In my case, although I did not have an undergraduate economics degree, I later decided to pursue advanced study in economics because it provided a rigorous analytical framework and approach to data to address important problems facing America. Growing up, I saw how every family’s well-being is affected by their financial resilience and their economic opportunities.
I decided to study economics because it provides powerful tools to help promote a better future for many Americans. I have found different ways to approach that throughout my career—from teaching the next generation of problem solvers, to assessing the challenges facing American manufacturers, to seeing the potential of microfinance for financial inclusion, to promoting maximum employment and stable inflation in my current job.