EconomistsEconomists study how society distributes scarce resources such as land, labor, raw materials, and machinery to produce goods and services. They conduct research, collect and analyze data, monitor economic trends, and develop forecasts. They research issues such as energy costs, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, business cycles, taxes, or employment levels. Economists devise methods and procedures for obtaining the data they need. For example, sampling techniques may be used to conduct a survey, and various mathematical modeling techniques may be used to develop forecasts. Preparing reports, including tables and charts, on research results is an important part of an economist�s job. Presenting economic and statistical concepts in a clear and meaningful way is particularly important for economists whose research is directed toward making policies for an organization. Some economists might also provide economic analysis to the media. Many economists specialize in a particular area of economics, although general knowledge of basic economic principles is useful in each area. Microeconomists study the supply and demand decisions of individuals and firms, such as how profits can be maximized and how much of a good or service consumers will demand at a certain price. Industrial/organizational economists study the market structure of particular industries in terms of the number of competitors, and the market decisions of competitive firms and monopolies. These economists may also be concerned with antitrust policy and its impact on market structure. Macroeconomists study historical trends in the whole economy and forecast future trends in areas such as unemployment, inflation, economic growth, productivity, and investment. Closely related to macroeconomists are monetary or financial economists, who study the money and banking system and the effects of rising interest rates. International economists study international financial markets, exchange rates, and the effects of various trade policies such as tariffs. Labor or demographic economists study the supply and demand for labor and the determination of wages. These economists also try to explain the reasons for unemployment, and the effects on labor markets of changing demographic trends such as an aging population and increasing immigration. Public finance economists primarily are involved in studying the role of the government in the economy and the effects of tax cuts, budget deficits, and welfare policies. Econometricians are involved in all areas of economics and use mathematical techniques such as calculus, game theory, and regression analysis to formulate economic models. These models help to explain economic relationships and are used to develop forecasts related to the nature and length of business cycles, the effects of a specific rate of inflation on the economy, the effects of tax legislation on unemployment levels, and other economic phenomena. Many economists have applied these fundamental areas of economics to more narrow areas with specific applications such as health, education, agriculture, urban and regional economics, law, history, energy, and the environment. Most economists are concerned with practical applications of economic policy, and work for a variety of organizations. Economists working for corporations are involved primarily in microeconomic issues, such as forecasting consumer demand and sales of the firm�s products. Economists working for corporations might also analyze their competitors� growth and market share and advise their company on how to handle the competition. Other economists working for corporations monitor legislation passed by Congress, such as environmental and worker safety regulations, and assess its impact on their business. Corporations with many international branches or subsidiaries might employ economists to monitor the economic situations in countries where they do business, or to provide a risk assessment of a country into which the company might expand. Corporations that are too small or that do not have sufficient funding might hire economists working in economic consulting or research firms to perform the same tasks as staff economists. Economists in consulting firms also perform much of the macroeconomic analysis and forecasting that is completed in the United States. These economists collect data on various indicators, maintain databases, analyze historical trends, and develop models to forecast growth, inflation, unemployment, or interest rates. These analyses and forecasts are frequently published in newspapers and journal articles. Another large employer of economists is government. Economists in the Federal Government administer most of the surveys and collect most of the economic data in the United States. For example, economists in the U.S. Department of Commerce collect and analyze data on the production, distribution, and consumption of commodities produced in the United States and overseas, while economists employed by the U.S. Department of Labor collect and analyze data on the domestic economy, including those having to do with prices, wages, employment, productivity, and safety and health. Economists who work for government agencies also assess economic conditions in the United States or abroad in order to estimate the economic effects of specific changes in legislation or public policy. Government economists advise policy makers in areas such as telecommunications deregulation, Social Security revamping, the effects of tax cuts on the budget deficit, and the effectiveness of imposing tariffs on imported steel. An economist working in State or local government might analyze data on the growth of school-age or prison populations, and on employment and unemployment rates, in order to project future spending needs. Related news articles Ex-ECB chief economist Issing joins Goldman-sources - 16 Oct 2006 ReutersFRANKFURT, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The former chief economist of the European Central Bank, Otmar Issing, will become a part-time advisor for investment bank ... Economist Warns Government to Save for Rainy Day - 16 Oct 2006 Slovenia Business Week,An economist has warned that Slovenia should carry out reforms now that its economic growth is high, moreover he believes that it should tackle the problem of ... Chase Bank economist sees slower economy but no recession - 16 Oct 2006 MyWestTexas.com,Economists are watching the nation's economy, debating whether it will experience a soft landing or a hard landing. The answer, said ... Harvard Economist to Discuss Improvement of Health and Education ... - 16 Oct 2006 iBerkshires.com,Harvard University Professor of Economics Michael Kremer will deliver the Biannual Henry George Lecture at Williams College. His ... Baby Boomers Will Drive Sales at Retail, Economist Says - 16 Oct 2006 TheMatureMarket.com (press release),...who want to make money over the next decade will do well to focus on the rapidly growing Baby Boomer market, Leon Nicholas, an economist, told several hundred ... Economist blamed the slow development of the country on poor ... - 16 Oct 2006 Accra Daily Mail,An economist has observed that, though Ghana was the first country in the world to come out with an economic development plan in 1910, its development had not ... The Economist's European Telecoms Forum - 16 Oct 2006 Digital-Lifestyles.Info,The one-day event will address the changing telecoms landscape, looking at drivers for change. Which companies are proving to be ... Bank of Canada expected to stand pat on rates - 16 Oct 2006 CBC Ottawa,...a percentage point. Many economist expect the Bank of Canada to start dropping its key lending rate in 2007. Most economists say ... SCOR group Appointment - 16 Oct 2006 TF1,...d'Administration(ENA), held several government posts between 1981 and 1999, notably as Financial Attaché to the German embassy (1985-1987), Economist in the ... Economic Outlook: More efficient Europe helps hold down rates - 16 Oct 2006 International Herald Tribune,...the holy grail of economic welfare and stock market performance, has significantly accelerated," said Eric Chaney, the chief European economist at Morgan ... Half of economists expect BOJ rate hike in December - 16 Oct 2006 Mainichi Daily News,...out interest rate adjustments gradually, backed by the continued economic expansion and a mild recovery of prices, said Yasuo Goto, chief economist at the ... HIV+ dating and other connections - 16 Oct 2006 Reuters AlertNet,...in Johannesburg after a couple of his friends complained it was impossible for them to date because of their HIV status, The Economist reports (subscription ... Fuel to keep on sliding - 16 Oct 2006 Border Mail,PETROL prices have fallen to nine-month lows and motorists can expect them to keep on falling, a leading economist says. Australians ... More information on Economists from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Economists occupation Number of Economists in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Economists Working conditions for Economists Significant points for Economists Training requirements for Economists Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |