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International Economics
27 September 2017

Welcoming our International Economics Students!

This week the International Economics department at the Graduate Institute had its first event to celebrate the beginning of the academic year. Gathered in the beautiful restaurant, La Réplique, everyone had the chance to share their summer experiences and their plans for this academic year...

This week the International Economics department at the Graduate Institute had its first event to celebrate the beginning of the academic year. Gathered in the beautiful restaurant, La Réplique, everyone had the chance to share their summer experiences and their plans for this academic year, catch-up with friends, colleagues and Professors and meet those who just joined the department in the pursuit of studying economics.

During the celebration and with great food and drinks, our students proved that they are willing to discuss and debate the world’s problems and bring up their passion at any time. When they were asked what are the most pressing issues of today’s world, students spoke passionately of these issues. Some of the problems that were highlighted during the event were: the lack of education, raising extremism, conflict, poverty as defined by inequality, rising of populism, power relations and even nationality and the differences that arise from the idea of nations.

Welcoming our new students - Fall 2017

Moreover, our students not only brought to the spotlight the world’s problems, but also proposed potential solutions. Radu and Sebastian recommended ‘better policies‘ bringing ‘optimal solutions to the world’s problems’, while Laura proposed ‘better insights for policy makers in order for them to understand what is happening’. Richard believes that ‘policy organisations and the research community can play a role in communicating evidence effectively to people in order to create an environment of policy participatory making with high-quality and valid information’. Rami, Anna and Martina think that ‘it is also very important to identify the emerging issues and to raise awareness’.  At the same time, Poorna stated ‘it is important for practitioners and academics to work together because academics have a lot to offer that often a lot of international organisations don’t take advantage of and similarly I think a lot of academics tend to concentrate on getting their work published rather than being read by people who can use their research. Therefore, as economists we need to make sure that we have that kind of liaison between practice and setting’. Finally, Donika concluded that ‘economics offer you a good start to change paradigms, to challenge ways of thinking and the manner you see the world’.

Dorina Dobre Master Candidate in Development Studies 27.09.2017