Welcome to the 78th edition of our Newsletter EdGenie's 📜 Sunday Scroll...
Every Sunday I send out actionable tips, tricks and real-world application insights from my 15 year experience coaching students to achieve As and A*s in their Economics A Levels via EdGenie.
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Stop Wasting Time—Revise the Right Way!
Oxford and Cambridge are too small
Infographic of the Week
Chart of the Week
Macroeconomic Data
Stop Wasting Time—Revise the Right Way!
Hey Genies, 👋
If you’re spending most of your revision time just learning content, let me tell you why that’s not the best way to secure an A or A*.
I see too many students fall into this trap:
They watch hours of YouTube videos. 📺
They take pages of beautiful notes. 📝
They make endless flashcards. 🔄
And yet, when they sit a real exam question, they freeze. ❄️
Why? Because A-Level Economics isn’t just about knowing content—it’s about applying it.
That’s where most students go wrong.
They assume that memorising theory will automatically translate into good exam answers.
It won’t.
Here’s what actually works: 💡 Question Practice.
Here’s why it’s a grade-changer: 1️⃣ It exposes your weaknesses. You’ll quickly realise where your knowledge gaps are when you struggle to answer a question. 2️⃣ It builds exam technique. Knowing the content isn’t enough—you need to know how to structure your answers to hit top marks.
3️⃣ It helps with recall. The more you apply concepts in context, the easier they’ll stick. Flashcards won’t save you in the exam. 4️⃣ It makes you faster. Writing under timed or examinable conditions forces you to think and respond like you would in the real exam. 5️⃣ It gets you feedback. You need to see where you’re going wrong and how to fix it—this is the difference between a B and an A/A*. 👉 So, what should you do?
For every topic, stop passively reading.
Instead:
Pick a past question.
Write a full question/essay plan. (or if you're short on time, bullet points work too)
Attempt the question under timed conditions.
Get feedback and improve.
And if you need real feedback, proper exam technique guidance, and structured question practice, that’s literally what we do at EdGenie.
You could keep rereading your notes…
Or you could start practising like the top students do. You decide.
Oxford and Cambridge’s Economic Potential 🏛️ – Both cities are globally recognised for innovation, particularly in biotech and AI, but their small size and high costs limit their economic impact.
Government’s Growth Agenda 📈 – Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revived plans to develop the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, aiming to create “Europe’s Silicon Valley” by improving transport links and housing. Infrastructure Constraints 🚆 – Travel between Oxford and Cambridge is slow, with no direct rail link. A new railway, including a station at Tempsford, is planned, with £7bn expected in funding.
Housing and Planning Challenges 🏡 – Strict planning laws, green belt restrictions, and high housing costs have hindered business growth. Reeves proposes a zoning scheme to encourage development near railways.
Comparison with US Innovation Hubs 🇺🇸 – Unlike Boston and Silicon Valley, Oxford and Cambridge lack the scale and infrastructure to support large business clusters, reducing economic efficiency.
Labour and Investment Issues 💼 – The success of the Arc depends on access to skilled workers and investment capital, which could be affected by restrictive immigration policies and limited pension fund investments in startups.
Political and Regional Trade-offs ⚖️ – Funding the Arc may cause political tension, as some argue investment should go to northern cities like Leeds instead. Labour, however, faces less resistance from anti-development voters.
Future Outlook 🔮 – The project has potential to boost UK GDP by £14bn annually by 2035 if executed effectively, but challenges remain in securing funding, addressing housing shortages, and navigating political opposition.
A Level Economics Questions:
Q. Explain the concept of economies of agglomeration and analyse how linking Oxford and Cambridge could enhance economic productivity.
A. Economies of agglomeration occur when businesses and industries benefit from being close to one another, leading to lower costs, knowledge spillovers, and improved productivity. By linking Oxford and Cambridge, workers and firms can collaborate more effectively, fostering innovation in high-tech sectors like biotech and AI. Increased labour mobility would allow businesses to access a larger pool of skilled workers, reducing hiring constraints. Improved transport links could also lower commuting times and logistics costs, enhancing overall efficiency. In contrast, without proper housing and infrastructure, congestion and overcrowding could offset these benefits.
