Matilde Casamonti
Matilde is an Economics Analyst at KPMG. She has previously worked in academia, conducting policy evaluations and randomised experiments in developed and developing countries.
Why did you choose to study economics?
I decided to study Economics because I was interested in understanding the rationale behind and the impact of different policies. Having the privilege to travel and study in various countries from an early age, I soon realised how societies are structured differently and what consequences this has on people's lives. Also, I enjoyed maths, literature, and philosophy during high school, and studying Economics at university allowed me to expand both my analytical and humanistic skills.
How would you describe economics?
Economics is a vast social science discipline. It studies how different actors (people, firms, governments, and other organisations) make decisions under certain circumstances, and the effects of these decisions at an individual and aggregate level. For example, as a Research Assistant in academia, I worked on projects evaluating the impact of a vocational study program on students' expectations and labour market outcomes in Uganda. Currently, as an analyst in KPMG’s Economics team, I am evaluating the socio-economic impact of a UK Government programme and its value for money.
If you had a time machine and could meet your 16-year-old self, what advice would you give them?
Take some time to look for opportunities and try different working experiences before and when you go to university. They will help you understand what you enjoy doing.
What is your favourite part of economics?
I am interested in programme evaluations. I like to understand the socio-economic impact of different policies and projects on people’s lives.
Is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance?
Dream big, trust yourself and learn how to plan. I would have liked to have planned with more clarity what to do next, to have had appropriate time to think about the process needed to get there and prepare for it.