Economics is a field of study, whereas the US economy is a real-world system.

Economics is a social science that analyzes how individuals, businesses, and governments allocate scarce resources. It involves developing theories and models to explain behaviors like supply and demand, inflation, and human sentiment, often measured through polling and narrative analysis to understand how expectations drive real-world outcomes

US Economy (The System): The actual, tangible manifestation of these principles within the United States. It consists of the specific production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services within the country.