What do people mean when they say "the economy"?

webtaz99 · **Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:09 pm What do people mean when they say "the economy"?**

It may sound like a stupid question, but if you can't define your terms you are talking nonsense.

I consider "the economy" to be the sum total of all activity related to the exchange of money between any people or business entities.

In that view, it is nearly (if not) impossible to consider any given thing "good for the economy" or "bad for the economy", because any thing that benefits some detracts from others.

Republican_Man · **Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:36 pm Re: What do people mean when they say "the economy"**

superwoman · **Fri Jun 10, 2005 3:00 pm**

Hm.
"The economy"... well... who's economy are we talking about? The goverment's economy? Or just a general economy? (maybe that was the question...?)

If we're talking about an economy for everyone... then you're totally right, webtaz.
An exchange in money/services might be bad for one part, but then again it's as bad for one part as it's good for the other part. (do you get what I'm trying to explain?) Therefor it "level out".

But if someone were to mention "The economy" in a conversation, then I'd think that they were refering to the goverment's economy... (those who we pay taxes to and stuff like that) And in that case... something can be bad, since the goverment is only on of the parts.

...Heh, Maybe you should come back in three years or so when I'm finished with my studies, and I'll answer that question... better.

Republican_Man · **Fri Jun 10, 2005 3:26 pm**

Well, in that case I would say that when someone talks about the economy, they mean the general economy. I don't believe that there is a government economy, at least not in the US, although the government DOES have influence on the economy.

webtaz99 · **Fri Jun 10, 2005 6:10 pm**

I'm not saying I'm right, I'm trying to find out what other people think "the economy" means.

Seven of Nine · **Sat Jun 11, 2005 12:40 am**

I think of it as the exchange of money or value in some way or enougher, especially between businesses, and how people spend their money comes into it. It's an all encompassing word, that talks about a lot of things.

Every society has some sort of economy, whether it involves actual money or not. It's a part of human life.

lionhead · **Sat Jun 11, 2005 7:58 am**

Economy is a word for all the *beep* involving money.

Dirt · **Sat Jun 11, 2005 8:04 am**

Economy is how much money we have to spend and what we do with it

lionhead · **Sun Jun 12, 2005 6:23 am**

yep, thats what i meant

. what Dirt said...

Natira · **Sun Jun 12, 2005 11:34 am**

Republican_Man · **Sun Jun 12, 2005 1:39 pm**

LightningBoy · **Sun Jun 12, 2005 5:20 pm**

I would define the common meaning for the phrase "the economy" as the scale in which people measure the positives or negatives of the peoples' financial transactions weighed against the positives or negatives of the governments' financial transactions.

To sum it up, it's how well off (financially) the average citizen is, due to the spending or saving of the nation (people, business, and government)