Economics is the social science that studies how individuals, businesses, governments, and societies make choices about allocating scarce resources to satisfy their needs and wants. It involves the analysis of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, examining how economies function and the behavior of economic agents.
Economics is typically divided into two main branches: microeconomics, which focuses on the actions of individuals and firms, and macroeconomics, which looks at the economy as a whole, including aspects like national income, overall employment, inflation, and economic growth.
The discipline explores concepts such as supply and demand, market structures, and the roles of competition and monopoly. It also studies economic systems, policy-making, and the effects of government interventions.
Economists use models and theories to understand various economic phenomena and to predict future economic trends, making economics a vital field for understanding both individual decision-making and the overall functioning of economies.