Economist

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An economist is a professional and practitioner in the social science discipline of economics.

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The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy. Within this field there are many sub-fields, ranging from the broad philosophical theories to the focused study of minutiae within specific markets, macroeconomic analysis, microeconomic analysis or financial statement analysis, involving analytical methods and tools such as econometrics, statistics, economics computational models, financial economics, mathematical finance and mathematical economics.

Professions

Former chair of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan, who obtained his Ph.D. in economics from New York University, testifies before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Mvc-017x.jpg
Former chair of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan, who obtained his Ph.D. in economics from New York University, testifies before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services
Former chair of the Federal Reserve Janet Yellen speaks with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, 2014 Chair Yellen and IMF Managing Director Lagarde 140702 (cropped).jpg
Former chair of the Federal Reserve Janet Yellen speaks with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, 2014

Economists work in many fields including [1] academia, government and in the private sector, where they may also "study data and statistics in order to spot trends in economic activity, economic confidence levels, and consumer attitudes. They assess this information using advanced methods in statistical analysis, mathematics, computer programming [and] they make recommendations about ways to improve the efficiency of a system or take advantage of trends as they begin." [2] In addition to government and academia, economists are also employed in banking, finance, accountancy, commerce, marketing, business administration, lobbying and non- or not-for profit organizations. [3]

In many organizations, an "Economic Analyst" is a formalized role. [4] Professionals here are employed (or engaged as consultants) to conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans and strategies to address economic problems. Here, as outlined, the analyst provides forecasts, analysis and advice, based upon observed trends and economic principles; this entails also collecting and processing economic and statistical data using econometric methods and statistical techniques.

In contrast to regulated professions such as engineering, law or medicine, there is not a legally required educational requirement or license for economists. In academia, most economists have a Ph.D. degree in Economics.[ citation needed ] In the U.S. Government, on the other hand, a person can be hired as an economist provided that they have a degree that included or was supplemented by 21 semester hours in economics and three hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus. [8] In fact, a professional working inside of one of many fields of economics or having an academic degree in this subject is often considered to be an economist; [1] see Bachelor of Economics and Master of Economics.

By country

Economics graduates are employable in varying degrees depending on the regional economic scenario and labour market conditions at the time for a given country. Apart from the specific understanding of the subject, employers value the skills of numeracy and analysis, the ability to communicate and the capacity to grasp broad issues which the graduates acquire at the university or college. Whilst only a few[ quantify ] economics graduates may be expected to become professional economists,[ citation needed ] many find it a base for entry into a career in finance – including accounting, insurance, tax and banking, or management; [ citation needed ] see financial analyst. A number of economics graduates from around the world have been successful in obtaining employment in a variety of major national and international firms in the financial and commercial sectors, and in manufacturing, retailing and IT, as well as in the public sector – for example, in the health and education sectors, or in government and politics. Small numbers[ quantify ][ citation needed ] go on to undertake postgraduate studies, either in economics, research, teacher training or further qualifications in specialist areas.

Brazil

Unlike most nations, the economist profession in Brazil is regulated by law; specifically, Law № 1,411, of August 13, 1951. The professional designation of an economist, according to said law, is exclusive to those who graduated with a Bachelor of Economics degree in Brazil. [9]

United States

Economist salaries by educational attainment Economists salary.png
Economist salaries by educational attainment

According to the United States Department of Labor, there were about 15,000 non-academic economists in the United States in 2008, with a median salary of roughly $83,000, and the top ten percent earning more than $147,040 annually. [11] Nearly 135 colleges and universities [12] [ verification needed ] grant around 900 new Ph.D.s every year. Incomes are highest for those in the private sector, followed by the federal government, with academia paying the lowest incomes. As of January 2013, PayScale.com showed Ph.D. economists' salary ranges as follows: all Ph.D. economists, $61,000 to $160,000; Ph.D. corporate economists, $71,000 to $207,000; economics full professors, $89,000 to $137,000; economics associate professors, $59,000 to $156,000, and economics assistant professors, $72,000 to $100,000. [10]

United Kingdom

The largest single professional grouping of economists in the UK are the more than 3500 members of the Government Economic Service. [13]

Analysis of destination surveys for economics graduates from a number of selected top schools of economics in the United Kingdom (ranging from Newcastle University to the London School of Economics), shows nearly 80 percent in employment six months after graduation – with a wide range of roles and employers, including regional, national and international organisations, across many sectors.[ citation needed ] This figure compares very favourably with the national picture, with 64 percent of economics graduates in employment.[ citation needed ]

