- What Makes a Good Economics EE Idea?
- Which EE guide applies to you: 2026 or 2027
- Economics examples from the IB's own guide
- Ideas: markets, pricing and market failure
- Ideas: labour markets and inequality
- Ideas: macroeconomics, money and inflation
- Ideas: development and international trade
- Ideas: environmental and behavioural economics
- Where to find data for an Economics EE
- How the 2027 criteria apply to an Economics EE
- How to Develop the Question
- Common Economics EE Topic Mistakes
Quick Answer
A strong Economics extended essay applies one clear economic theory to a specific market, policy or event, using data you can actually get, and ends with a judgement. For example: 'To what extent has the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy changed the prices and sugar content of soft drinks in local supermarkets?'. Below are 30 example research questions by area, with the theory, data and pitfalls for each.
What You'll Learn
- From May 2027 the new EE guide applies: 30 marks, with Discussion and evaluation (8 marks) the biggest criterion
- Put one economic theory or model at the centre and test it against real evidence
- Economics EEs can use primary data (surveys, price checks, interviews), secondary data, or both
- Narrow by market, place and time: one policy, one industry, one town or one country
- Evaluate throughout: stakeholders, short run versus long run, assumptions and the quality of your data
What Makes a Good Economics EE Idea?
A strong Economics extended essay does more than describe a market, business trend or policy. It uses economic concepts and theory to investigate one specific question and builds an argument from evidence. The IB's new guide says that what grounds an essay in a subject is not the content but the concepts, methods and theories you apply. Check every idea against these points.
- A named theory or model: price elasticity, tax incidence, market structure, externalities, monopsony, monetary transmission, comparative advantage or purchasing power parity.
- A specific case: one policy, one market, one firm type, one place and a clear time period.
- Data you can get: official statistics, published evaluations, or your own surveys, price observations and interviews.
- A question with a debatable answer: 'to what extent', 'how effective' and 'how significant' invite the judgement that criterion D rewards.
- Different from your IA: the guide says the EE must not duplicate other work you submit for the diploma.
Pro Tip
If your topic sounds like a newspaper headline with no economic model attached, add the model to the question itself.
Which EE guide applies to you: 2026 or 2027
The new Extended essay guide was published in February 2025, taught from August 2025, and is first assessed in May 2027. November 2026 is the last session marked under the 2018 guide. Both versions centre the essay on a focused research question.
- May 2027 onwards: 30 marks across five criteria (A Framework for the essay 6, B Knowledge and understanding 6, C Analysis and line of argument 6, D Discussion and evaluation 8, E Reflection 4). Reflection is assessed from one reflective statement of up to 500 words on the Reflection and progress form (RPF), written after your final viva voce.
- November 2026 and earlier: 34 marks (A Focus and method 6, B Knowledge and understanding 6, C Critical thinking 12, D Presentation 4, E Engagement 6), with three reflections on the RPPF.
- Both: a 4,000-word limit that examiners will not read beyond, three mandatory reflection sessions, and a grade that combines with TOK for up to three diploma points. Diagrams, charts and tables do not count towards the word limit.
- New in the 2027 guide: economics sits within shared individuals and societies guidance, and you can choose an interdisciplinary essay combining economics with another DP subject, such as geography or global politics.
Economics examples from the IB's own guide
The new guide gives two Economics examples. The IB says examples do not guarantee a high grade, but they show the expected scope.
- Does current economic research into minimum wage invalidate the neoclassical argument that increasing the minimum wage will lead to increased levels of unemployment? A theory-testing essay: present the neoclassical argument, then evaluate the counter-evidence and the studies behind it, using recent data to build conclusions point by point.
- How has increased access to mobile banking contributed to economic development in town (or village) 'X' since 2010? A development essay combining primary research with data from others' randomised control trials, focused on incomes, health, education, women's empowerment and civic participation.
Ideas: markets, pricing and market failure
These are illustrative starting points, not past IB essays. Microeconomic topics often work best because you can collect your own data locally.
- To what extent has the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy (in force since April 2018) changed the prices and sugar content of soft drinks in local supermarkets? Works because tax incidence and elasticity give clear predictions and you can collect price and label data. Avoid claiming health outcomes you cannot measure.
- To what extent does the market for coffee shops in one town fit the model of monopolistic competition? Works because price surveys and owner interviews give primary data on differentiation and pricing. Avoid customer opinion surveys with no link to theory.
- To what extent does price discrimination explain ticket pricing at a local cinema or theatre? Works because prices by time, day and age are observable and the theory is precise. Avoid simply listing prices without explaining the conditions for price discrimination.
- How effective has the carrier bag charge in England (5p from 2015, 10p from 2021) been in reducing single-use bag use? Works because official data exist and it lets you compare price incentives with behavioural nudges. Avoid an environmental science essay.
