We've spent six episodes in the engine room, examining the intricate parts—the choices of consumers and the strategies of firms. Now, it's time to soar to 30,000 feet and see the entire landscape. Welcome to the world of Macroeconomics.

In this episode of Economics, we make a grand shift in perspective. Host [Host Name] leaves the individual market behind to ask the big questions that shape nations and our daily lives: What is an economy, really? How do we measure its health? Why do we have booms, busts, and inflation?

Prepare to understand the indicators that drive headlines and policy:

• The Big Picture: What macroeconomics studies and why it's the lens through which governments and central banks view the world.

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP): What this famous acronym truly measures—and what it misses about our well-being.

• Inflation and Unemployment: Exploring the fundamental forces that affect everyone's wallet and job security, and their often-complicated relationship.

• The Goal of Growth: Why economies strive to grow over time and what "progress" really means in economic terms.

This is the origin story for understanding the economic news that impacts your job, your savings, and your future. Whether it's a debate about a stimulus package or a news report on a recession, this episode provides the essential framework you need to listen like an expert.

The story of our collective economic life is just beginning. Subscribe to "Economics" on Spotify for the next chapter.