As an assistant professor of economics, your job is to teach economics classes to students at a college or university. Schools have differing programs, so the nature of each course may vary. Common subjects include basic economic theory, classes that focus on specific topics or areas of the world, public policy applications, and empirical analysis. You may be asked to conduct research for your school. Assistant professors usually teach four or five courses per year and spend the rest of their time supporting the other activities of the school. Other aspects of this job vary by school, but they may include guiding graduate students or helping full professors design classes.