Economics is often described as a social science because?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks why economics is called a social science. This has two parts: "social" (it studies human behaviour in society) and "science" (it uses a systematic, scientific approach).

Step 2: Explain the concept A science is a field of study that uses systematic methods: observation, data collection, formulating hypotheses, testing them, and drawing conclusions. This helps explain what has happened and predict what may happen. Economics does this when it studies people's choices, such as how prices affect demand, how inflation affects spending, or how government policy affects employment.

Unlike natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology), economics deals with human beings, so it usually can't rely on laboratory or controlled experiments.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Laboratory experiments are performed: Wrong. This describes natural sciences like chemistry or physics. Economists generally don't study people in a laboratory.
• B. It makes use of controlled experiments: Wrong. Human behaviour in the economy is hard to control, so this is not what defines economics.
• C. It uses scientific methods to explain an observed phenomenon and predict future events: Correct. Economists observe economic events, build theories and models, test them with data, and use them to forecast. That is the scientific method applied to society.
• D. It makes use of fieldwork: Wrong. Fieldwork (like surveys) is just one data-collection technique. Many disciplines use it, and it doesn't make a subject a science.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is C.

Exam tip: When a question asks why a subject is a "science," look for the option about scientific methods, explanation, and prediction. Options mentioning laboratories or controlled experiments usually point to the natural sciences, which is a common trap in this kind of question.