Economics passages are among the most predictable elements of CAT RC. The Economist is the dominant source, appearing in every recent paper. If you learn to read The Economist well, you have solved a significant portion of the CAT VARC challenge.
Economics passages in CAT analyse a market behaviour, a policy debate, a business phenomenon or an economic concept. The writing is formal and analytical. The author takes a clear position and defends it with evidence, usually a combination of data, historical examples and logical inference. The tone is confident and occasionally ironic.
These passages move quickly. Unlike philosophy passages, which develop an idea slowly through qualification, economics passages state their position early and spend the rest of the passage building evidence. This makes them more accessible once you are familiar with the style.
Main idea questions ask you to identify the author's central argument, which is usually stated clearly in the first or last paragraph. Inference questions ask what the author implies about a related phenomenon not directly discussed. Tone questions ask about the author's attitude toward the subject, which in Economist-style writing is usually analytical and occasionally critical.
Watch for questions that ask about the author's purpose in including a specific example. Economics passages often use a single country or company as an illustration of a broader principle, and CAT questions frequently probe whether you understood that relationship.
Read one Economist article per week, specifically from the Finance and Economics or Business sections. After reading, state the author's argument in two sentences. Identify the main piece of evidence. Note the tone. This takes 20 minutes per article and compounds significantly over six months of consistent practice.
GRADFLIX publishes essays on economics and society in the exact style of The Economist, with RC questions built in. Reading GRADFLIX economics essays daily is the most efficient preparation for this genre.
GRADFLIX economics essays are written in the style of The Economist, at CAT RC difficulty, with questions. Free to start.
Read Economics EssaysRead the first and last paragraphs first to get the author's position. Then read the full passage. For each example the author uses, identify the broader principle it illustrates.
The Economist is the primary source for economics passages in CAT RC, appearing in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 papers. The Financial Times and Harvard Business Review also appear occasionally.
Economics passages are more accessible than philosophy passages because the author's position is usually stated clearly. The difficulty comes from the density of argument and the speed at which the writing moves.
No. CAT RC questions are answered entirely from the passage. You do not need prior knowledge of economics. Familiarity with the writing style, however, significantly speeds up comprehension.