Economic Growth | A-Level Economics Notes
These revision notes cover everything you need to know about Economic Growth for A-Level Economics. They're designed for students studying AQA A-Level Economics, Edexcel A-Level Economics, and Edexcel International A-Level Economics. Written by Jaisul Naik, UCL Economics graduate and A-Level Economics tutor since 2017.
What is the difference between real and nominal?
Real - adjusted for inflation
Nominal - not adjusted for inflation
What does per capita mean?
per person (divide by the population)
What is real GDP?
The total value of goods and services produced in the UK economy
What is (actual) economic growth?
An increase in real GDP
What is potential economic growth?
An increase in the productive potential of an economy
What is the trend rate of economic growth?
The trend rate of growth is the rate the economy can grow at without demand-pull inflationary pressure.
What are the four stages of the economic cycle?
- boom: high economic growth, low unemployment, high inflation
- downturn
- recession: negative economic growth, high unemployment, deflation
- recovery

What is a positive output gap?
When economic growth is faster than the trend rate of growth
- fast economic growth
- very low unemployment
- high inflation
What is a negative output gap?
When economic growth is slower than the trend rate of growth
- slow economic growth
- low inflation
- high unemployment
Summary questions
- What is the difference between real and nominal?
- What does per capita mean?
- What is real GDP?
- What is economic growth?
- What is potential growth?
- What is the trend rate of economic growth?
- What are the stages of the economic cycle
- What is a positive output gap?
- What is a negative output gap?
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