Managing a company, analyzing markets, monitoring costs or optimizing processes - these are all tasks performed by economists. As experts in economic interrelationships, they keep an eye on value chains in medium-sized industrial companies, global corporations, banks and insurance companies as well as public authorities, associations and institutions and look for ways to optimize them.
Students of economics should therefore have a good general education, a good knowledge of mathematics and modern foreign languages as well as an interest in economic, social, political and historical issues. They should also be able to think analytically and proceed methodically, be socially competent and able to work in a team, as well as being able to work independently and theoretically.
In addition to generalist business administration and economics courses, there are also courses that focus on an industry or service sector or combine the content of other subject areas, e.g. with engineering, mathematics, computer science, law, social sciences or linguistics and cultural studies. Examples of this are industrial engineering, business informatics and business law (see also chapter 3.2 Engineering and chapter 3.6 Law and social sciences). In this field of study, changes in political and economic conditions, e.g. the globalization and internationalization of markets, growing capital exports, relocation and outsourcing of parts of companies, etc. have led to more European and internationally oriented degree courses and integrated exchange programs.
With a Bachelor's degree in economics, it is generally possible to start a career in middle management, for example, while a Master's degree is generally a prerequisite for management positions and tasks in higher management.
