Why Economics?

When classes started in August 1997, I was a 16-year-old freshman. I remember walking across the University of Louisville campus, feeling lost. I had made it into J.B. Speed School of Engineering as a Chemical Engineering major. This choice was based on my interest in math and was influenced by Oman's booming oil exploration market.

A hidden but important pressure was the primary decision maker. Any Middle Eastern or Asian teenager will tell you that socially, you are deemed successful if you end up in medicine or as an engineer. So, I gave in to society’s definition of success.

I spent three years as a chemical engineering major. Then, I took economics as a general education elective, and it changed my life. This is one of the many reasons I believe that the general education curriculum is important; it opens new possibilities. I immediately changed my major and pursued the “life of econ”.

Why Economics?

Economics is a versatile major that can be applied in different industries. More importantly, economics provides a framework to evaluate decisions and logic to help you navigate the complexity of everyday life. The tools taught in economic analysis help you understand cause and effect. The benefit of economics is that it gives you many career options.

The biggest challenge with economics is that it gives you MANY options in life. Students want certainty and, therefore, want exact paths to success. Sometimes, we look for ways to reduce our options so it is easier to plan our future. I love economics because of the diverse paths my students have taken. From banking to non-profits, government work, data analytics, and law school…it is all possible.

Here are some videos I made for my students about the economics major. I would love to know which one you like the most. Please feel free to leave a comment or share them with your friends.

I hope you enjoyed these videos.

Best,

Dr. A