A-level Economics - Free trade and customs unions

As an experienced economics teacher with over a decade of classroom expertise, I’ve created this comprehensive resource on Free Trade and Customs Unions, designed to deepen students’ understanding through clear explanations, engaging exercises, and real-world examples. This resource is ideal for both new and experienced teachers, offering ready-to-use, impactful lessons.

What’s included:

• Free Trade:
• Definition and explanation of free trade, including its benefits and challenges.
• Exploration of the key principles driving international trade and globalization.
• Customs Unions:
• Clear explanation of customs unions, how they function, and their role in trade agreements.
• Discussion of the differences between customs unions, free trade areas, and other trade agreements.
• Economic implications:
• Analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of free trade and customs unions for member and non-member countries.
• Real-world examples:
• Case studies of prominent customs unions like the European Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
• Discussion of current global trade dynamics and their impact on development.
• Engaging exercises:
• Thought-provoking tasks to reinforce understanding and encourage application of key concepts.
• Questions designed to promote critical thinking about the role of trade in economic development.