Selecting the appropriate article for your economics IA is crucial to achieving a high grade. This assignment, which counts for 20% of your overall grade, requires you to write a commentary on an article that pertains to a specific area of the economics syllabus. To ensure success, it is important to choose an article that is relevant, informative, and provides ample data for analysis.

This guide will help you to find and select the ideal article for your economics IA.

Characteristics of the ideal article

Pick a reputable source

Make sure that the article you choose comes from a reputable source. Websites such as BBC News, The Telegraph, and The Wall Street Journal are all considered credible. However, websites such as BuzzFeed, TMZ, LADBible and other similar entertainment or gossip websites are not considered credible and will not be accepted by your teacher.

Pick a recent article

Make sure that the article was published recently. As a general rule, the article should have been published within the last twelve months and contain information and data that is relevant to current economic trends.

Pick an article which does not contain too much economic analysis

Make sure that the article does not contain a significant amount of economic analysis. Sources such as The Economist or Business Insider should generally be avoided for this reason. Instead, look for articles that provide economic information without going into too much in-depth analysis. If you are unsure about whether a particular article is suitable, consult with your teacher for guidance.

Pick an article within the scope of IB Economics

Make sure that the article does not include a large amount of information or economic theory which is out of the scope of the IB Economics syllabus. For example, an article which extensively covers stock prices would not be appropriate.

Pick an article which has a strong focus

Make sure to avoid articles that cover multiple countries or industries because they may not provide enough information for a detailed analysis. These articles may not be as relevant to the specific area of the economics syllabus that the student is researching. Additionally, it can be challenging for students to make relevant and specific conclusions from a large amount of data. A more focused article allows students to delve deeper into the topic, providing more accurate and meaningful insights.

Pick an article which focuses on policy

An article on policy allows students to apply economic concepts and theories to real-world scenarios, analyze the potential impact of a policy on economic variables, evaluate policy effectiveness and make recommendations. This will provide you with ample opportunity to showcase your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

How to search for the article

It is time to start your search for the perfect article on the internet. To narrow down your search, Google News is the best search engine to use.

To find articles using Google News:

Open your web browser and go to google.com
In the search bar, type in keywords related to your area of interest in economics, such as “taxes and subsidies” or “unemployment rate”.
Click on the “News” tab on the top menu.
Click on the “Tools” tab on the top menu.
Under the “Tools” menu, click on “Recent” and change the option to “Custom range”.
Select a date range of the last twelve months and click “Go”.
To further filter your results, go to the “Tools” dropdown and select “Sort by date” to bring the most recent articles to the top of the page.

Browse through the various search results until you find an article which is compatible with your topic and the characteristics of an ideal article for the IB Economics IA.

Examples of suitable articles

Below are examples of articles that would be suitable for an IB Economics IA. However, please note that these articles are older than twelve months and should not be used in your IA.

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Luke Watson

Luke Watson has a BSc (Hons) in international business and economics. He is currently working as an IBDP economics teacher at Shanghai United International School in China.