What economic process involves summing individual economic variables to understand the economy as a whole?

The economic process that involves summing individual economic variables to understand the economy as a whole is aggregation. This method allows economists to gather data from various sectors, regions, or individual behaviors and combine them to analyze overall economic trends and performance.

For instance, when looking at GDP, aggregation takes into account all individual expenditures, investments, and net exports to create a comprehensive picture of the national economy’s total output. By aggregating data, economists can identify patterns, correlations, and trends that may not be evident when analyzing individual components in isolation. This holistic approach helps policymakers make informed decisions aimed at addressing economic issues at the macro level.