1. IB ECONOMICS An introduction to the EE

2. Choice of Topic  It is recommended that a combination of primary and secondary sources is used.  Essays should relate to economic information that is not older than three years. “Essays should not be historical”.  The data collected should be critically analyzed. The chosen topic should lend itself to such analysis.  The research question should be clearly focused.

3. Pricing at the local Supermarket  Research Question: Will the recent policy of cutting bakery prices lead to increased revenue for the Safeway supermarket in Ryde, Sydney?  Approach: Primary research is conducted through observation and supported by secondary research, such as company records and textbooks. This results in a detailed examination of elasticity and its relationship to total revenue.

4. The economic impact of privatization  Research Question: To what extent did Matav, a Hungarian telecommunication company, become more efficient post-privatization?  Approach: Primary data is collected through interviews with company management (qualitative research) and secondary data is collected by accessing company reports. Economics texts are used for researching the economic theory of privatization.

5. The impact of monetary policy  Research Question: Has the Kenyan central bank’s policy of interest rate cuts lead to a rise in new car sales in Nairobi?  Approach: A consumer questionnaire (quantitative research) is circulated and interviews (qualitative research) are carried out with sales managers of new car firms. Government macroeconomic statistics (secondary research) are also accessed.

6. BAH Example: Telecoms Research Question: Do BATELCO & ZAIN engage in price competition in Bahrain? Approach:

7. Assessment Criteria out of 36

8. A note on ‘academic context’ “defined as the current state of the field of study under investigation. However, this is to be understood in relation to what can reasonably be expected of a pre-university student […], to obtain a level 4, […] comprehensive knowledge is not required” Source IBO: Extended Essay First Examination 2009

9. STC Examples