Economics: Bridging the Gap: From A-Level to University

The title Bridging the Gap: From A-Level to University captures the essence of what this bundle offers. At A-Level, students are taught the foundations of economics, but the specification often stops short of the formal reasoning and abstract modelling that universities expect. These interactive simulations provide a way of stepping into that world early, gently introducing students to concepts such as Nash equilibrium, bargaining games, and spatial competition. By engaging with these models, learners begin to think more critically, to test assumptions, and to appreciate how elegant theories can both illuminate and simplify complex real-world behaviour.

This is precisely what makes the bundle such a valuable bridge. On the one hand, it enriches the A-Level experience by taking familiar themes—markets, incentives, fairness—and extending them into models that students will encounter in their first year at university. On the other hand, it equips them with the habits of mind that universities prize: logical reasoning, the ability to follow through on a chain of argument, and the capacity to challenge a model by asking “what if?” or “under what conditions might this fail?” Students who work through these activities develop confidence in thinking like economists rather than just studying economics.

The same qualities make it ideal preparation for university interviews. Admissions tutors frequently present candidates with thought experiments drawn from these very models, whether in the form of fairness dilemmas, insurance markets, or competition problems. By experimenting with the simulations and then reflecting on the discussion prompts, students are effectively rehearsing the kinds of intellectual moves that make an interview performance stand out. They learn not only to explain the standard prediction of a model but also to explore anomalies, bring in evidence, and connect theory to everyday examples such as supermarket pricing or wage bargaining.

Importantly, the value of the bundle extends beyond interviews. It nurtures independence and curiosity, giving students a chance to explore material well above their current syllabus at their own pace. It encourages a mindset that will serve them throughout their degree: one that treats economic models as tools to be applied, questioned, and extended rather than as fixed answers to be memorised. For ambitious students and supportive teachers alike, the bundle is both a preparation kit for competitive admissions and a genuine stepping stone towards undergraduate study.

EV Charging Station Game Theory Simulator

The EV Charging Station Game Theory Simulator is an advanced interactive economic model that visualizes strategic competition in an emerging industry — electric vehicle (EV) charging. The simulation allows users to control operators, adjust prices and capacities, trigger market shocks, and observe how game-theoretic equilibria emerge over time.

Behavioral Models from AI & Computer Science

“Behavioral Models from AI & Computer Science” is an interactive, browser-based simulation tool that brings complex theories of bounded rationality and computational decision-making to life. Designed for A-Level and university-level learners, this resource transforms abstract behavioural economics and artificial intelligence concepts into dynamic, visual experiments that users can explore firsthand.

Economics Interview Lab

 A dynamic preparation resource designed to help ambitious students excel in Oxford and Cambridge interviews. Rather than offering memorised answers, it immerses learners in the kinds of puzzles, paradoxes, and thought experiments that admissions tutors use to stretch candidates beyond the textbook. By working through challenging microeconomic scenarios, macroeconomic debates, and frontier questions on policy and global issues, students learn to think critically and adaptively under pressure. Each interactive card comes with “thinking points” that nudge them towards deeper analysis without removing the challenge, encouraging them to articulate clear, logical arguments. The design is both polished and intuitive, creating an environment that feels more like a tutorial than a revision sheet. With practice, learners grow in confidence, becoming more comfortable with uncertainty, more fluent in applying economic theory to novel problems, and more aware of the creativity and flexibility Oxbridge interviews demand. This resource turns preparation into active exploration, making it an indispensable companion for those aiming to demonstrate genuine intellectual curiosity in economics.

Keynes’s Beauty Contest

Predict what everyone else will predict: pick a number between 0 and 100 and try to land closest to two-thirds of the group average, then dive into clear tabs covering rules, history, theory, and real-world links; students experience “levels of thinking” in action and see why the fully rational prediction converges to zero.

Insurance Market Simulator

Design premiums, coverage, and deductibles with intuitive sliders, then watch how the market shifts as you toggle between adverse selection and moral hazard modes; the built-in theory section frames what you’re seeing so learners can talk like an economist about information asymmetries and contract design.

Hotelling’s Location Game

Drag two “ice-cream vendors” along a street and watch customer zones and payoffs update in real time, then hit “Show Nash Equilibrium” to feel why rivals cluster; fast visual feedback turns an abstract model into a memorable intuition for competition and positioning.

Nash Equilibrium Market Simulator

Switch between Cournot (quantity) and Bertrand (price) competition and explore how best responses settle into a Nash equilibrium; the guided “How to Play & Learn” panel and model cards make first-year IO content feel approachable and hands-on.

Rubinstein Bargaining Game

Slide the discount factors to change patience, make offers, and reveal expected payoffs—then surface the theory and optimal strategy with one click; students discover why delay is costly and how patience translates into bargaining power, just like in real negotiations.

Ultimatum Game

Choose your role, set an offer, and see whether it’s accepted or rejected—then compare your outcome with research-based norms on typical offers and rejection thresholds, including cultural variations; perfect for discussing fairness versus narrow self-interest.

Dollar Auction Game

The ultimate escalation trap in game theory. Two players bid in small increments for a £1 prize — but here’s the twist: both the winner and the runner-up must pay their final bids. What begins as a harmless contest quickly spirals into irrational escalation, where each bid feels like damage control yet leads to mounting losses. This simulation makes abstract ideas about sunk costs, escalation of commitment, and group inefficiency come vividly alive. With built-in analysis, warnings, and payoff breakdowns, students can see in real time why rational individuals often make collectively irrational choices .