Correlation between Commerce and Social Studies
Meaning of Social Science
Social Science is the study of human society and how people behave in groups. It includes subjects like history, geography, economics, political science, and sociology. It helps us understand how people live, work, and make decisions in society.
ACCORDING TO CHARLES BEARD
“Social Science is a body of knowledge and thought that deals with human relationships.”
ACCORDING TO MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY
“Social Science is any of the various branches of science that deal with human society and social relationships.”
ACCORDING TO PAUL SAMUELSON
“Social sciences try to explain how people live, behave, and make choices in society, based on facts and observations.”
According to the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), the following subjects are included under Social Sciences in the school curriculum:
- History
- Geography
- Political Science (Civics)
- Economics
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Anthropology
- Philosophy
- Education
These subjects help students understand social, political, and economic life more deeply and with a broader perspective.
Meaning of Commerce
Commerce is the study of trade, business activities, goods and services, and how they are exchanged. It includes buying and selling, transport, banking, insurance, advertising, and communication. Commerce helps businesses grow and supports the economy of a country.
ACCORDING TO JAMES STEPHENSON
“Commerce is the sum total of those processes which are engaged in the removal of hindrances of persons (trade), place (transport), and time (warehousing) in the exchange of commodities.”
ACCORDING TO J. L. HANSON
“Commerce is concerned with the buying and selling of goods, the exchange of commodities, and services which support trade like banking, transport, and insurance.”
ACCORDING TO E. L. FERNAND
“Commerce means the organized system of trade and aids to trade such as transport, banking, insurance, and warehousing.”
Correlation between Commerce and Social Studies
Correlation between Commerce and Social Studies
Commerce and Social Studies are closely related subjects. Social Studies helps us understand how society works, including the roles of people, governments, and resources. Commerce, on the other hand, is about trade, business, and the economy. When we study both together, we can better understand how businesses affect society and how social changes affect business activities. For example, studying history helps us understand how trade started. Learning economics helps us understand how money works. Civics helps us learn about the rights and responsibilities of businesses in society. So, both subjects support each other.
Commerce satisfies social needs
Commerce plays a very important role in meeting the needs of people in society. It makes goods and services available to people wherever they live. For example, through trade, people living in villages can get medicines, books, clothes, or even electronics that are made in faraway cities or countries. Commerce removes barriers of time, place, and people by using tools like transport, storage, communication, and advertising.
Because of commerce, people can choose between different products, compare prices, and buy what suits them best. This variety and availability help improve their standard of living. Commerce also provides important services like banking, insurance, and online payments that make life more comfortable. In this way, commerce satisfies the basic and luxury needs of people in society.
Society satisfies need of commerce
Just as commerce helps society, society also supports and strengthens commerce. Without the support of people, business activities cannot take place. People form businesses, work in shops and offices, buy goods, and even help in promoting them. Society provides the workforce, including managers, salespeople, and labourers, who are essential for running any business. Society also creates demand for goods and services. When people want something, businesses try to supply it. This demand keeps commerce alive. Social rules, customs, and values also shape how businesses work.
For example, if a society values cleanliness and eco-friendliness, businesses start selling eco-friendly products. In this way, society shapes and supports commerce by providing people, culture, values, and customers.
Commerce and social development
Commerce contributes greatly to the development of society. It creates jobs in various fields like trade, transport, banking, packaging, advertising, and IT. These jobs give people income, which helps them live better lives. With increased income, people can send their children to school, eat better food, and live in good homes. Commerce also helps reduce poverty and supports financial growth in both rural and urban areas. It improves public facilities by encouraging the government to build better infrastructure like roads, markets, schools, and hospitals.
Profitable businesses pay taxes, and that money is used to develop society. In addition, commerce encourages skill development, innovation, and entrepreneurship, which makes society more active and advanced. So, commerce is not just about making money; it also helps build a strong and healthy society.
Commerce and International Society
Commerce has connected the world into one global family. It brings countries closer through trade and economic cooperation. Today, we use products that are made in different parts of the world — clothes from Bangladesh, phones from China, chocolates from Switzerland, and oil from the Middle East. This is possible because of international commerce. Trade between countries helps in the exchange of ideas, cultures, and technologies. It also builds peace and understanding among nations, because when countries do business together, they also work together and avoid conflicts.
Commerce allows people to travel, learn new languages, and enjoy products from different cultures. It also helps poor countries grow by giving them access to foreign markets. In short, commerce promotes friendship, progress, and peace at the international level.
