Good intro to economics for Y10 thinking of A level choices

[Delphigirl]

Hi my dd is starting to think about A levels. She likes the idea of economics. I’ve been trying to find a good YouTube video which gives a realistic and interesting introduction to studying the subject at A level, and I’m struggling. They are all higher level or American and don’t really track across to A level studies. Does anyone know of any good resources for a bright 15yo to give her a taster? Many thanks

I'd recommend looking at the economics courses on FutureLearn.

That’s a good idea, thanks @Cornishmumofone.

Hmm all those courses are too complex or specialised. I’ve found a few intros to economics A level on line but none very inspiring. All suggestions gratefully received

What about reading some books like freakonomics or Nudge Or books by Tim Harford..

Do the school offer any taster lessons? My ds just finished an economics degree having done the A level and it was those sort of books he read when younger.

I would earn that a level economics is not like freakonomics etc. This is a misapprehension hat has al fed many a child into a potentially boring a level course. Behavioural econ is fun and v trendy. A level does not dwell on this area. Get a cgp book and let her have a flick through

Re the two posts above, I'd take a middle line and suggest both the cpg book and something a bit less dry (have a look at some of the suggestions here)

warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/current/ug/induction/before-you-arrive/summer-reading-list/

I think cpg on its own is likely to be a bit off-putting as it's so dense and dry and the experience of being taught the subject over two years will be much more engaging.

CGP not CPG, sorry.

That’s really helpful thanks. She went to a taster lesson yesterday which she did find very dry and her explanation of what the teacher had chosen to talk about did sound dull as ditchwater. But she is thinking about moving schools for Sixthform so might not have this teacher. Question is whether is the taster day was duff, and she might actually enjoy the subject, or whether she is just not interested by the subject.
Her other thoughts are Geography politics Spanish so econ might fit well.
Will have a look at CPG and freakonomics, thanks 🙏

I have taught both economics and geography at A Level and did politics A level myself. The economics syllabus is by far the most boring in my view! I would say that she needs a very good result at Maths GCSE to even consider it and the benefits of doing economics A Level without also doing Maths A level are probably minimal. I really would suggest she thinks through what she wants to do at university to see if another subject might be a better fit.

Khan Academy is American but covers a lot of the same basic content (supply and demand) etc
BBC bitesize

Thanks @Planttrees - very helpful. She is super bright - over 90% in all her yr 10 exams at v selective school - so could do maths A level but is adamant she is “useless” at maths because she is middle set. It isn’t a battle I’m going to win I think so maybe there is no point doing econ except I thought it would overlap nicely with geography (and it is the human geography she currently really likes). And if Econ is really that dry I wouldn’t wish it on her. Still, geography politics and Spanish also sounds like a good combo - would that support an oxbridge application to read geography if she goes that route?

Does she read a decent newspaper (Times or Guardian)? Having an interest in the practical application of economic policy and theory may enable her to view the drier aspects of the A level syllabus with a bit more interest. Could she borrow a copy of the A level textbook from school library to flick through?

For what it’s worth my eldest did a geog degree (RG not Oxbridge) with Geog, Politics and RS A level plus Business AS (it was a while ago!) and said the politics was actually more useful in a way. His final dissertation was basically political.

Hi @VanCleefArpels - she reads a lot but online. I will check what she is reading but I know she does read the bbc a lot as she sends me things from there sometimes. We have a family account with the Times and when I send her things she doesn’t moan about the firewall so I guess she is logged in. I will check, though! Good to hear about your ds’s experience with Geog/Politics…

When I did Econ A level we were at the height of the Thatcher era (mid 80’s) and I found it fascinating to read in the papers about eg unemployment or interest rate rises and also be learning in the classroom a bit about the “why” and “how”. A lot will depend on the teacher too (which I know in your case will be more difficult if changing school) - mine was a really inspirational female who had worked in one of the major investment banks and so could deliver really “real world” based lessons