- To what extent has minimum unit pricing of alcohol in Scotland (introduced May 2018) reduced alcohol consumption? Works because there are official evaluations whose methods you can weigh. Avoid relying on a single report.
- How has the London-wide expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (August 2023) affected the used-car market for non-compliant vehicles? Works because externalities and Pigouvian charges meet observable listing prices. Avoid the broad question 'Is ULEZ good?'.
- To what extent did Berlin's rent cap (2020 to 2021) reduce rents and the supply of rental housing? Works because a short-lived policy acts as a natural experiment with published studies. Avoid it if you cannot read or find enough evidence on the German market.
- To what extent has bus franchising under Greater Manchester's Bee Network (from 2023) changed fares and service levels? Works because natural monopoly and regulation theory apply directly. Avoid it unless you can find enough data on fares and frequency.
Ideas: labour markets and inequality
Labour questions let you test competing models, which gives your discussion two sides from the start.
- How have increases in the National Living Wage (introduced April 2016) affected employment and hours in one local sector, such as hospitality? Works because competitive and monopsony models predict different outcomes. Avoid national claims based on a handful of interviews.
- To what extent do differences in the gender pay gap between UK sectors, from employers' mandatory reports (since 2017), reflect occupational segregation rather than discrimination? Works because the government dataset is large and free. Avoid describing gaps without economic explanation.
- To what extent does monopsony power explain the earnings of food delivery riders in one city? Works because a platform labour market is a modern test of an old model. Avoid interviewing riders without informed consent and anonymity.
- How did Finland's basic income experiment (2017 to 2018) affect participants' employment? Works because a randomised trial with a published evaluation lets you weigh evidence quality. Avoid generalising from one trial to whole economies.
- To what extent did automatic enrolment into workplace pensions (from 2012) raise saving among young UK workers? Works because it tests behavioural economics and default effects with official data. Avoid ignoring changes in contribution rates over time.
Ideas: macroeconomics, money and inflation
Macro topics need care because national outcomes have many causes. Pick one transmission channel or one event and use official time-series data.
- How quickly did changes in Bank Rate pass through to UK mortgage and savings rates between 2022 and 2023? Works because Bank of England data are free and monetary transmission is a clear model. Avoid trying to explain all of UK inflation.
- To what extent did sterling's depreciation after June 2016 raise UK import prices? Works because exchange-rate pass-through can be tested with ONS data. Avoid mixing in every other cause of price changes without discussing them.
- How effective was the UK Energy Price Guarantee (from October 2022) in limiting household energy costs and inflation? Works because published analyses let you evaluate a supply-side shock response. Avoid a political judgement on the government of the day.
- To what extent did the September 2022 'mini-budget' raise UK government borrowing costs? Works because daily gilt yield data allow an event study around a clear date. Avoid commentary on personalities.
- How effective was the Eat Out to Help Out scheme (August 2020) as a demand-side policy for UK restaurants? Works because the scheme was short and well studied, with evidence for and against. Avoid ignoring costs and side effects in your evaluation.
- To what extent does the Phillips curve describe the relationship between unemployment and inflation in one country since 2000? Works because you test a core model with OECD or national data. Avoid treating correlation as proof of causation.
Ideas: development and international trade
Development and trade questions work best with a single country, product or agreement, so the evidence stays manageable.
- How has the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (from January 2021) affected UK exports of one product, such as shellfish, to the EU? Works because non-tariff barriers can be shown with official trade data. Avoid the whole impact of Brexit.
- To what extent were the US tariffs on Chinese goods from 2018 paid by US consumers and firms? Works because tax incidence theory meets a strong published literature. Avoid stretching the essay into later tariff rounds without enough data.
- To what extent has microfinance raised the incomes of women borrowers, according to randomised evaluations? Works because studies disagree, which gives you a balanced discussion. Avoid relying on charity or lender marketing material.
- How has the growth of Bangladesh's garment export industry affected women's participation in the labour force? Works because World Bank data and academic studies are available. Avoid a factory safety essay that loses the economics.
- To what extent does The Economist's Big Mac index predict exchange-rate movements, as purchasing power parity suggests? Works because the data are public and the theory is testable. Avoid ignoring non-traded inputs such as rent and wages.
- To what extent have remittances reduced poverty in one country, using World Bank data? Works because the inflows are measurable and the debate on dependency gives two sides. Avoid a country where the data are patchy.
Ideas: environmental and behavioural economics
These questions combine market failure with policy evaluation, which gives criterion D plenty to work with.
- To what extent has the EU Emissions Trading System reduced emissions from power generation? Works because cap-and-trade can be compared with a carbon tax using official emissions data. Avoid the whole of climate policy.
- How effective is Germany's deposit return scheme for single-use drinks containers in raising return rates? Works because it tests incentives with published data. Avoid comparing countries without accounting for different scheme designs.