Commerce and Legislation
Commerce is closely related to the laws made by the government. These laws are known as legislation, and they are made to ensure fairness, safety, and honesty in business. Commerce must follow rules related to taxation, labour rights, environmental protection, quality standards, and customer protection. Without laws, businesses might cheat customers or harm the environment. So, legislation ensures that commerce runs smoothly and fairly. It also helps in solving disputes between buyers and sellers.
For example, if someone gets a damaged product or is overcharged, they can file a complaint because laws exist to protect them. Governments also create rules about import-export, banking, advertising, and pricing. In this way, legislation keeps a check on business practices and helps commerce grow in a legal and fair way.
Marketing and Society
Marketing is a part of commerce that deals with promoting and selling products. It has a big impact on society because it influences what people buy, how they think, and how they behave. Through advertisements, social media, and other promotions, marketing creates awareness about new products and services. It helps people make informed choices. Sometimes, marketing also shapes cultural values. For example, ads that promote healthy food or eco-friendly products influence society to adopt better habits. Marketing also gives people information about prices, discounts, and product features, which helps them save money and choose wisely. However, it must be done honestly, because false or misleading ads can harm people. So, marketing and society influence each other strongly.
Commerce and Employment
Commerce is one of the biggest sources of employment in any country. It creates jobs in many areas like retail shops, banks, transport, warehouses, advertising agencies, packaging industries, and online businesses. From small vendors on streets to large multinational companies, all provide work to people with different skills and qualifications. Even small businesses like grocery shops, salons, and tailoring stores give jobs to people. As commerce grows, more people get work and earn income. This helps families, supports children’s education, and improves the economy. Self-employment also increases because of commerce, as many people start their own businesses like food delivery, freelancing, or online selling. So, commerce supports both direct and indirect employment and reduces unemployment in society.
Commerce and History
Commerce and history are closely linked because trade has played a key role in shaping civilizations. Historical trade routes like the Silk Road and Spice Route connected countries and led to the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas. Many wars, discoveries, and empires were based on trade and commerce. For example, European countries explored sea routes to India and other places mainly for trading goods like spices, silk, and gold. Historical events like the Industrial Revolution also changed the way business was done and led to mass production and global trade. By studying history, we can learn how commerce evolved and how it shaped human life. It helps us understand today’s business systems better by learning from the past.
Commerce and Geography
Geography affects commerce because the location of places, availability of natural resources, and climate influence trade. For example, coastal areas are good for fishing and port trade, while mountainous areas may be rich in minerals. Regions with good roads, airports, and transport systems attract more businesses. Climate also affects commerce, like woolen clothes being sold more in cold regions. Geography helps businesses decide where to open factories, stores, or warehouses. It also helps in planning transport routes and managing supply chains. On the other hand, commerce also affects geography when forests are cut for industries or when towns grow around business centers. So, both commerce and geography are deeply connected and impact each other.
Commerce and Economics
Commerce is a part of economics. Economics is the study of how resources are used to produce goods and services, and how they are distributed among people. Commerce focuses on the part of economics that deals with buying, selling, and moving goods from one place to another. Economics explains how prices are fixed, how markets work, and how people make choices. Commerce uses this knowledge to make better business decisions. For example, if demand increases, businesses produce more. If prices go up, people may buy less. These are economic concepts used in commerce daily. So, commerce and economics go hand in hand to understand and manage business activities.
Commerce and Political Science
Political science studies government systems and how laws and policies are made. Commerce is influenced by these policies. Governments make rules about business, trade, taxes, employment, and foreign exchange. These rules directly affect how businesses work. For example, if a government reduces taxes on small businesses, more people will start new businesses. If there is political stability, commerce grows. On the other hand, if there is political unrest or corruption, businesses may suffer. Political science also teaches about rights and duties of businesses and how they should act responsibly in society. In this way, political science and commerce are linked through law, governance, and policy-making.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, commerce and social studies are closely connected in many ways. Commerce supports society by providing goods, jobs, and services, while society supports commerce by offering resources, customers, and culture. Commerce has strong links with subjects like history, geography, political science, and economics. It helps in social development and promotes international cooperation. At the same time, laws and political decisions play a big role in shaping commerce. Through marketing and employment, commerce touches the lives of people every day. Understanding this relationship helps students become better citizens, business owners, and professionals in the future.