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LC Economics 

Oide Moody 

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What is Economics?

Breakdown of the LC Economics course

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What is Economics?

  • Economics is the branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.

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  • Economics is considered a social science; in that it studies human behavior. It is the study of how individuals/firms/governments go about making choices based upon their scare/limited resources.

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Why study Economics?

  • Leaving Certificate Economics provides students with a learning foundation for a wide range of careers in business, economics, finance, enterprise and management.
  • There is a 20% research project that is completed in December of 6th year .. One fifth of your LC is done before you sit the exam!

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Why study Economics?

Develops critical thinking

    • Economics teaches you to analyse situations logically, weigh up evidence, and make informed decisions.

Real-world applications

    • It helps you understand everyday financial matters like inflation, taxes, and banking, making you more financially aware.

Useful for career paths

    • Whether you want to work in business, finance, law, or even politics, economics provides a strong foundation.

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Keeps you informed

    • Economics helps you grasp major global events like recessions, trade agreements, and government policies.

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Economics as a Leaving Cert Subject

•Nice mix of theory, number, graphs and formulae

•A hard-working student has a great opportunity to achieve in this subject.

•Every industry requires people that understand economics – construction, government, banking, sales, transport and management

20% of the LC Course will be completed before you sit the exam! A research project is completed in December of 6th year.

•The results are generally high compared to other subjects.

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Course Content

  • Economics is split into Microeconomics (consumers, prices, demand and supply) and Macroeconomics (government as a whole and their objectives like employment, inflation and economic growth)

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  • Main topics:
  • Demand, supply, equilibrium, utility and elasticity
  • Costs and market structures.
  • Factors of production (including economists)
  • National income and the multiplier
  • Inflation, money, banking and monetary policy
  • International trade, balance of payments and the euro
  • Fiscal policy and taxation
  • The Government in the economy (including economic development and growth, population and emigration)

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Economics as a subject 

Economics is regarded as the most practical business subject and is the study of how people manage limited resources such as money to meet their goals.

Economics deals with the real-world business obstacles such as demand and supply, production and consumption, money and banking as well as economic policies, problems and conflicts.  

It really suits students that have a general interest in how the economy works and be interested in current affairs.  It would be important to be listening to the news and reading the daily papers.

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Leaving Cert Economics – Grade Statistics 2025

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Leaving Cert Economics – Grade Statistics 2025 �Higher Level

Year

Total Students

H1 (90-100%)

H2 (80-89%)

H3 (70-79%)

H4 (60-69%)

H5 (50-59%)

H6 (40-49%)

H7 (30-39%)

H8 (0-29%)

2024

4,264

10%

24%

22%

19%

14%

7%

3%

1%

2023

4,510

14%

23%

22%

17%

14%

8%

3%

1%

2019

4,990

4%

17%

20%

19%

16%

13%

7%

5%

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Leaving Cert Economics – Grade Statistics 2025�Ordinary Level

Year

Total Students

O1 (90-100%)

O2 (80-89%)

O3 (70-79%)

O4 (60-69%)

O5 (50-59%)

O6 (40-49%)

O7 (30-39%)

O8 (0-29%)

2024

480

5%

20%

25%

25%

14%

7%

3%

1%

2023

577

3%

22%

26%

22%

14%

8%

4%

1%

2019

873

3%

13%

22%

23%

17%

13%

4%

5%

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Economics and Numbers 

  • In LC Economics there are formulae that have to be learned and applied.
  • Being confident with numbers is definitely an advantage when studying economics.
  • There is graph drawing and application of theory using diagrams.
  • There is quite a lot of theory – but no essay writing.
  • All theory is very factual that just has to be learned.

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Leaving Cert Economics Exam Structure

The subject is examined at higher and ordinary level. 

Research Project = 20%

Final Exam = 80%

2 hours and 30 min exam

Section A – Answer 8/10 short questions

Section B – Answer 4 out of 6* Extended Response Questions

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LC Economics – Research Study

The Research Study will relate directly to the course content. The Research Study is worth 100 marks, which is 20% of the overall marks for Leaving Certificate Economics. The remaining 400 marks (80%) are for the final examination.

A Research Study brief will issue annually from State Examinations Commission (SEC). The brief with its theme and associated topics, is common to Higher and Ordinary level. All candidates (Higher and Ordinary level) are required to undertake a Research Study and to complete and submit a Research Study Report for assessment. 

You decide on an individual line of inquiry based on the research theme and you chose a topic from the prescribed list. 

No more than 1500 words (excluding references, diagrams, graphs etc.). Must be completed in term one of sixth year.  Must be presented in the digital completion booklet

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