How recent is RECENT in an essay question? (1 Viewer)

[Devozzzz]

How recent is RECENT in an essay question?

 

[Renegader]

I guess recent as in the past few years e.g. the GFC was recent but it depends on the context of the question I guess. I think recent could also mean from the time there was a dramatic change in something if you get what I mean. I'm interested in what people think about this too, though.

 

[caramelmacaron]

It's always a good idea to have up to date and recent statistics and examples, which I would classify as the past 1-2 years, but often, it can be good to analyse economic activity in terms of pre-GFC, during GFC and recovery up till now. For example, in looking at the resources boom, we can look at each of these three phases to see how international trade flows, and demand patterns, have changed over time, rather than simply discussing recent developments, which doesn't give the fullest picture of economic activity in the global economy.

Another example would be when talking about economic policies, which can change over time, and a question which asks you to discuss different policy options would require examining past policies and contrasting them to recent ones. Basically, don't feel like everything has to be recent, and it's okay to talk about non-recent events, as long as you can show the relevance to the question.

 

[joscat]

Recent events - in the last ten years.

Recent statistics - in the last 1-3 years.

Or at least, that's what I've always thought

 

[Devozzzz]

so what I have gathered:

1) recent years( economic activity) = 2000 - 2008 (pre gfc) + 2008/09( GFC) + 2010+ ( post gfc)
2) recent stats = 3-4 years unless some major change such as during inflationary targeting
3) policy in recent years = some mention of 8os, 90s and mostly on 2000+

 

[erckle999]

so what I have gathered:

1) recent years( economic activity) = 2000 - 2008 (pre gfc) + 2008/09( GFC) + 2010+ ( post gfc)
2) recent stats = 3-4 years unless some major change such as during inflationary targeting
3) policy in recent years = some mention of 8os, 90s and mostly on 2000+

The above are pretty good guidelines but I would rather say that for questions on things that fluctuate and are measured in the relatively short term (EG, UE, Inflation, x rates) then learn 1) as above. Conversely, for topics that are necessarily long term, (structural change, micro reform, CAD (parts)) then the vast majority of relevant information may be outside the past 10 years. (eg deregulation, privatisation in the 80's 90's etc)

 

[Sunners]

You would need the most recent statistics in Australia's economic objectives such as unemployment rate and inflation rate. But you would also need to know recent trends, as in the few years prior to the GFC, during the GFC and up until now, not every figure of every quarter but the trends (ie. unemployment rose by 1.8% when the GFC hit)