influence of government on wage determination and employment in a labour market using a national minimum wage
    • influence of monopsony employers on wage determination and employment in a labour market
  • 8.3.9 determination of wage differentials by labour market forces
  • 8.3.10 transfer earnings and economic rent:
    • definition of transfer earnings
    • definition of economic rent
    • factors affecting transfer earnings and economic rent in an occupation

9 The macroeconomy (A Level)

9.1 The circular flow of income

  • 9.1.1 the multiplier process:
    • definition of the multiplier
    • formulae for and calculation of multiplier in a closed and open economy, with and without a government sector
    • calculation of:
    • average and marginal propensities to save (aps and mps)
    • average and marginal propensities to consume (apc and mpc)
    • average and marginal propensities to import (apm and mpm)
    • average and marginal rates of tax (art and mrt)
    • national income determination using AD and income approach with the multiplier process
    • calculation of effect of changing AD on national income using the multiplier
  • 9.1.2 components of Aggregate Demand (AD) and their determinants:
  • 9.1.3 full employment level of national income and equilibrium level of national income:
    • inflationary and deflationary gaps

9.2 Economic growth and sustainability

  • 9.2.1 actual growth versus potential growth in national output
  • 9.2.2 positive and negative output gaps
  • 9.2.3 business (trade) cycle:
  • 9.2.4 policies to promote economic growth and their effectiveness
  • 9.2.5 inclusive economic growth:
    • definition of inclusive economic growth
    • impact of economic growth on equity and equality
    • policies to promote inclusive growth
  • 9.2.6 sustainable economic growth:
    • definition of sustainable economic growth
    • using and conserving resources
    • impact of economic growth on the environment and climate change
    • policies to mitigate the impact of economic growth on the environment and climate change

9.3 Employment/unemployment

9.4 Money and banking


10 Government macroeconomic intervention (A Level)

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


11 International economic issues (A Level)

11.1 Policies to correct disequilibrium in the balance of payments

  • 11.1.1 components of the balance of payments accounts: current account, financial account and capital account
  • 11.1.2 effect of fiscal, monetary, supply-side, protectionist and exchange rate policies on the balance of payments
  • 11.1.3 difference between expenditure-switching and expenditure-reducing policies

11.2 Exchange rates

  • 11.2.1 measurement of exchange rates:
    • distinction between nominal and real exchange rates
    • trade-weighted exchange rates
  • 11.2.2 determination of exchange rates under fixed and managed systems
  • 11.2.3 distinction between revaluation and devaluation of a fixed exchange rate
  • 11.2.4 changes in the exchange rate under different exchange rate systems
  • 11.2.5 the effects of changing exchange rates on the external economy using Marshall-Lerner and J curve analysis

11.3 Economic development

11.4 Characteristics of countries at different levels of development

11.5 Relationship between countries at different levels of development

11.6 Globalisation


References

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