Which accessible extracurricular activities should an aspiring economics student take?

Ask an Economist
Question: 

What accessible extracurricular activities should an aspiring economics student take?

Answer: 

There are many reasons a student might choose to study economics, and consequently many different types of extra-curricular activities you might want to pursue. Economics is, at its base, a study of how individuals and societies make choices about the allocation and use of scarce resources. The habits of thought that economics teaches can be put to good use managing the budget of a club or student group. Doing volunteer work with a civic organization or religious group also offers opportunities to apply economics to use available resources to have the largest impact for the greatest number of individuals. Whatever you choose to do, pay attention to the decisions that are being made, what objectives drive them and how available resources affect them. Paying attention to these choices will sharpen your economic skills, a point emphasized by economist Robert Frank who has sought to explain a range of everyday phenomena, among them why drive-up ATMs have Braille on their keypads, and why child safety seats are not required on airplanes.

Answered by:
Dr. Joshua Rosenbloom
Professor
Department Chair
Last updated on January 13, 2021