Macroeconomics is the branch of economics that studies the economy as a whole, including things like inflation, unemployment, and national income. It looks at big-picture trends rather than individual businesses or consumers.
From Greek 'makro-' meaning 'large' and 'economics,' from 'oikonomia' meaning 'household management.' The term contrasts with 'microeconomics,' which focuses on smaller units like firms and households.
Macroeconomics treats a country almost like a single giant household with income, spending, debt, and savings. This simplification is powerful—but also dangerous if we forget that real economies are made of millions of very different stories.
Macroeconomics as a field has historically been male-dominated, and many models treated households and labor in gender-neutral terms that effectively ignored women’s unpaid and care work. This shaped policy discussions that undervalued sectors where women were concentrated.
When explaining macroeconomics, include attention to gendered labor patterns and care economies where relevant, rather than assuming a genderless worker or household head.
Acknowledge contributions of women economists whose work on labor, development, and care has broadened macroeconomic analysis but has sometimes been marginalized in mainstream curricula.
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