- How effective has the London congestion charge (since 2003) been in reducing traffic in the charging zone? Works because it is a long-running Pigouvian charge with transport data. Avoid ignoring other changes to London transport over the period.
Where to find data for an Economics EE
Most strong Economics EEs combine a literature review with data. The guide says secondary research is required in every EE, and the IB's economics examples use both primary research and published data.
- Official statistics: the Office for National Statistics, Eurostat, the OECD, the World Bank's World Development Indicators, the IMF and national statistics offices.
- Central banks: the Bank of England Database, and the US Federal Reserve's FRED database for long economic time series.
- Policy evaluations: government departments, the Institute for Fiscal Studies and university research centres publish analysis and evaluations of specific policies.
- Primary data: price observations, short surveys of firms or consumers, and interviews with owners or managers. Explain your sample and its limits, and get informed consent.
- Academic literature: Google Scholar and working-paper series give the research to test your theory against.
How the 2027 criteria apply to an Economics EE
The guide's individuals and societies notes, applied to Economics, show what examiners look for.
- A: Framework for the essay (6). Make sure your research question and methods clearly fit Economics and its methodology. Label diagrams and graphs fully, acknowledge any that are not your own, and refer to them in the text.
- B: Knowledge and understanding (6). Use economic terminology accurately; the guide's own example is 'supply and demand'. Apply concepts meaningfully, for example the course's key concepts such as efficiency, equity, sustainability and intervention.
- C: Analysis and line of argument (6). Apply theory to your evidence and link each finding back to the question. Draw diagrams that do work in the argument, not decoration.
- D: Discussion and evaluation (8). Weigh different perspectives and stakeholders, short-run against long-run effects, and the assumptions of your model. Evaluate your sources and data throughout, not only at the end.
- E: Reflection (4). Marked only from your reflective statement on the RPF.
How to Develop the Question
Good Economics questions come from narrowing a broad interest until the essay is analytically manageable.
- 1Start with an area: market structure, government intervention, labour, money, trade, development or the environment.
- 2Choose one specific policy, market or event inside that area, with a clear place and time.
- 3Name the model you will use and the result it predicts.
- 4Find the data before you commit: if you cannot get evidence to test the prediction, change the case.
- 5Write the question so it invites a judgement, then test it with your supervisor at your first reflection session.
Common Economics EE Topic Mistakes
Many Economics EEs are topical but not analytical. Watch for these. An IB Economics tutor can deepen the theory and data skills an Economics EE relies on, while the question and the research stay your own.
- A current-affairs summary with economics added at the end.
- Questions too big to answer, such as 'What caused inflation in the UK?'.
- Diagrams copied without explanation, or drawn but never used in the argument.
- Surveys with tiny or biased samples treated as proof.
- One-sided evaluation that ignores stakeholders, time frames or model assumptions.
- Putting key analysis in appendices: examiners are not required to read them, and they do not read beyond 4,000 words.
Watch Out
If the essay could be written mostly as a summary of business news or policy reporting, the question is not yet strong enough for Economics.
Frequently Asked Questions
A good Economics EE topic applies one economic model to one specific market, policy or event with data you can get, and asks a question that needs a judgement. For example, 'To what extent does price discrimination explain ticket pricing at a local cinema?'. It should be narrow enough for 4,000 words and different from your Economics IA commentaries.
Yes. The new guide says individuals and societies topics can come from issues of contemporary debate. But a current issue needs a clear economic model, a defined place and time, and enough data and research to analyse. Very recent events may not yet have the evaluations and data you need, so check the evidence before you commit to the question.
Yes. The IB's own economics example on mobile banking uses primary research alongside others' data, and price surveys, firm interviews and short questionnaires are common. Explain how you collected the data and its limitations, get informed consent, and keep it anonymous. You still need secondary research, because every EE must include a literature review.
It is marked out of 30 against five criteria: Framework for the essay (6), Knowledge and understanding (6), Analysis and line of argument (6), Discussion and evaluation (8) and Reflection (4). Reflection is assessed only from your 500-word statement on the RPF. Essays in the November 2026 session, the last under the 2018 guide, are marked out of 34 on its criteria.
Many of these questions work as starting points for an Extended Project Qualification too, because both reward a focused question, research and evaluation. But the EPQ is a different qualification with its own rules, word count and marking, so check your exam board's specification and your supervisor's guidance rather than the IB criteria on this page.
The new IB Extended essay guide gives two Economics examples, on minimum wage theory and on mobile banking and development, both listed on this page. Your EE coordinator can also access support material and subject reports on the IB's Programme Resource Centre. Use examples to understand scope and structure, then build your own question and evidence.
Yes. An IB Doctor tutor, verified and with a score of 40 or more IB points, can deepen the theory behind a case you are considering and show you how to judge whether a question is too broad, in online sessions, while the data, research and essay stay your own. The essay stays your own work, and only your supervisor comments in writing on your full draft. Matching usually happens within 24 hours.