Economics (9-1) 0987
Explore scarcity, markets, government policy and international trade. Use economic models and evidence to explain decisions and their consequences.
What you'll cover
- The basic economic problem
- The allocation of resources
- Microeconomic decision-makers
- Government and the macroeconomy
- Economic development
- International trade and globalisation
Published syllabus exam years: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Economics 0987 syllabus map
Version 1
36 of 36 sections have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Economics 0987 · 2027–2029 Version 1. All 36 syllabus sections are mapped to original lessons. The separate 2026 syllabus and 2023–2025 syllabus are not covered by this route. Open-ended evaluation is self-checked rather than Cambridge-graded; official timed-paper readiness and human teacher review remain pending. This 9–1 qualification has limited administrative-zone availability; confirm eligibility and the current exam series with Cambridge and your centre.
The 2026 and 2023–2025 syllabus versions remain separate and are not mapped in this course.
Choose your paper route
- Paper 1 · Multiple Choice1 hour · 40 marks · 30%
40 compulsory questions across the subject content; calculations and diagram analysis may be included. Externally assessed.
- Paper 2 · Structured Questions2 hours · 80 marks · 70%
One compulsory data-response question in Section A and three questions from a choice of four in Section B. Externally assessed.
View syllabus coverage
Cambridge states that 0987 has the same subject content as 0455, with grades 9–1; this route has limited zone availability. Both examination papers are externally assessed: Paper 1 multiple choice (1 hour, 40 marks, 30%) and Paper 2 structured questions (2 hours, 80 marks, 70%). Practice here is original and does not reproduce official papers or award Cambridge grades.
Topic 1 · The basic economic problem
- The nature of the basic economic problem1.1
- Factors of production1.2
- Opportunity cost1.3
- Production possibility curve (PPC) diagrams1.4
Topic 2 · The allocation of resources
- The role of markets in allocating resources2.1
- Demand2.2
- Supply2.3
- Price determination2.4
- Price changes2.5
- Price elasticity of demand (PED)2.6
- Price elasticity of supply (PES)2.7
- Market economic system2.8
- Market failure2.9
- Mixed economic system2.10
Topic 3 · Microeconomic decision-makers
- Money and banking3.1
- Households3.2
- Workers3.3
- Firms3.4
- Firms and production3.5
- Firms’ costs, revenue and objectives3.6
- Types of markets3.7
Topic 4 · Government and the macroeconomy
- Government macroeconomic intervention4.1
- Fiscal policy4.2
- Monetary policy4.3
- Supply-side policy4.4
- Economic growth4.5
- Employment and unemployment4.6
- Inflation4.7
Topic 5 · Economic development
- Living standards5.1
- Poverty5.2
- Population5.3
- Differences in economic development between countries5.4
Topic 6 · International trade and globalisation
- Specialisation and free trade6.1
- Globalisation and trade restrictions6.2
- Foreign exchange rates6.3
- Current account of the balance of payments6.4
Lessons and worked examples
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- 01
Explain scarcity and the basic economic choices
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Not started - 02
Classify factors of production and their rewards
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Not started - 03
Find opportunity cost in real choices
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Read and explain a production possibility curve
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Explain how a market connects buyers and sellers
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Read demand curves and explain demand changes
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Read supply curves and explain supply changes
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Find equilibrium and explain shortages or surpluses
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Trace how changing market conditions affect price
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Calculate PED and use it in decisions
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Calculate PES and explain supply responsiveness
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Weigh arguments for a market economic system
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Explain market failure and misallocation
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Compare policy tools in a mixed economy
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Explain money's functions and banks' roles
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Explain household spending, saving and borrowing
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Explain wages, labour mobility and division of labour
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Compare firm types, mergers and economies of scale
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Explain factor demand, production methods and productivity
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Calculate costs and revenue, then compare firm objectives
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Compare competitive and monopoly markets
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Compare government macroeconomic aims
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Use budgets, taxation and spending to explain fiscal policy
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Trace monetary policy through interest rates and money supply
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Evaluate policies that improve productive capacity
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Measure growth and assess its costs and policies
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Measure unemployment and compare its causes
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Measure inflation and compare its causes
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Compare living standards with GDP per head and HDI
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Explain poverty and compare policies to reduce it
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Explain population growth and its economic effects
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Explain why countries differ in development
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Explain country specialisation and free trade
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Assess globalisation, multinational firms and trade barriers
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Explain exchange rates and currency movements
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Calculate and interpret the current account balance
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