If there's one subject that has been in the headlines almost daily over the past several years, it's the economy. It would behoove leaders on both sides of the political aisle—not to mention the barons of Wall Street—to bone up on economics so that a consensus could be reached on how best to allocate and manage America's resources. There is an urgent need for sharp, fresh minds in the field, and graduates can discover lucrative careers in economics in both business and government. The U.S. Census Bureau (2009) reports that economics majors are among those who earn the highest median salaries of all majors.

Students who major in Economics can seek work in the field of microeconomics, which focuses on individual firms and consumers, and macroeconomics, which analyzes national income and growth. Career opportunities are available in the following general areas:

• Banking

• Consulting

• Government

• Higher education

• Insurance

• Law

• Manufacturing

• Private business

• Public service

• Real estate

• Risk management