What does an economist do?

Economists are professional social scientists who study and analyze social and economic behavior on a range of scales, from small household economies to national and global economies. It is the job of an economist to conduct research using observation, surveys, and data analysis to determine the usage of shared resources. These resources may include raw materials, land, labor, energy, or machinery. State, local, and federal government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations and academic institutions, rely heavily on economists. Economists help streamline budgets and distribution, and in some cases, use their data to forecast future resource needs.