Economics, can be framed as the study of social incentives. Money is one such example, but not the only one. Status, belonging, recognition, and purpose all function as incentives in different contexts. It is to the extent that these wider human incentives are formalised in social institutions that this becomes eco-nomy (literaly the "law of the home").
The reframing of economics closer to its roots, not only reminds us that incentivised behavior is not merely about markets and prices but about the full spectrum of motivations that drive collective life. It also opens up possibilites to explore future social incentive structures that are beginning to emerge in society thanks to the advent of ubiquitous communication technology.
The focus here is on the word Incentive — the lever by which individuals and groups shift their energy and attention. Good systems align incentives with shared goals. Poor systems create perverse incentives, rewarding short-term gains at long-term cost, or encouraging conformity over creativity.