Analyse in IB Economics

What your response needs

Decompose the issue → apply theory → trace linked effects → interpret the result.

• Relevant theory or model
• Developed causal relationships
• Diagram or data integrated into the reasoning
• Consequences for key variables or stakeholders

A worked economics example

Question: Analyse the effect of an indirect tax on consumers and producers.

An incomplete response: Consumers and producers both pay some tax.

A more complete response:

The tax shifts the supply curve vertically upward by the tax per unit.

At the new equilibrium, the consumer price rises and the producer price received falls.

The division of the tax burden depends on the relative PED and PES; the less elastic side bears the larger burden.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Listing effects with no relationships
• Leaving the diagram unreferenced
• Assuming statutory and economic incidence are identical

Try it yourself

Read the question and its mark allocation before deciding how much detail to include. A response structure helps you organise your answer; it is not a script to memorise.

Practise analyse · choose a unit and paper

Compare command terms and assessment objectives · Using Econograms in class

More command term guides

About this guidance

These explanations and examples are original Econograms study guidance. They are not official IB questions or markschemes, and Econograms is not endorsed by the International Baccalaureate. Follow the wording and requirements of the question set by your teacher or examination.