Jaclyn Guan

What sparked your interest in economics?

My interest in behavioural economics first developed when I came across the book “Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman. The book addressed my questions on many of the ‘rationality agent’ and ‘ceteris paribus’ assumptions in classical economics and exposed me to a whole new discipline that cuts across economics, psychology and neurobiology. With a background in economics, I appreciated the elegant models that examined interactions between humans, firms and society using simplified scenarios. Now, with the incorporation of psychology, I find it easier to adapt and apply some of the economics principles and findings in real life.

Why did you choose to study economics specifically at Warwick?

I chose to study behavioural economics at Warwick for a few reasons. Firstly, Warwick is renowned for its excellent economics research and teaching. This is also true for behavioural science/economics. Warwick is one of the first universities in the UK to introduce a MSc program in behavioural science and has gathered some of the top researchers in the field as professors. Secondly, Warwick’s MSc in Behavioural Science program is multi-faceted and holistic; there are three tracks for students to choose from based on their preferred focus area – economics, psychology, and data science. Specific for the economics track, I appreciated how there is a good balance in the teaching of quantitative and qualitative methods. The other schools I was considering tended to focus on either one of the methods or frameworks, but I wanted a program that exposes me to as many state-of-the-art research methodologies as possible – and Warwick is perfect for it.

What would you describe as the best aspect of studying economics at Warwick?

The best aspect of studying behavioural economics at Warwick is the exposure to state-of-the-art research. We have some of the best researchers/professors in the field who translate their work and learnings into interactive curriculum for us. I particularly like how Warwick is constantly refreshing their curriculum based on up-and-coming trends. For example, we had a new elective module called “Computational Behavioural and Social Science” which exposes us to computational methods such as agent-based modelling and natural language processing – methods that will become increasing relevant and important as the field incorporates more AI techniques into research. Also, Warwick’s weekly DRAW Forum invites top behavioural science researchers from all over Europe to share about their latest research work with the faculty and students. By attending these sessions, I got to connect and learn from the best brains in the field despite not being in London.

Please sum up your experience of studying at Warwick

The past year of studying at Warwick has been fun, enriching and truly transformative. I am glad I’ve chosen Warwick to study behavioural economics, the curriculum and teaching standards lived up to my expectations and definitely laid solid foundations for my career in behavioural science. I’ve also met wonderful teachers, mentors and friends during this journey which I’m immensely grateful for.

What advice would you give to somebody considering studying economics at postgraduate level?

For people considering studying (behavioural) economics at the postgraduate level, my advice is to be very clear on why you are doing so. Your undergraduate education would probably have given you a broad base of knowledge and skillset; the postgraduate education would hopefully build on those foundations and help you narrow down to a niche of your own. While it might not be possible to have all the answers at the beginning, it is useful to be intentional and thoughtful about your ‘why’ as you learn and grow through the year. Whether the program is meant to help fill a knowledge/skillset gap for the industry, or prepare you for an academic career, having clarity on your ‘why’ and goals will help you make sharper trade-offs and decisions during the year. There are plenty of opportunities that will come your way, be thoughtful and selective about the ones that will propel you closer to your end goal.

How did your course and the Department prepare you for your chosen career?

The course has set solid knowledge and skillset foundations for my career in behavioural science. The emphasis on both quantitative and qualitative methodologies means I was not limited in terms of my career options, especially since there is increasing need for talent with data and statistical-related skillset in the field. Certain modules, such as “Behavioural Change: Nudging and Persuasion” (by the Psychology department), have assignments that closely resemble what would be required in a real job interview/project. They served as good hands-on practices for students where we can get direct feedback by the professor. These mini practices along the way were very helpful in driving home the key skillsets and also serve as useful case studies that can be included in resumes.