DP Economics IA Season: Why Tariffs Are Trending (Again)

It’s that time of year again—IA season is in full swing for May session students. The energy in the Econ classroom is a mix of last-minute adjustments, citation checks, and Google searches for news articles that actually relate to the syllabus. And while topics this year are varied as always, one thing is clear: tariffs are trending.

A surprising amount of students are diving into protectionism, specifically focusing on tariffs, and it’s not hard to see why. With Trump’s return to the political spotlight and his renewed promises of sweeping tariffs, there’s plenty of real-world material to engage with. For students looking to link theory with recent policy debates, it’s practically an IA goldmine.

Why Tariffs?

Tariffs are a classic go-to for micro and international economics. They allow for clear application of key concepts like:

• Welfare loss and consumer/producer surplus

• Government intervention

• Market failure and trade-offs

• The impact on stakeholders (consumers, producers, government, foreign exporters)

• And if you want to get fancy: terms of trade or retaliatory trade policies

What makes current events around Trump even more useful is that his tariff rhetoric tends to be specific (e.g. 60% tariffs on Chinese goods). That gives students concrete numbers to work with and rich stakeholder commentary to analyze.

Top-Tips for a Strong Tariff IA

1. Pick a focused article: The narrower the better. A 500-word news piece on proposed steel tariffs is ideal; a sprawling think tank report is not.

2. Draw diagrams: At least one strong, well-labeled diagram is expected. A tariff diagram showing welfare loss and price changes is a must.

3. Keep the commentary balanced: Don’t just describe the article or praise/trash the policy. Evaluate: who benefits, who loses, and is it worth it?

4. Use the syllabus language: Terms like “allocative efficiency,” “deadweight loss,” or “comparative advantage” score big when used properly.

Remember, the IA is all about showing that you can apply theory to the real world. Tariffs might be popular this year, but your analysis is what will set you apart. Stay sharp, be critical, and make sure every paragraph earns its place.

Good luck with your final drafts—and if you’re still looking for an article, just Google “Trump + Tariffs” and you’ll have plenty to work with.