Topical air to economics and construction studies papers

LEAVING Certificate students of economics and construction studies were examined yesterday and the higher level papers for both were strongly topical.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) economics spokesperson Michael Finnegan said all but one question appeared to have some tie to the current Irish and global situation, something which would please most students.

The topics raised included, for example, falling business costs, public sector employment, and an oligopoly question which was set in the context of competition in the Irish mobile phone operators’ market. It also offered a chance to discuss the so-called light-touch regulation that applied to Irish banks, a welcome use of modern economic terminology, Mr Finnegan said.