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The proportion of girls taking HSC economics has tumbled to its lowest level in three decades, while the overall share of students enrolled in the subject has dipped below 8 per cent this year. Teachers say making commerce compulsory in years 9 and 10 could boost economics numbers in senior years and help close the “confidence gap” that can emerge in mid to late high school. University of Cambridge law student Lucy Koder, who topped HSC economics in 2021, said the course – viewed by some university students as “difficult, dull and boring” – is often perceived as less vocational than business studies. But the image problem is unfair, she says. “Economics is hugely useful – it teaches you to think critically and independently. For students interested in policy, politics and law, they probably should be doing economics in high school.”