Notable economists

Some current well-known economists include:

See also

Related Research Articles

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James Joseph Heckman is an American economist and Nobel laureate who serves as the Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago, where he is also a professor at the College, a professor at the Harris School of Public Policy, Director of the Center for the Economics of Human Development (CEHD), and Co-Director of Human Capital and Economic Opportunity (HCEO) Global Working Group. He is also a professor of law at the Law School, a senior research fellow at the American Bar Foundation, and a research associate at the NBER. He received the John Bates Clark Medal in 1983, and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2000, which he shared with Daniel McFadden. He is known principally for his pioneering work in econometrics and microeconomics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Tobin</span> American economist (1918–2002)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel McFadden</span> American economist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myron Scholes</span> Canadian–American financial economist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence Klein</span> American economist

Lawrence Robert Klein was an American economist. For his work in creating computer models to forecast economic trends in the field of econometrics in the Department of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, he was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1980 specifically "for the creation of econometric models and their application to the analysis of economic fluctuations and economic policies." Due to his efforts, such models have become widespread among economists. Harvard University professor Martin Feldstein told the Wall Street Journal that Klein "was the first to create the statistical models that embodied Keynesian economics," tools still used by the Federal Reserve Bank and other central banks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Spence</span> Canadian-American economist

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The Chicago school of economics is a neoclassical school of economic thought associated with the work of the faculty at the University of Chicago, some of whom have constructed and popularized its principles. Milton Friedman, and George Stigler are considered the leading scholars of the Chicago school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clive Granger</span> British economist & Nobel laureate (1934–2009)

Sir Clive William John Granger was a British econometrician known for his contributions to nonlinear time series analysis. He taught in Britain, at the University of Nottingham and in the United States, at the University of California, San Diego. Granger was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2003 in recognition of the contributions that he and his co-winner, Robert F. Engle, had made to the analysis of time series data. This work fundamentally changed the way in which economists analyse financial and macroeconomic data.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dale T. Mortensen</span> American economist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Hart (economist)</span> American economist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengt Holmström</span> Finnish economist and Nobel laureate (born 1949)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Maskin</span> American Nobel laureate in economics

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Barcelona School of Economics

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Bagicha Singh Minhas (1929-2005) is an Indian economist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Diamond</span> American economist

Douglas Warren Diamond is an American economist. He is currently the Merton H. Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he has taught since 1979. Diamond specializes in the study of financial intermediaries, financial crises, and liquidity. He is a former president of the American Finance Association (2003) and the Western Finance Association (2001-02).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guido Imbens</span> Dutch-American econometrician

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"This year's Laureates – David Card, Joshua Angrist and Guido Imbens – have shown that natural experiments can be used to answer central questions for society, such as how minimum wages and immigration affect the labour market. They have also clarified exactly which conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn using this research approach. Together, they have revolutionised empirical research in the economic sciences."

The 2022 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was divided equally between the American economists Ben S. Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond, and Philip H. Dybvig "for research on banks and financial crises" on 10 October 2022. The award was established in 1968 by an endowment "in perpetuity" from Sweden's central bank, Sveriges Riksbank, to commemorate the bank's 300th anniversary. Laureates in the Memorial Prize in Economics are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The Nobel Committee announced the reason behind their recognition, stating:

"This year's laureates in the Economic Sciences, Ben Bernanke, Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig, have significantly improved our understanding of the role of banks in the economy, particularly during financial crises. An important finding in their research is why avoiding bank collapses is vital."

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 "Economists". U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  2. "Economist", Princeton Review.
  3. "Economics Jobs and Economist Jobs". Econ-Jobs.com.
  4. "Economist or Economic Analyst", Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  5. "Why Tech Companies Hire So Many Economists", Harvard Business Review
  6. "What an Economist Brings to a Business Strategy", Harvard Business Review.
  7. "Federal Government Economic Analyst", University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
  8. "Economist Series, 0110: U.S. Office of Personnel Management".
  9. LEI № 1.411, DE 13 DE AGOSTO DE 1951 [LAW № 1,411, OF AUGUST 13, 1951](PDF) (in Portuguese). Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Pay Scale, US income of Economists" . Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  11. US Bureau of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook Archived April 30, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Subscription Application".
  13. "About Us". Gov.uk. Open Government Licence. Retrieved May 30, 2022.

Sources

Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg The dictionary definition of economist at Wiktionary