What is the term for the study of how consumers and producers interact in the economy?

The correct term for the study of how consumers and producers interact in the economy is microeconomics. Microeconomics focuses on individual agents, such as households and firms, and their decision-making processes regarding the allocation of resources, pricing of goods and services, and interactions in various markets. It examines how these economic agents respond to changes in price, income, and preferences, providing insight into supply and demand dynamics, market structures, and consumer behavior.

In contrast, macroeconomics looks at the economy as a whole, analyzing aggregate indicators like GDP, unemployment rates, and inflation, which is a broader scope than individual market interactions. Behavioral economics incorporates psychological insights into economic decision-making but does not specifically focus on the interaction between consumers and producers. Game theory studies strategic interactions among rational decision-makers, which can be a part of microeconomics but is not exclusively about consumer-producer dynamics. Understanding microeconomics is crucial for grasping the fundamentals of economic interactions at the individual or market level.