What do students actually study in an economics degree?
An economics degree examines how people, businesses and governments make choices when resources are limited. Students may study microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematics, statistics and econometrics, then apply them to topics such as markets, inflation, unemployment, development, finance, public policy and inequality. Courses may also include research projects, data analysis and optional specialist modules.
Key points
- Microeconomics focuses on individual consumers, firms, incentives and markets; macroeconomics examines economies, growth, inflation and employment.
- Mathematics, statistics and econometrics are used to model economic relationships, analyse data and assess evidence.
- Depending on the course, students may study policy, finance, environmental economics, international trade, development or behavioural economics.
- Assessment can include examinations, problem sets, essays, presentations, coding or empirical research.
Things to check
- The balance between theory, mathematics, data and applied topics varies by university, country and degree title, so check the specific course curriculum.