Economics is a complex subject filled with a maze of confusing terms and details which can be difficult to explain. Even economists have trouble defining exactly what economics means. Yet, there is no doubt that the economy and the things we learn through economics affects our everyday lives.
In short, economics is the study of how people and groups of people use their resources. Money certainly is one of those resources, but other things can play a role in economics as well. In an attempt to clarify all this, let's take a look at the basics of economics and why you might consider studying this complex field.
The Field of Economics
Economics is divided into two general categories: microeconomics and macroeconomics. One looks at the individual markets while the other looks at an entire economy.
From there, we can narrow economics into a number of subfields of study. These include econometrics, economic development, agricultural economics, urban economics, and much more.
If you have an interest in how the world works and how financial markets or industry outlooks affect the economy, you might consider studying economics. It's a fascinating field and has career potential in a number of disciplines, from finance to sales to the government.
Two Essential Concepts of Economics
Much of what we study in economics has to do with money and the markets. What are people willing to pay for something? Is one industry doing better than another? What is the economic future of the country or world? These are important questions economists examine and it comes with a few basic terms.
Supply and Demand is one of the first things we learn in economics. Supply speaks to the quantity of something that's available for sale while demand refers to the willingness to purchase it. If the supply is higher than the demand, the market is thrown off balance and costs typically decrease. The opposite is true if demand is greater than the supply available because that commodity is more desirable and harder to obtain.
Elasticity is another key concept in economics. Essentially, here we're talking about how much the price of something can fluctuate before it has a negative impact on sales. Elasticity ties into demand and some products and services are more elastic than others. READ MORE...
