Natural resourceNatural resources are resources that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest, and cultural value. On Earth, it includes sunlight, atmosphere, water, land, all minerals, along with all vegetation, and wildlife. Natural resources are part of humanity's natural heritage or protected in nature reserves.
Economic inequalityDistribution of income or wealth between different groupsGlobal map of countries by high inequality (based on Gini index), 2022, according to the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) <30 30–35 35–40 40–45 45–50 50+Share of income of the top 1% for the G7 developed countries, 1975 to 2015Economic inequality is an umbrella term for three concepts: income inequality, how the total sum of money paid to people is distributed among them; wealth inequality, how the total sum of wealth owned by people is distributed among the owners; and consumption inequality, how the total sum of money spent by people is distributed among the spenders.
InfrastructureInfrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms to function. Infrastructure is composed of public and private physical structures such as roads, railways, bridges, airports, public transit systems, tunnels, water supply, sewers, electrical grids, and telecommunications (including Internet connectivity and broadband access).
Economies of agglomerationEconomies of agglomeration (also called agglomeration economies or agglomeration effects) are productivity and cost advantages that arise when firms, workers, consumers, and other economic activity are located near one another. They are a central topic in urban economics, economic geography, and regional science, and help explain why economic activity is geographically concentrated in cities and industrial clusters.
InvestmentInvestment is traditionally defined as the "commitment of resources into something expected to gain value over time". If an investment involves money, then it can be defined as a "commitment of money to receive more money later". From a broader viewpoint, an investment can be defined as "to tailor the pattern of expenditure and receipt of resources to optimise the desirable patterns of these flows".Real incomeReal income is the income of individuals or nations after adjusting for inflation. It is calculated by dividing nominal income by the price level. Real variables such as real income and real GDP are variables that are measured in physical units, while nominal variables such as nominal income and nominal GDP are measured in monetary units.
ProductivityProductivity is the efficiency of production of goods or services expressed by some measure. Measurements of productivity are often expressed as a ratio of an aggregate output to a single input or an aggregate input used in a production process, i.e. output per unit of input, typically over a specific period of time. The most common example is the (aggregate) labour productivity measure, one example of which is GDP per worker.
Health careHealth care, or healthcare, is the improvement or maintenance of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health professionals and allied health fields. Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, midwifery, nursing, optometry, audiology, psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, athletic training, and other health professions all constitute health care.Price levelThe general price level is a hypothetical measure of overall prices for some set of goods and services (the consumer basket), in an economy or monetary union during a given interval (generally one day), normalized relative to some base set. Typically, the general price level is approximated with a daily price index, normally the Daily CPI. The general price level can change more than once per day during hyperinflation.
Empirical researchEmpirical research is research using empirical evidence. It is also a way of gaining knowledge by means of direct and indirect observation or experience. Empiricism values some research more than other kinds. Empirical evidence (the record of one's direct observations or experiences) can be analyzed quantitatively or qualitatively.Human capitalHuman capital or human assets is a concept used by economists to designate personal attributes considered useful in the production process in business or trade. It encompasses employee knowledge, skills, know-how, good health, and education. Human capital has a substantial impact on individual earnings. Research indicates that investments in human capital generate high economic returns throughout childhood and young adulthood.
InflationDevaluation of money's purchasing powerGlobal rates of inflation in April 2026 among International Monetary Fund membersUK and US monthly inflation rates from January 1989In economics, inflation is an increase in the average price of goods and services in terms of money, though it originally referred to the increase of the money supply (monetary inflation) that can cause such a universal shift.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.