IB · Economics · HL
IB Economics HL
Study IB Economics HL through models, evidence and real-world economic issues.
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IB Economics HL at a glance
Follow the live knowledge tree from economic ideas and models to topics and learning objectives.
- 4
- syllabus units
- 31
- mapped topics
- 7
- study tools
What you study in IB Economics HL
Use economic theories, models and evidence to examine choices by consumers, producers and governments.
Use the syllabus map to move from a unit to Concepts, Mastery or Question Bank.
Explore the IB Economics HL syllabus
Follow the live knowledge tree from economic ideas and models to topics and learning objectives.
Unit 1: Unit 1 Introduction to economics
Unit 2: Unit 2 Microeconomics
- 2.1Demand
- 2.2Supply
- 2.3Competitive market equilibrium
- 2.4Critique of the maximizing behaviour of consumers and producers
- 2.5Elasticities of demand
- 2.6Elasticity of supply
- 2.7Role of government in microeconomics
- 2.8Market failure - externalities and common pool or common access resources
- 2.9Market failure - public goods
- 2.10Market failure - asymmetric information
- 2.11Market failure - market power
- 2.12The market's inability to achieve equity
Unit 3: Unit 3 Macroeconomics
Unit 4: Unit 4 The global economy
- 4.1Benefits of international trade
- 4.2Types of trade protection
- 4.3Arguments for and against trade control/protection
- 4.4Economic integration
- 4.5Exchange rates
- 4.6Balance of payments
- 4.7Sustainable development
- 4.8Measuring development
- 4.9Barriers to economic growth and/or economic development
- 4.10Economic growth and/or economic development strategies
IB Economics HL exam skills
Practise the command terms, data handling and extended reasoning used across IB assessment.
- Follow command termsMatch the depth and structure of the response to the exact instruction.
- Use data as evidenceRead units and uncertainty, identify patterns and support conclusions with values.
- Build mark-efficient explanationsLink cause, evidence and subject vocabulary without repeating the prompt.
SourceCurrent IB subject guide and assessment objectives.
IB Economics HL assessment
The HL course combines external examinations with a portfolio of three commentaries.
You produce three commentaries based on published news-media extracts, using a different key concept for each commentary.
HL takes Papers 1 and 2 plus a policy Paper 3.
Paper 1 contributes 20%, Paper 2 contributes 30%, Paper 3 contributes 30%, and the commentary portfolio contributes 20%.
Practise combining quantitative and qualitative evidence to analyse policy choices and evaluate their likely consequences.