Hibah Khan
Hibah is an economics student at the University of Warwick, and will soon be starting her MSc in Economics. She is from Surrey and enjoys many branches of economics, including labour economics and development economics. She is the Communications Intern and is excited to help Discover Economics’ efforts to bring Economics to more students!
Why did you choose to study economics?
I was drawn to Economics because of its applied nature. When I was in sixth form, I liked the idea of being able to analyse the complex system that is the economy. The clear explanations of economic mechanisms made the subject accessible and how it all links together made it easier to build on my learning. Economics is applicable to so many subjects so is very relevant; in my undergraduate degree, I was exposed to so many interesting branches of economics.
How would you describe economics?
Economics is a subject that combines both the technical and the humanities. It sits perfectly between both branches of study allowing us to understand problems that people face every day whilst deriving evidence-based conclusions. It can explain the key processes that all consumers, firms, governments rely on for the growth of society and the economy.
If you had a time machine and could meet your 16-year-old self, what advice would you give them?
I would advise myself to actively apply the economics I am learning in my A-Level lessons to current affairs and news events. In that way, I would be able to implement the theories I am learning and see how they are applied in the real world. Just going about your day, there are many opportunities to apply economic theory.
What is your favourite part of economics?
Economics is a great subject because it can be utilised to make a positive impact and limit harm to stakeholders. It can succinctly explain complex mechanisms such as why interest rates and inflation are related. It is so interesting to see how the human aspects of the economy, such as consumer confidence and incentives, are essential to inform firm and government behaviour.
Is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance?
I think it is important to ensure you have a solid foundation in the mathematical concepts that are used frequently in the application of economics. I also think it is vital to ensure you have a strong understanding of key economic frameworks before embarking on a university degree in Economics where you could be exposed to a lot of different sub-topics of Economics.