Economics is the study of how people, firms or institutions make the value of the resources they have available. An economy is a set of interacting actors, namely: producers, distributors, consumers, sellers, government authorities and lenders. In economic theory, economics refers to the processes by which these actors organize their interactions to make a profit. In simple terms, economics refers to the method by which goods and services are produced, marketed, exchanged or saved.
The study of economics has various frameworks, including microeconomics, macroeconomics and market economies. Microeconomics deals with the action of individuals and firms within a market economy. Market economies, on the other hand, deal with the action of large quantities of producers and distributors in relation to the externalities that limit their profits.
Within the framework of microeconomics, the study of economics seeks to explain how people and firms make the value of the variables that surround them-the goods and services that they can produce or acquire, the amount of money that they need to acquire and the ways in which they exchange this for the goods and services that they can sell. On the other hand, in the study of macroeconomics, the study of how market economies maintain a stable currency rate, price level, interest rates, economic growth and other macroeconomic variables. The scope of microeconomics and macroeconomics is quite diverse and their analysis spans the full spectrum of the market economy.
A major component of the functioning of any economy is the operation of the market system. The operation of the market system, which determines the level and price of goods and allows the exchange of one kind of scarce resource (goods or services) for another, is known as the economic system. The existence of markets serves to reduce and eliminate the risks of inefficient distribution of scarce resources. For example, in the case of economies that function through the exchange of money, the presence of markets serves to eliminate the risks of exchange through inefficient use of scarce resources such as money. Through effective pricing and effective distribution, the economy is able to ensure that the wealth generated by the efficient functioning of its economic system is distributed without wasting opportunities for inefficient distribution of wealth.
Household management is an important aspect of economics that is often ignored or even taken for granted in ordinary life. Household management refers to the management of a household enterprise, whether it is a business or a domestic interaction. Economists look into household management both in the microeconomics of households such as production and consumption, and in macroeconomics, such as economic growth and unemployment rates.
In addition to economic theory, economics teachers should also teach students about practical, economic skills such as accounting, budgeting, saving and spending habits, household management, financial decision making, and interpersonal communication. It is important for all economies to have effective and efficient distribution of scarce resources like money. In order for a society to function efficiently and maintain high levels of economic activity, all individuals must be economically competent at all times. For students taking up economics as a first course in college, it will be beneficial to take up a course on the subject that emphasizes household management and other economically relevant topics.