Amrita Zachariah
Amrita is currently completing her Master of Science in Economics from the University of Warwick.
Why did you choose to study economics?
Honestly, I initially chose Economics because my father encouraged me, and at first, I had no clue what it was about. The concepts seemed dry and tough to grasp. But as I delved deeper, I began to see the practical side of things, like how simple decisions and behaviours reflected deeper economic theories. I started questioning why things happened the way they did, especially around socio-economic issues like poverty and inequality. What began as indifference transformed into a passion for understanding and helping to alleviate these problems, and that’s what has driven me to study Economics.
How would you describe economics?
Economics is a field of study that’s all-encompassing, always evolving, and incredibly revelatory! It can help provide insights on a wide range of topics. Want to understand why individuals may behave a certain way? Or whether a policy is helping the economy or not? Economics will help you do that!
If you had a time machine and could meet your 16-year-old self, what advice would you give them?
Don’t shy away from challenges! Rejection and failure may seem extremely daunting, and it's tempting to stay in your comfort zone, but these are just small parts of the bigger picture. These experiences will build your resilience and help you understand yourself better. Do the best you can, and everything else will fall into place :)
What is your favourite part of economics?
Development and Environmental Economics! Both fields aim to address crucial issues faced by society, particularly those impacting lower-income communities, which is something I feel strongly about and want to contribute towards. Environmental Economics can be a bit more technically challenging as it often involves integrating knowledge from other fields, but that’s what makes it so insightful and interesting.
Is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance?
In retrospect, probably not. I believe this path has been the most optimal for me. Every decision I’ve made has been a response to past events and future expectations - somewhat like reaching my own Nash equilibrium ;)
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/amrita-zachariah