Q. Evaluate the extent to which infrastructure investment, such as the Oxford-to-Cambridge railway, can correct market failure and improve economic efficiency.
A. Market failure arises when resources are not allocated efficiently, such as in transport bottlenecks that increase costs and limit mobility. Infrastructure investment can address these failures by reducing travel times and improving access to jobs and business opportunities, leading to greater productivity. The railway could encourage private investment, enhancing economic growth and regional development. However, the effectiveness depends on execution—delays, cost overruns, or environmental concerns could reduce net benefits. There’s also an opportunity cost, as funds allocated to this project could have been used elsewhere, such as in the North.
Q. Discuss the potential trade-offs the government faces in prioritising investment in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc over funding for northern cities like Leeds.
A. Investing in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc could drive economic growth due to the region’s high-tech industries and skilled workforce, generating long-term productivity gains. However, prioritising this over investment in northern cities like Leeds may exacerbate regional inequality, as the North has historically received less infrastructure funding. While the Arc may yield higher returns, boosting growth in underdeveloped areas could have broader social benefits, such as reducing unemployment. Political considerations also matter—neglecting the North may alienate voters and weaken support for government policies. The best strategy might involve balancing investment between both regions. Q. Using economic theory, explain how labour shortages and restrictive immigration policies could limit the success of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.
A. Labour shortages occur when the demand for skilled workers exceeds supply, leading to higher wages and potential inefficiencies. The Oxford-Cambridge Arc relies on skilled labour for innovation and research, but restrictive immigration policies could limit the availability of workers, constraining business growth. A lack of skilled employees could discourage foreign investment and reduce knowledge spillovers, slowing the region’s economic momentum. If wages rise too much due to shortages, firms may relocate to other countries with a more flexible labour market. Policies encouraging high-skilled immigration could help sustain growth and innovation.
Possible A Level Economics 25 Marker Question
Discuss whether government intervention is the most effective way to stimulate regional economic growth. (25 marks)
Infographic of the Week
Global CO₂ Emissions Per Capita and Trade Implications
The 2024 Sustainable Trade Index (STI), developed by the Hinrich Foundation and IMD World Competitiveness Center, ranks 30 major economies based on their per capita CO₂ emissions and their ability to balance trade with environmental sustainability. The data, sourced from EDGAR, highlights Papua New Guinea (0.5 tonnes per person) and Bangladesh (0.6 tonnes per person) as the lowest emitters, while Brunei and other fossil fuel-intensive economies rank highest. High CO₂ emissions per capita correlate with lower STI scores, reflecting increased energy consumption in wealthy, industrialised nations such as Canada and Australia. As carbon border taxes (CBAMs) gain momentum, global trade dynamics are expected to shift, with lower-emission economies potentially gaining a competitive edge in a carbon-conscious market.
Chart of the Week
Germany’s Economic Slowdown: From Powerhouse to G7 Laggard
Germany’s economic growth has stagnated due to chronic underinvestment, infrastructure challenges, and excessive bureaucracy, turning it from Europe’s economic leader into a struggling economy. Between 2013 and 2023, Germany’s average GDP growth was 1.1%, far below the 5% average in the US. The IMF forecasts a modest 0.3% growth for 2025, following contractions in 2023 and 2024, making Germany one of the few advanced economies to experience a post-pandemic recession. Global GDP growth remains steady, with India leading among major economies, while Germany’s structural inefficiencies highlight the urgent need for economic reforms and public investment to restore competitiveness.
Macroeconomic Data
Whenever you're ready there is one way I can help you.
If you or your child are looking to Boost your A level Economics Grades in under 30 days, I'd recommend starting with an all-in-one support network where you get 24/7 access to a SuperTutor:
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I'm Emre, and I've got a big goal - to make A* education accessible to all A-level students.
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Emre Aksahin
Chief Learning Officer at Edgenie
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