political economy

noun

a social science dealing with political policies and economic processes, their interrelations, and their influence on social institutions.
(in the 17th–18th centuries) the art of management of communities, especially as affecting the wealth of a government.
(in the 19th century) a social science similar to modern economics but dealing chiefly with governmental policies.
economics(def 1).

Origin of political economy

First recorded in 1605–15

OTHER WORDS FROM political economy

political economist, noun

Words nearby political economy

politian, politic, political, political action committees, political asylum, political economy, political liberty, political prisoner, political question, political refugee, political science

Example sentences from the Web for political economy

  • I have finished Harriet Martineau's political-economy story, which I liked exceedingly.

    Records of a Girlhood |Frances Ann Kemble

British Dictionary definitions for political economy

political economy

noun

the former name for economics (def. 1)