IB Economics IA·Writing guide

How to Structure Your Economics IA

A clear six-part structure for moving from your article and economic theory through diagrams, analysis, evaluation and a final judgment.

Stay focused

Give each part of the commentary a clear purpose.

Apply the theory

Constantly connect economic models back to the article.

Evaluate

Finish with limitations, conditions and a balanced judgment.

IBonomics moose studying an economics IA

Why structure matters

A clear structure helps you cover theory, application, analysis and evaluation while staying within the 800-word limit.

The framework

The six-part IA structure

Treat the commentary as one continuous economic argument. Each stage should naturally lead into the next.

Introduction paragraph

Foundation

Purpose: Sets up the economic story you are about to analyze.

Essential elements

Clearly state the focus of the article, such as an interest rate change or price control.
Mention the relevant economic theory, such as supply and demand or exchange rates.
Provide basic context from the article, including what happened and why.
Identify your key concept, such as change, scarcity or efficiency.
Introduce the main variable affected and the aims of the policy.

First diagram paragraph

Visualization

Purpose: Visualizes the initial impact using economic theory.

Key components

Present a standard economic model, such as supply and demand, AD-AS or the foreign exchange market.
Describe the curve shifts clearly, including which curve moves and why.
Link the theoretical shift directly to the policy or event in the article.
Explain the resulting changes in equilibrium, price, quantity or output.

Deep explanation and policy analysis

Analysis

Purpose: Shows deeper understanding of the economic mechanism and its real-world context.

Analysis focus

Explain why the policy was used and its intended effects.
Connect the policy to relevant microeconomic or macroeconomic objectives.
Discuss the effects on stakeholders such as consumers, producers, government and the foreign sector.
Integrate economic definitions and relevant evidence from the article.

Second diagram or extended theory

Complexity

Purpose: Adds nuance and another layer of economic reasoning where it is useful.

Advanced elements

Introduce a second diagram where appropriate, such as the J-curve, a subsidy diagram or elasticity effects.
Explore differences between short-run and long-run impacts.
Apply relevant conditions or limitations, such as the Marshall-Lerner condition or elasticity assumptions.
Show how real-world outcomes may differ from the simplified economic model.

Evaluation paragraph

Critical thinking

Purpose: Demonstrates critical thinking and moves beyond simply explaining the theory.

Evaluation framework

Evaluate the effectiveness of the policy using economic theory.
Discuss real-world limitations and possible unintended consequences.
Consider the conditions required for the policy to succeed.
Consider external factors such as global prices, political constraints or changing market conditions.

Conclusion

Judgment

Purpose: Brings the argument together clearly and concisely.

Conclusion elements

Summarize the overall policy outcome and distinguish between short-run and long-run effects where relevant.
Return to the most important point from your evaluation.
End with a balanced or qualified judgment rather than an absolute claim.

Across the whole commentary

Common patterns in strong IAs

Regardless of the article or syllabus unit, these are the habits that make the analysis more convincing.

Always include

Real-world context connected to economic theory
At least one well-explained economic diagram
Explicit links between diagrams and the article
Clear cause-and-effect chains
Precise IB Economics terminology
Stakeholder impacts and time-frame analysis

Stronger analytical techniques

Relevant conditions such as Marshall-Lerner
Elasticity assumptions and their implications
Market structure effects where appropriate
Short-run versus long-run distinctions
Conditions required for a policy to succeed
Cautious and qualified conclusions

Quick reference

Your IA writing blueprint

Use this as a compact checklist while planning your commentary.

Introduction

What happened? What theory applies? Which key concept is relevant?

Diagram 1

Draw and explain the diagram. Show what changed, why it changed and what the new equilibrium means.

Application

Explain the effects on consumers, producers, government or other relevant stakeholders.

Extended theory

Add another diagram or concept where useful. Consider long-run effects, assumptions and limitations.

Evaluation

Weigh benefits against limitations and explain when the policy is more or less likely to succeed.

Conclusion

Give a concise final judgment based on the analysis you have already developed.

Before you submit

Three final structure checks

Stay focused

Every paragraph should have a clear purpose and move the same overall argument forward.

Link everything

Keep linking economic theory to the real-world situation and the key concept in your article.

Balance the analysis

Show both the advantages and the limitations of the economic policy or situation.

Structure + economic theory + real-world application + critical evaluation creates a clear framework for covering the main components of the commentary without losing focus.

Continue with your IA

Put the structure into practice

Use the rest of the IBonomics IA resources to choose an article and see how complete commentaries are put together.

Find a strong IA article

Learn what makes an article suitable for economic analysis, diagrams and evaluation.

Study example IAs

Compare complete student commentaries and see how the structure works in practice.

Check out our example IAs

See how complete student commentaries apply theory, diagrams, analysis and evaluation across different syllabus units.