What social science studies the choices people and governments make when dividing scarce resources?

Economics is the social science that specifically focuses on how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions regarding the allocation of scarce resources. It examines the behavior and interactions of economic agents and the factors that influence their choices in the context of resource scarcity. This includes studying concepts such as supply and demand, market structures, and the impact of government policies on economic activity.

In contrast, psychology delves into the study of the mind and behavior, exploring individual mental processes rather than resource allocation. Sociology investigates social behavior and societal structures but does not primarily focus on economic decision-making. Political science examines the theory and practice of politics, governance, and the analysis of political systems, which may touch on resource allocation but from a governance and policy perspective rather than the direct economic interactions that economics studies. Thus, economics is the primary field dedicated to understanding how choices are made concerning the distribution of limited resources.