1. How to Write an Economics IA Commentary (For Class of 2016)
DP Economics
How to Write an Economics IA Commentary
(For Class of 2016)

2. What is a good commentary?
Some one has once mentioned:
"A good commentary turns non-economics into economics”.
What is a good commentary?

3. When finding your article …
Choose news articles by reporters NOT a commentary by economists
Because the authors have made much analysis and evaluation on the topic already:
You will have little input in the end.
When finding your article …

4. DO NOT CHOOSE AN ARTICLE FROM A BLOG!!!
A news article is a piece of news
A blog article is usually a commentary by some one
So if you choose from the internet, beware that you do not select an article from a blog
DO NOT CHOOSE AN ARTICLE FROM A BLOG!!!

5. Articles must have something that you can evaluate
Should a tax be placed on that good?
Should a subsidy be given for a product?
Should that monopoly be regulated?
Should the government impose a tariff?
Should the government implement a price ceiling?
Is lowering/raising interest rates a good idea?
Is this country's economic growth unstable?
When finding your article … choose one that features an initial situation/problem and then a change or response to this problem

6. When finding your article …
Articles published < 1 year before commentary is written
When finding your article …

7. articles that just list a bunch of statistics regarding something that has happened to the economy.
Do not choose …

8. When finding your article …
Only have one issue/focus for your evaluation:
The word limit does not allow enough room to evaluate multiple situations and policy choices effectively .
Choose an article that only describes/focuses one situation/policy.
If article is very lengthy, highlight the relevant part of the article that you will discuss.
When finding your article …

9. When finding your article …
Choose your concept before looking for the article:
Choose concepts in the area of the syllabus that you are most confident about evaluating.
When finding your article …

10. Here are some examples …
Microeconomics:
Implementation of price floors and price ceilings
Indirect taxes
Externalities
Regulation of monopolies and oligopolies
Subsidies
Price discrimination
Here are some examples …

11. Here are some examples …
Macroeconomics:
Monetary policy decisions
Fiscal policy decisions
Economic growth implications
Here are some examples …

12. Here are some examples …
International Economics:
Decision to implement protectionism (such as tariffs)
Decisions to influence the exchange rate
Here are some examples …

13. Here are some examples …
Development economics:
Receiving aid
Growth vs development
Here are some examples …

14. You may use internet to find the article …
You may simply search Google (or other search engines or the search engine of a newspaper webpage) for related articles on the topic.
Try to type in this:
Country + topic
E.g. Denmark indirect tax (obesity tax), United States tariff, Hong Kong price floor (minimum wage), etc.
The more details you input, the better chances that you come up with better results
Have some diversity with regards to which countries you discuss, i.e. don't talk about China for all of your three articles.
You may use internet to find the article …

15. Suggested format for writing …
Background (About 50 words)
Definitions (80 – 100 words)
Application and Analysis (300 words)
Evaluation (200 – 250 words)
Conclusion (About 50 words)
Suggested format for writing …

16. Background (about 50 words)
A short paragraph to summarize one or two key issues of the article (or extract of a section of the article and focus on it).
Background (about 50 words)

17. Identify the relevant key concepts and define terms used in the article.
Bold the key terms
If you do not define here in this paragraph and come across key term later, use parenthesis for the meaning OR integrated into your sentence.
Definitions (80 – 100 words)

18. Some tips on writing definitions …
Don't write:
The Hong Kong government has imposed a price ceiling on rental property. A ceiling price is defined as the maximum price that can be charged on a good or service.
Instead write:
The Hong Kong government has imposed a price ceiling price, the maximum price that can be charged on a good or service, on rental property.
Some tips on writing definitions …

19. Some tips on writing definitions …
NO NEED to define absolutely every single economic word in your essay.
Not all economics concepts are critical to your commentary.
Identify the most relevant terms (1st layer of definitions) to define.
Do not quote exactly a text book definition, try to use your own words to explain correctly in your analysis.
Some tips on writing definitions …

20. Some tips on writing definitions …
Avoid using footnotes
Footnotes are included in your word limit .
Some tips on writing definitions …

21. Application & Analysis (300 words)
Explanation of the key economic concepts/theories in the article with use of diagrams explicitly.
You should include quotes/phases from the article.
At the end of this part, use about words to highlight implications an economic insights (e.g. any change in economic variables, any problems caused, effects/costs of the problem, possible solutions, etc.) – this helps to link to your last part of your commentary, i.e. the evaluation.
Application & Analysis (300 words)

22. Some tips on drawing diagrams …
Draw diagrams to reflect the exact situation mentioned in the article; explicitly refer your explanation to the diagram, e.g. the demand curve shifts rightward from D1 to D2, etc.
Label your diagrams appropriately according to the situation in the article.
Some tips on drawing diagrams …

23. Evaluation (200 – 250 words) Discuss your own viewpoints on:
Effectiveness of the policy (its advantages and disadvantages)
Impact on different stakeholders (consumers, producers, government, foreign producers, workers, society, etc.)
Short run and long run implications
Priority of the arguments suggested in the article (e.g. unemployment vs inflation, arguments in favour of protectionism vs against protectionism, etc.)
See handbook for more details of what could be evaluated
Evaluation (200 – 250 words)

24. Qualify your writing for better result …
Instead of simply writing "One important advantage is that the policy will reduce unemployment,”…,
Write "Given that the United States is likely to be experiencing a deflationary gap, an important advantage of the policy is that it will help to bring the economy closer to full employment."
Qualify your writing for better result …

25. 5. Conclusion (About 50 words)
A summary sentence about the theories analyzed and evaluated
A concluding sentence of your personal experience or a recommendation of policy
5. Conclusion (About 50 words)

26. As IA is a formal part of your assessment, teachers are not allowed to provide much assistance as we might like to.
I will put some tools in the Wiki that may be helpful to you.
For each IA, you will get feedback on the first version and will be allowed to make changes once.
The second version you submit will be your final version.
Help!

27. Are you ready? Now let’s start our practice …
An article on “Denmark + fat tax”
Are you ready? Now let’s start our practice …