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Economist  What They Do

Just the Facts


Conducts research, prepares reports, or formulates plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

This career is part of the Finance cluster Corporate Finance pathway.


A person in this career:

  • Studies economic and statistical data in a specific area, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
  • Gives economic advice to businesses and to public and private agencies.
  • Analyzes data to explain economic changes and forecast future market trends.
  • Develops economic guidelines and standards used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.
  • Testifies at hearings concerning the effects of changes in legislation and presents recommendations based on cost-benefit analyses.
  • Supervises research projects.
  • Forecasts production and consumption of resources.
  • Teaches theories, principles and methods of economics.
  • Provides litigation support, such as writing reports for expert testimony or testifying as an expert witness.

Insider Info

Dig into the details and check out what people in this job have to say about their work.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Agricultural Economist -- Analyses economic and social phenomena in the world, and their impact on agriculture.
  • Business Economist -- Uses a variety of sources to forecast, monitor and plan for future economic trends. This includes conducting extensive research, creating reports, analyzing data, then developing plans for businesses to plan for future growth and financial stability.
  • Environmental Economist -- Conducts economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources.
  • Policy Analyst -- Researches and compares possible solutions to a broad range of problems, from stemming school dropout rates and ensuring access to affordable health care to protecting the nation from terrorism and ensuring stable economic growth, and then markets their s
  • Economic Analyst --
  • Economic Developer --
  • Financial Economist --