Evaluation For A` Level Economics (in Two Parts)

Evaluation for A` Level Economics Exams (1 of 2)

Which Questions need evaluation?

Questions which require evaluation usually have these words at the start:

Evaluate (!)

Assess

To what extent

Discuss

What is Evaluation?

Evaluation means to look at a question from a critical distance. It involves:

Looking at what other factors may affect the outcome.

Time lags involved.

How it might depend on other issues, e.g. elasticity of demand

Why the original statement may be incorrect.

How significant is a factor?

A reasoned conclusion (or overall judgement)

For example, suppose we have a question

Discuss impact of the MPC cutting interest rates from 5% to 4.5%?

Explanation and analysis involves:

Lower interest rates make it cheaper to borrow, and therefore encourage consumer spending. Cheaper borrowing also encourages firms to invest. With an increase in C + I, we see a rise in Aggregate Demand and therefore we can expect higher economic growth and higher inflation.

Examples of Evaluation of this question.

1. In theory lower interest rates will increase spending. However, commercial banks may not pass the base rate cut onto consumers. This happened during the credit crisis because there was a shortage of cash. Therefore, banks were reluctant to lend they needed to improve their balance sheets. Therefore, even though the MPC cut base rates in 2008-09, consumers may not notice lower interest rates and therefore, there was little if any increase in consumer spending. This explains why the interest rate cut of 2009, failed to cause a strong economic recovery.

2. Lower interest rates may not increase economic growth because other aspects of the economy are doing badly. For example, falling house prices are causing a decline in consumer wealth and confidence. Therefore, despite lower interest rates, falls in house prices are offsetting the potential boost to spending from lower rates. Also, in 2009-11, we experienced a global recession. The recession in the Eurozone caused lower exports and therefore the cut in rates could be insufficient given the fact other aspects of AD are being reduced.

3. The cut is only very small. 0.25% is probably insufficient to have much effect especially given problems already mentioned. However, you could argue UK is sensitive to interest rates because of the number of variable mortgages. Even a 0.25% cut in rates can increase disposable income for people with large mortgages. (this is what you might call double evaluation, evaluation of the evaluation)

4. The cut will take time. A cut in interest rates will not boost spending immediately. For example, It will not affect people on fixed rate mortgages for about 2 years. Therefore, after a cut in interest rate, we may not see the boost to spending for up to 18 months this makes monetary policy much more difficult.

5. In conclusion, therefore, the impact of the base rate may be relatively small and it is likely that most of the impact will not be felt immediately it may take up to two years for the full effect of a base rate cut to be felt in the economy through the associated multiplier and other effects, and of course the economy may be affected by a variety of other shocks in the meantime!

Evaluation for A` Level Economics Exams (2 of 2)

Writing Evaluative Essays

Tips and advice for Writing Evaluation Essays.

Evaluation is an important component of an advanced essay.

Evaluation is a difficult skill because it requires more than simple analysis and explanation. Evaluation requires the ability to look at facts, arguments and analysis, with a degree of critical distance. To explain the meaning of evaluation it is most helpful to give different examples of what evaluation can involve.

1. How Reliable is the Data?

For any essay, you will be using a variety of sources. For example, an essay on trades unions, may include information from the TUC. It is good to give data from a source like TUC. However, a valid evaluation technique is to question the reliability and independence of your source.

For example, it is quite likely that the TUC will choose statistics that are more advantageous to workers. Business organisations on the other hand, are likely to give alternative sets of data which is more favourable to their point of view.

Therefore, examine the likelihood of bias in data and resources for the essay.

2. Short Run and Long Run?

The effects of a decision can be quite different in the long run. For example, suppose you had an essay, which examined the impact of an increase in tax on petrol. The obvious answer is to say: "very little, demand for petrol is inelastic'lt;br>
However, it would be evaluative to say "However, over time demand may become more elastic. After a couple of years people may find alternative ways of driving.

3. It depends on other factors.

When looking at the effect of one outcome, it is worth bearing in mind it is often difficult to isolate other factors. For example, if we were looking at the impact of a rise in interest rates. The effect would usually reduce consumer spending. However, there are many other factors that can affect consumer spending. If confidence was high, for example, consumer spending may not fall at all - despite the increase in interest rates.

4. Look at both points of view

In subjects like economics, history and politics there are usually several different viewpoints. It is important to give them all consideration, even if we don`t necessarily agree with them. For example, if we look at the impact of a rise in government spending, a Keynesian might say this will increase growth a Monetarist, on the other hand, may argue higher spending merely causes crowding out. Therefore, there are two different possibilities.

5. State of Economy

The impact of a devaluation in the currency depends on the state of the economy. If the economy is experiencing inflation and is in a boom, a devaluation could worsen the inflation. However, in a recession, a devaluation can help boost exports and there is likely to be limited impact on inflation.

6. How Significant is a factor?

A recession in France would lead to lower UK exports to France. France is an important trading partner, however on its own French exports are only a relatively small % of UK AD. If the rest of the Eurozone was growing, and it was just France in recession, it is unlikely to have much impact on the UK economy. However, if the whole global economy was in recession, this would be much more significant and likely cause a recession in the UK too.

7. Conclusion (or overall judgement)?

This is where you bring together or synthesise or all of your previous points into a personal viewpoint focused on the question with justification. It should be persuasive and logically linked to everything you have already said, and it should add something new to what has already been said.

IN CLOSING:

I. FIVE MINUTES THINKING ABOUT THE CRUCIAL POINTS WILL ALLOW A COHERENT AND CLEAR LINE OF ARGUMENT

II. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEPARATE POINTS INTO WELL-CONSTRUCTED PARAGRAPHS, CLEARLY FOCUSED ON THE QUESTION