Economics as viewed by top performers in ANPEC exam

The National Association of Graduate Economics Centers (ANPEC) exam is used every year to select the best candidates for academic master’s and doctoral economics programs in Brazil. In all, around a thousand students take this exam every year, and roughly 50 graduate centers use the results to help select their students.

FGV’s two economics schools – the Brazilian School of Economics and Finance (FGV EPGE) and Sao Paulo School of Economics (FGV EESP) – stand out as leaders in economics research in Brazil. In 2024, FGV EESP students took four of the top 10 slots in the ANPEC exam, including first place, which was attained by Gabriel Gral, who is now a student on FGV EPGE’s master’s program.

Both Gabriel Gral and Gustavo Schlemper, who came first in the ANPEC exam in 2023, are now master’s students at FGV EPGE. We spoke to them to learn about their visions, their challenges as future economists and how they believe their master’s degree at FGV EPGE will help them in their professional journey.

Gabriel Gral recognizes that he is just starting out in the profession, and he is still seeking to understand the role of economists. His aspirations include contributing to Brazil’s development, both in academia and in the market, in the areas of macroeconomics and finance. He highlights the need to translate research into practice and face the growing challenge of competition in the economy. He sees opportunities at the intersection of AI, big data and other types of technology.

Asked to comment on specific challenges for economists in Brazil, Gabriel stresses the complexity of politics in the country and the distance between analysts and the object of study. He emphasizes the importance of overcoming these barriers so that there can be more progress in efficient and empirically based economic policies.

Gustavo Schlemper notes the many areas that economists can work in. He chose an academic career because of his interest in mathematical and statistical rigor in modeling practical problems.He identifies the challenge of integrating economic theory and applied economics, stressing the need for researchers to combine theoretical and practical models. When addressing the challenges for economists in Brazil, Gustavo highlights the responsibility to be pragmatic in terms of both economics and politics. The student emphasizes the importance of asking some fundamental questions, such as “What are we going to spend money on?”, “How?” and“Where do we get the money for this?” in discussions about implementing policies, always considering the needs of society.

Both students say that doing a master’s degree at FGV EPGE is helpful in facing these challenges. According to Gabriel Gral, the master’s program offers both a solid technical base and valuable mentoring, with professors who teach not only economic research, but also what it means to be an economist. Gustavo Schlemper points out that the course provides a solid technical foundation, preparing students to advance in any field. Both see a master’s degree as an essential tool for dealing with the challenges of the Brazilian economy and making a significant contribution to its development.

To find out more about FGV EPGE, visit its website.

To find out more about FGV EESP, visit its website.