What is Economics?

Let’s start with what economics isn’t. Economics isn’t a meal ticket to make lots of money in the stock market, although economics helps you understand how stock markets and other markets work. Economics also isn’t a business degree, although economics teaches important business skills. Economics, first and foremost, is a social science. As such, economics helps to explain the mysteries of how people and society operate.

The field of Economics rewards creative and curious thinkers. Whether you realize it or not, you already have a rich personal experience with economics. You make dozens of economic choices every week: how much to study, work, and spend; what courses to take; and what to do on Saturday night.

 

An Economics major or minor draws on that experience to help you understand how the economy works, not only for you personally but across the region, the country and the world. Economics builds models to explain why people behave the way they do. And economists use these models, in conjunction with their observations of the world, to analyze and explain why things happen the way they do.

Economic theory helps you cut through the hype of the 24 hour news cycle. (Note: we could pose a series of questions here that would have to be changed over time – for example what is the cost of the war, what are the causes of the current economic downturn.) Ultimately, studying economics prepares you to deal with a rapidly changing world and develop skills valued by employers.

With the major changes that have taken place in the world of work, the rapid changes in technology and globalization, it is not uncommon for individuals to make several career changes during their lives. Today's hot specialized degree has often become tomorrow's target for downsizing. Companies that were relatively unchallenged in the domestic market have suffered as a result of global competition. As a result, experts in career development recommend that one seriously consider a flexible degree such as economics.