Economist#Professions

{{short description|Professional in the discipline of economics}}

{{About|the profession|the news publication|The Economist|other uses|Economist (disambiguation)}}

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

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, regulatory impact analysis and mathematical economics.

Professions

File:Mvc-017x.jpg Alan Greenspan, who obtained his Ph.D. in economics from New York University, testifies before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services.]]

File:Chair Yellen and IMF Managing Director Lagarde 140702 (cropped).jpg speaks with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, 2014.]]

Economists work in many fields including 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."[https://www.princetonreview.com/careers/56/economist "Economist"], Princeton Review. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.econ-jobs.com/|title=Economics Jobs and Economist Jobs|publisher= Econ-Jobs.com}}

In many organizations, an "Economic Analyst" is a formalized role.[https://www.bls.gov/audience/economists.htm "Economist or Economic Analyst"], Bureau of Labor Statistics. 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|date=December 2019}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/economist-series-0110/|title=Economist Series, 0110: U.S. Office of Personnel Management}} 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;{{Cite web |title=Economists |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Life-Physical-and-Social-Science/Economists.htm |access-date=2017-02-02 |website=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |language=en-us}} 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|date=July 2016}} economics graduates may be expected to become professional economists,{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} many find it a base for entry into a career in finance – including accounting, insurance, tax and banking, or management.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

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. Some graduates 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 No. 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.{{cite act |type= |index= |date= |article= |article-type= |legislature= |title= LEI № 1.411, DE 13 DE AGOSTO DE 1951|script-title= |trans-title= LAW № 1,411, OF AUGUST 13, 1951|page= |url= https://www2.camara.leg.br/legin/fed/lei/1950-1959/lei-1411-13-agosto-1951-361899-normaatualizada-pl.pdf|access-date= May 10, 2024|via= |language= pt}}

=United States=

File:Economists salary.png

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.[http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos055.htm#earnings/ US Bureau of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060430185238/http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos055.htm#earnings/ |date=April 30, 2006 }} Nearly 135 colleges and universities{{cite web|url=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AEA/gradstudents/Schools.htm|title=Subscription Application}}{{verify source|date=June 2016}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Ph.D._Economics/Salary|title=Pay Scale, US income of Economists|access-date=2013-01-14}}

=United Kingdom=

The largest single professional grouping of economists in the UK are the more than 3500 members of the Government Economic Service.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-economic-service/about |website=Gov.uk |publisher=Open Government Licence |access-date=May 30, 2022}}

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|date=June 2016}}

Notable economists

{{See also|List of economists|History of economic thought}}

Some current well-known economists include:

See also

{{portal|Business and economics}}

References

=Citations=

{{Reflist}}

= Sources =

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  • Mark Blaug and Howard R. Vane (1983, 2003 4th ed.). {{Interlanguage link|Who's who in Economics|ru}}. Table of Contents [https://books.google.com/books?id=29U9GeQQnSUC&q=%22who's+who%22+blaug links.] Cheltenham & Edward Elgar Pub.
  • Pressman, Steven, 2006. Fifty Major Economists. Routledge,
  • Robert Sobel, 1980. The Worldly Economists .

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