'anthropo-economics' is a modern compound formed from the Greek combining form 'anthropo-' (from Greek 'anthropos' meaning 'human') and 'economics' (from Greek 'oikonomikos' meaning 'household management').

The element 'anthropo-' derives from Greek 'anthropos' and has been used as a combining form in modern coinages (19th–20th c.). 'Economics' comes from Greek 'oikonomikos' → Latin 'oeconomicus' → Middle French/Late Latin forms → Middle English 'economics', evolving from the sense of household management to a broader study of production and distribution. The compound 'anthropo-economics' is a contemporary formation combining these elements to signal a human-focused study of economic life.

Originally 'oikonomikos' meant 'household management'; over time 'economics' broadened to mean the systematic study of production, distribution, and consumption. Combined with 'anthropo-', the compound now specifically highlights human, cultural, and social aspects of economic behavior.