Economist’s Day: Contributing to a fairer country is inspiration for FGV students
In an interview with FGV News, the two students presented their choices and motivations within the area in order to transform the world around them.
If we had to sum up economics in a few words, we could say that it is a science that studies the processes of production, distribution, accumulation and consumption of material goods. However, on August 13, which is Economist’s Day in Brazil, two Fundação Getulio Vargas economics undergraduate students – Perla Rocha, a seventh-year student at FGV EPGE in Rio de Janeiro; and Lívia Haddad, a fourth-year student at FGV EESP in Sao Paulo – went beyond theory and discussed the field’s ambitions in practice.
In an interview with FGV News, the two students presented their choices and motivations within the area in order to transform the world around them.
“Without a doubt, helping build a better world is one of the things that drives me. From my mother, I learned the importance of waking up every day and striving to do my best in everything I do,” said Perla Rocha (FGV EPGE). Lívia Haddad (FGV EESP) mentioned the area of economics in which she wishes to work. “I want to change the world through evaluations of public policies,” she said.
See the full interview below.
Why did you choose to study economics?
Perla Rocha (FGV EPGE) – I chose to study economics because it was the course that best suited my interests. I’ve always really liked math but I never wanted to restrict myself to the world of numbers. So, I realized that economics is a path that also tries to explain and help society.
Lívia Haddad (FGV EESP) – My decision to become an economist was greatly influenced by my perception that economics is a central element in the functioning of society as a whole and, consequently, a broad and powerful tool to help transform aspects of the world around us that make me uneasy.
How does your chosen profession contribute to a better world?
Perla Rocha (FGV EPGE) – I believe that economists have a lot to contribute to society. Since the first day of the program, we’ve looked at models and issues that are part of everyone’s life, even if they don’t realize it. Economists study everything from prices in supermarkets to choosing the best investments. In addition, politics and law have much to gain when combined with economic analysis.
Lívia Haddad (FGV EESP) – The career of an economist is quite diverse in terms of tools for social change. Whichever tools they use, economists are guided by analysis based on data and the evidence that we can extract from it. Whether they are proposing a monetary policy rule or designing an income redistribution policy, economists strive to understand concrete points that can be improved and the possible results of different choices that can be made.
How do you wish to change the world in your profession?
Perla Rocha (FGV EPGE) – Without a doubt, helping build a better world is one of the things that drives me. From my mother, I learned the importance of waking up every day and striving to do my best in everything I do. Studying economics, I’ve realized that my efforts can gain scale, whatever my area of focus. I would like to help enrich economic debate in Brazil. I hope that my work and ideas can help mitigate the country’s social problems. I also hope that my example can inspire more girls to follow my path and that economics will soon become a more diverse field.
Lívia Haddad (FGV EESP) – I want to change the world through evaluations of public policies. We must always remember that the resources to be allocated through different public policies are scarce, so we need to guarantee that investments are focused on programs that have an impact on factors that we wish to transform, such as poverty, children’s health and public education. Accordingly, the statistical techniques used in economics can help measure the impacts of different programs and indicate how efficient the use of resources in these initiatives is.
Visit the websites of FGV EPGE and FGV EESP to find out more about these schools.
This article is part of a special series called Transforming the World. See the first three publications in the series:
Leia também
