• Economists analyze how people make choices. This statement may seem very simplistic, but it captures the most fundamental aspects of the economics discipline. The range of issues and circumstances that shape peoples' choice are vast and complicated, so economists use conceptual tools to focus on the most important decision-making factors and to predict typical outcomes of peoples' interactions.
  • Economists also use empirical tools to test the theory, analyze data, and inform ongoing decision-making.  Policymakers in both government and business rely on economists for research findings and advice.
  • At the undergraduate level, students can learn about the methods of analysis that economists use and about the various fields of inquiry where economists have been most productive.