what is the role of an economist 
an economist studies the relationship between a society s resources and its production or output and their opinions help shape economic policies related to interest rates tax laws employment programs international trade agreements and corporate strategies economists analyze economic indicators such as gross domestic product and the consumer price index to identify potential trends or make economic forecasts according to the bureau of labor statistics bls 38 of all economists in the united states work for a federal or state agency economists are also employed as consultants professors by corporations or as part of economic think tanks 2