Editing Economist (section)

==Professions==
[[File:Mvc-017x.jpg|thumb|Former [[chair of the Federal Reserve]] [[Alan Greenspan]], who obtained his Ph.D. in economics from [[New York University]], testifies before the [[U.S. House Committee on Financial Services]].]]
[[File:Chair Yellen and IMF Managing Director Lagarde 140702 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Former chair of the Federal Reserve [[Janet Yellen]] speaks with [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] Managing Director [[Christine Lagarde]], 2014.]]

Economists work in many fields including<ref name="bls"/> academia, government and in the private sector, where they may also "study data and statistics in order to spot trends in economic activity, economic confidence levels, and consumer attitudes. They assess this information using advanced methods in statistical analysis, mathematics, computer programming [and] they make recommendations about ways to improve the efficiency of a system or take advantage of trends as they begin."<ref>[https://www.princetonreview.com/careers/56/economist "Economist"], [[Princeton Review]].</ref> In addition to government and academia, economists are also employed in [[bank]]ing, [[finance]], [[accountancy]], [[commerce]], [[marketing]], [[management|business administration]], [[lobbying]] and non- or not-for profit organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.econ-jobs.com/|title=Economics Jobs and Economist Jobs|publisher= Econ-Jobs.com}}</ref>

In many organizations, an "'''Economic Analyst'''" is a formalized role.<ref>[https://www.bls.gov/audience/economists.htm "Economist or Economic Analyst"], [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]].</ref> Professionals here are employed (or engaged as [[consultants]]) to conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans and strategies to address economic problems. Here, as outlined, the analyst provides forecasts, analysis and advice, based upon observed trends and economic principles; this entails also collecting and processing economic and statistical data using econometric methods and statistical techniques. 
* Economic analysts employed [[Investment banking#Research|in financial institutions]] and in other large corporates, provide the (long term) [[economic forecast]]s used within their organizations. Relatedly, they consult to fund managers, risk managers, [[Corporate finance#Investment and project valuation|and corporate analysts]] re their [[investment strategy]] / [[capital budgeting]] decisions. Particularly in [[Technology company|the tech sector]],<ref>[https://hbr.org/2019/02/why-tech-companies-hire-so-many-economists "Why Tech Companies Hire So Many Economists"], [[Harvard Business Review]]</ref> the focus may be microeconomic, addressing pricing, competition, and customer behavior. Re. either perspective, ([[chief economist|chief]]) economists are also often included<ref>[https://hbr.org/2014/09/what-an-economist-brings-to-a-business-strategy "What an Economist Brings to a Business Strategy"], [[Harvard Business Review]].</ref> in [[business strategy|strategy formulation]].
* In the [[public sector]], analysts advise legislators and executives on economic policy, public works, and related; [[politician]]s often consult economists before enacting economic [[policy]]; and many statesmen have academic degrees in economics. A Federal Government Economic Analyst<ref>[https://economics.illinois.edu/node/758 "Federal Government Economic Analyst"], [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]].</ref> conducts economic analysis of issues directly related to the function of their [[List of federal agencies in the United States|federal government agency]].

In contrast to regulated [[profession]]s such as engineering, law or medicine, there is not a legally required educational requirement or license for economists. In academia, most economists have a [[List of fields of doctoral studies in the United States#Social sciences|Ph.D. degree in Economics]].{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} In the U.S. Government, on the other hand, a person can be hired as an economist provided that they have a degree that included or was supplemented by 21 semester hours in economics and three hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/economist-series-0110/|title=Economist Series, 0110: U.S. Office of Personnel Management}}</ref> In fact, a professional working inside of one of many fields of economics or having an academic degree in this subject is often considered to be an economist;<ref name="bls">{{Cite web |title=Economists |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Life-Physical-and-Social-Science/Economists.htm |access-date=2017-02-02 |website=[[U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]] |language=en-us}}</ref> see [[Bachelor of Economics]] and [[Master of Economics]].