political economy

American  

noun

1. a social science dealing with political policies and economic processes, their interrelations, and their influence on social institutions.

2. (in the 17th–18th centuries) the art of management of communities, especially as affecting the wealth of a government.

3. (in the 19th century) a social science similar to modern economics but dealing chiefly with governmental policies.

4. economics.

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political economy British  

noun

1. the former name for economics

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Other Word Forms

• political economist noun

Etymology

Origin of political economy

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

“This ‘military-bonyad complex’ is the fundamental glue of Iran’s political economy and underpins the state’s economic power,” it said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

The reason I wanted to tell that story is because it gives us hope today that the current economic orthodoxy can go the way of classical political economy.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2025

"In China targets must be met, by any means necessary," said Yuen Yuen Ang, professor of political economy at Johns Hopkins University.

From BBC • Oct. 3, 2024

“It’s actually easier to get into USC now than it was in the spring,” said Yoav Gillath, a senior who is earning an undergraduate degree in political economy and a masters in business analytics.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2024

For a number of years, I taught a course in political economy.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela