What does an economist do? How well are they paid? What its like being one?

Question

I am thinking of being an environmental/rural economist.
I enjoy maths and geography. I care for the environment and animals.
I would like to know what is it like?
Is there much travelling involved? (I love travelling)
What do they actually DO?

Thanks!!

Answer 1

uses economic history and economic statistics combined with computer modelling to forecast what future economic fundementals will look like. They're not necessarily correct and usually you hear about them when prominent economists appear on newsnight etc to predict if the bank of england, or the federal reserve will raise or lower interest rates. You have to explain complicated economic situations to lay persons or those not in the field, communication is an important skill and you wouldn't give a straight answer in case you get the prediction very wrong! If you take a masters in economics you get a step into being a professional economist, investment banks pay better ie 30grand for several years experience, economists are very well educated people but once they reach the pinnacle, ie chief economist, or head of research they need to broaden their skill set into mainstream management, so basically professional routes are limited as pure economists. If you change organisations every two years and go for international groups, ie the world bank, or the organisation for economic cooperation and development, or the federal reserve that's london, europe and the states covered you do travel for change of jobs but that's about it. I don't know about environmental economics but economics of development ie the united nations or the grains council if remembered correctly is predominant in using economic analysis in a agricultural economic sense. My grandfather was an economist as is my Dad, I think you'll find it is a love of the subject that drives your working day, and at some point in your chosen career you will broaden out your economics specialism into other related jobs/fields ie business and management, because the prospects are limited in terms of pay, unless you want to revert back to university economist posts which care very much for theoretical expertise.