Overview

Economics is the study of human decision-making, considered in relation to the economic tasks of life. It looks at how individuals within larger social groups, including communities, organizations, markets, and economies, make decisions about how much to work and play, spend and save. Economic analysis also considers how the economic decisions made by one group of people affect the decisions made by others and how the aggregated effects of these decisions impact production, distribution, trade, and the consumption of goods and services across local regions, countries, and the world. AI tools expand the scale and efficiency of economic and social data analysis and significantly increase the capacity to analyze economies and behaviors. The Economics curriculum at NYU Abu Dhabi is designed to introduce students to these fundamental dynamics of human life and, in doing so, is grounded in three basic pedagogical principles: Undergraduate students must be exposed to the "big ideas" and pressing social issues of our world and given the economic frameworks for thinking about them. Meaningful study of economics requires being able to think about problems from local, regional, and global perspectives. Effective economic reasoning increasingly involves a multidisciplinary approach combining the best economic thinking with the best thinking in psychology, history, statistics, and politics. Building on these principles, the Economics major is designed to foster rigorous analytical abilities, critical writing and communication skills, and the capacity to interpret and use statistical data — all in the service of developing sound economic reasoning and problem-solving skills. These transferable strengths are of value in a broad array of academic and professional paths, from economics, business, or law, to public service or graduate studies.