Paper 130%
Multiple Choice
1 hour40 marks40 questions
A compulsory paper covering all subject content. Questions may require calculations and analysis of diagrams.
Cambridge IGCSE · 0455
Economics
Build a clear understanding of how economies work — from scarcity and markets to government policy, development and international trade.
6syllabus topics
36official subtopics
42topic pages
About the syllabus
Economics starts with a simple question: how do we allocate scarce resources?
Cambridge IGCSE Economics develops knowledge of economic terminology, concepts and principles, together with the tools needed to analyse and evaluate economic issues.
The syllabus also asks learners to consider issues including population change, environmental sustainability and globalisation.
Official syllabus structure
Six areas of study.
The structure below follows the Cambridge IGCSE Economics 0455 syllabus for examinations in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
01
Topic 1
View subtopics ↓The basic economic problem
The fundamental ideas and concepts that underpin the study of economics, including scarcity, factors of production, opportunity cost and production possibility curves.
02
Topic 2
View subtopics ↓The allocation of resources
The fundamental principles of resource allocation through the price mechanism, with demand, supply, market equilibrium, disequilibrium and elasticity at the core.
03
Topic 3
View subtopics ↓Microeconomic decision-makers
The microeconomy is studied through the roles of the major decision-makers: banks, households, workers and producers or firms.
04
Topic 4
View subtopics ↓Government and the macroeconomy
Government fiscal, monetary and supply-side policies, together with the measurement, causes and consequences of economic growth, unemployment and inflation.
05
Topic 5
View subtopics ↓Economic development
The effects of changes in population size and structure and other influences on economic development in a variety of countries.
06
Topic 6
View subtopics ↓International trade and globalisation
The importance of trade between countries and the causes and consequences of globalisation, including specialisation, free trade, multinational companies, foreign exchange rates and balance of payments stability.
Assessment
Two papers. One complete Economics qualification.
All candidates take both papers. The assessment covers the full subject content.
Paper 270%
Structured Questions
2 hours80 marksSections A & B
A compulsory structured paper using information, data and economic contexts. Candidates answer one compulsory question in Section A and three questions from a choice of four in Section B.
Assessment objectives
What Cambridge assesses
AO1Knowledge and understanding43%
AO2Analysis47%
AO3Evaluation10%
How to use this hub
Follow the syllabus. Build understanding. Prepare for the exam.
Start with the official topic structure, open the individual topic pages and progressively add notes, visual learning, practice and exam resources as they become available.
01Learn
Build the concepts and terminology.
02Analyse
Work with data, diagrams and relationships.
03Evaluate
Consider arguments, outcomes and uncertainty.
04Prepare
Practise the style of Cambridge assessment.
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