Economics develops methods for analyzing some of the more difficult questions of our day in the areas of personal spending behavior, business decisions and public policy. Economic analysis can help in making production decisions, pricing policies, and location decisions in business. Economists study the social and financial demands placed on the medical industry to develop policies for providing adequate care at acceptable costs. Economists study how economies work, recommending policies to encourage growth and minimize unemployment. According to Business Week magazine, economics is the second most popular college major among the nation's top one thousand CEO's, second only to engineering.
Economists study business within the context of the market setting and overall economic conditions.
An economics degree has a broader focus than a concentration in management or marketing, for example. Economics is versatile and provides the mental flexibility to cope with unexpected events. While this can be a disadvantage in competing for some narrowly defined tasks, it also presents a wider range of opportunities over an entire career. Many economics graduates take jobs in sales and marketing, or enter management trainee programs. The economics graduate is not restricted to one job title.