IB Economics SL case studies
IB Economics SL · Put your knowledge to work in context.
IB Economics SL is the standard-level economics course within the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, assessed by external papers and an internally assessed commentary portfolio. It suits students who want a rigorous, internationally recognised qualification in economic reasoning rather than a purely vocational or single-country syllabus. The course builds from scarcity and opportunity cost through competitive markets and market failure, then macroeconomics - aggregate demand and supply, objectives, and fiscal, monetary and supply-side policy - before turning to trade, exchange rates, the balance of payments, development and globalisation. Assessment rewards applied reasoning: you must use economic models and terminology to analyse real situations and evaluate policy, not just recall definitions. The IB Economics SL case studies are 5 cases and about 5,600 words.
1Norvia's Island PPF: Fish, Tourism and a Parasite
Norvia is a small island economy with a labour force of 12,000. Workers have broadly similar skills, and the economy produces only two outputs: tourism services and farmed fish, measured in thousands of standard units per year.
1,031 words, about 5 min2Kestrel Valley Tomatoes: A Heatwave, Elasticities and a Price Ceiling
The Kestrel Valley wholesale market for tomatoes is competitive, with many small growers and thousands of buyers. Researchers estimate the demand schedule per week: at 12 per kg, 40,000 kg are demanded; at 10, 45,000 kg; at 8, 50,000 kg; at 6, 55,000 kg.
1,125 words, about 6 min3Marrow Vale's Sugar Tax: Pigouvian Pricing and Fairness
Marrow Vale, a city of 1.4 million, is designing a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks. Annual demand in million litres is estimated as Qd = 250 − 50P, where P is the price per litre in dollars.
1,147 words, about 6 min4Valdoria's Output Gap: Choosing a Policy Mix
Valdoria is a medium-sized open economy. Potential output is 500 billion and actual output is 470 billion.
1,124 words, about 6 min5Tandara: Depreciation, Debt and the Adjustment Programme
Tandara is a low-income country of 24 million people. Copper accounts for 68% of export earnings and coffee for 19%, both priced in US dollars.
1,173 words, about 6 min