Economics
The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers a BA, BGS and BS, as well as a MA and a PhD in Economics. The study of economics offers students insight into some of the most fundamental issues facing societies today: what goods and services should we produce, how should they be produced, and how should they be distributed around the world. Economics is outstanding preparation for a career in finance, business, policy analysis, international relations, or any other field that requires rigorous analytic thinking. It also makes an excellent foundation for graduate study in economics, business, law, political science, or public administration.
Sample of Related Skills
- Recognize and appreciate the diversity of views that have historically been expressed or may reasonably exist about economic problems and alternative economic systems and present those views in a coherently written essay
- Identify compile, interpret, and analyze quantitative economic data by expressing relationships between concepts through graphs, statistical or econometric analysis, in coherent English
- Describe the institutions in the United States that shape monetary and fiscal policy and the processes these institutions use to achieve their goals in addressing issues of unemployment, inflation, exchange rate, balance of payments, or economic growth in a global context
- Use microeconomic tools and concepts to address public policy issues such as competition, environmental protection, financial regulation, innovation and intellectual property, labor law, or taxation
- Use macroeconomic models to explain the changes in output, employment, inflation, and growth
- Find information on price indices, employment and unemployment, world-wide GDP and human development statistics; organize and manipulate the data in spreadsheets and statistical programs; and interpret statistical results
Popular Career Paths
Economic and Market Research: Can involve forecasting consumer demand and sales of an organization's products and analysis of an organization's competitors' market share and provide recommendations on how to manage the competition.
Banking and Finance: Involves forecasting, planning, and conducting cost analysis for banks and financial institutions.
Government: Includes conducting policy analysis and/or collecting economic data for federal, state or local government agencies.
Research: Involves conducting basic and applied studies of human behavior.
Insurance: Involves advising insurers, their regulators, and legislators on risk management issues.
Jobs to Consider
- Actuary
- Auditor
- Claim Adjuster
- Commodities Trader
- Consultant
- Cost Analyst
- Credit Risk Manager
- Compensation Analyst
- Demographer
- Economic Analyst/Forecaster
- Energy Researcher
- Equity Analyst
- Financial Analyst/Economist
- Foreign Trade Analyst
- Health Policy Planner
- Insurance Salesperson
- Intelligence Officer
- International Trade Specialist
- Investment Banker
- Labor Economist
- Market Research Analyst
- Public Policy Consultant
- Purchasing Manager
- Research Economist
- Risk Analyst
- Securities Analyst/Broker
- Statistician
- Stockbroker
- Survey Researcher
- Underwriter
Places to Seek Employment
- Banks/Financial Institutions
- Brokerage Firms
- Chambers of Commerce
- Consulting Firms
- Credit Unions
- Federal, State and Local Government Agencies
- Forecasting Companies
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Hospitals
- Insurance Firms
- Law Firms
- Lobbying Organizations
- Market Research Firms
- Think Tanks
- Trade Associations
Explore More Career Resources
American Academy of Financial Management - professional organization with an extensive job board containing opportunities in a wide variety of financial sectors including compliance, risk management, equities, derivatives, and asset management
American Economic Association's Job Opening for Economists - comprehensive job board for opportunities in economics across the US
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research - non-profit political and economic research institute that offers jobs, internships and fellowships in research
CATO Institute - non-profit public policy research foundation that offers jobs and internships in policy research and economics
Economic Policy Institute - non-profit economic think tank that offers employment opportunities in policy research and economics
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority - largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States that offers jobs and internships in a variety of areas including economics, compliance, regulation, public policy and statistics
Foreign Policy Research Institute - non-profit devoted to research and public education on international affairs; includes jobs, internships, and a think tank directory
Gallup - survey and research organization that identifies and monitors behavioral economic indicators worldwide and offers jobs in economics, management, sociology and psychology
Government & Non-Profit Resources - more resources from career.ku.edu
Marketing Research Association - a career site devoted to a career in marketing research that includes current jobs, internships, and social networking sites
National Association for Business Economics Career Center - includes job postings, career profiles, salary surveys, and other valuable career information in business economics
National Economic Association Job Bulletin - nationwide job opportunities in economics
RAND Corporation - think tank that offers jobs, internships, and fellowships in international affairs and national security
Be an Actuary - offers many links to information on the career of an actuary
Society of Actuaries - provides links for applicants, recruiters, and interns to find valuable information on the career of an actuary