Economics
My grandparents fled Pakistan to India amidst the joy and mayhem of the 1947 partition. As they created new lives and pursued educations in engineering, they found stability and hope. Ever since, all twenty-two members of my father’s family inherited the gene for studying engineering.
Except me.
While I appreciated how engineering allowed for the creation of innovative ideas, I realized that society could benefit only if the appropriate mindset accompanied the usage of these new innovations. And I believe the key to understanding and developing this mindset is Economics.
Over the years, the hours I spent reading economic journals, analyzing trends on the NYSE and watching university lectures allowed me to connect the performance of the economy with the decisions individuals in society make. As I moved nine times to three countries while growing up, I gained insight into the differences that exist across societies and knowing that these trends could be understood provided me hope as I moved around the world and sought to integrate myself into new communities.
Economics also provided me a unique lens for observing how countries’ differing reactions to large-scale economic problems can influence the everyday lives of its citizens. In a thirty-second trek from my house in India, for example, I could walk to neighborhoods composed of shacks, but also to mansions with private pools and spas. I also saw class warfare outside my own house in India in the form of arguments between the extremely wealthy and those who are poor and disenfranchised. I saw how Switzerland’s isolationist policies have led it to maintain a separate currency from the Eurozone and take a hands-off approach to economic policy, leading to less anxiety amongst consumers in light of the present uncertainty in European markets. In addition, while India’s decision to intervene and demonetize its currency in November has curbed illegal black money, it has also negatively affected the lives of those whose living depended on it.
Over time, my life experiences and interest in economics have given me insight into the steps I can take to help alleviate these disparities. In 2014 I launched a project called Water is Life to provide a reliable water filtration system for a village in Morocco. We took inspiration from nature, life’s most profound idea guru, and chose a filter that leveraged gravity, didn’t require electricity, and lasted up to three years. Being both imaginative and pragmatic allowed me to be open to unconventional solutions but also set achievable goals. This year, I’ll be passing the baton to the next batch of environmental economics students and we’ll communicate our vision to expand our project to Ghana, Nepal and Tanzania in the hopes of instilling a greater sense of purpose and desire to continue tangibly impacting the lives of others.
This year I also founded an Economics Club, providing a platform for discussions on issues of economic interest beyond reading The Economist. The readings, video lectures and talks by reputed economists helped our group gain in-depth knowledge on topics briefly mentioned in classes. By making connections to real life, I have not only been able to help my peers understand underlying assumptions, but also learned how to adapt my mentoring style for different members.
The world I live in now is vastly different from that of my parents and grandparents. But in the same way that my experiences have helped me move beyond old ways of thinking, I think we as citizens of the world must dismantle old ways of thinking about our roles as individuals living in a global economy. Only then can we build new and progressive ones that allow us to increase utility for all.
In the future, I hope to create long-term solutions to basic economic problems and by studying business and finance, I hope to make sustainable, growth-focused investments to benefit society as a whole.