Final answer:
An economy is a social structure managing resources, with demand and supply in markets dictating production and distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
An economy is a fundamental social structure within human society, serving as the system through which resources are managed, goods and services are produced, and needs and wants of individuals are met. Through various economic systems such as barter, the use of money, capitalism, and socialism, economies adapt to their environment and express cultural values. Markets play a crucial role in this system, where demand and supply determine what is produced, how it is produced, and for whom it is produced.