QCAA Economics case studies
QCAA Economics · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Economics is a General senior syllabus in Queensland, published by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) and delivered to Year 11 and 12 students. The current document is the Economics General senior syllabus 2025 (v1.4), which the QCAA states is for implementation with students who will complete their study of the course in 2026 or beyond. Students are assessed through a mix of school-based internal assessment and a state-wide external assessment. The published sample instruments map internal assessment to two units: in Unit 3, an examination - combination response (IA1) and an investigation (IA2); in Unit 4, an examination - extended response (IA3). The QCAA Economics case studies are 5 cases and about 2,530 words.
1The Subsidy That Moved Both Curves
A regional government pays a 6 per unit subsidy to domestic producers of a fertiliser input that is also imported. Before the subsidy, the domestic price sits at the world price of 40, domestic supply is 20 000 tonnes, and domestic demand is 50 000 tonnes, with the gap imported.
541 words, about 3 min2Wage Floor in a Two-Sector Labour Market
A state government sets a minimum wage of 24 per hour for all workers. The labour market has two segments.
513 words, about 3 min3Cash Rate Decision with Conflicting Signals
The central bank's target band is 2–3 per cent average inflation. Headline CPI inflation is 4.1 per cent, but the trimmed mean is 3.4 per cent and falling.
503 words, about 3 min4Fiscal Stimulus in a Near-Full-Employment Economy
A government announces a $30 billion infrastructure package over three years, funded by borrowing. The economy is at 4.2 per cent unemployment with an estimated NAIRU of 4.5 per cent, so it is near full employment.
487 words, about 2 min5Current Account Deficit with a Commodity Price Fall
A commodity-exporting economy runs a current account deficit of 4 per cent of GDP. Its main export price has fallen 25 per cent.
486 words, about 2 min