Lisa D Cook: Exploring careers in economics
Welcoming remarks by Ms Lisa D Cook, Member of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, at the "Exploring Careers in Economics" conference,
sponsored by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington DC,
4 April 2023.
* * *
Good afternoon, and welcome to "Exploring Careers in Economics."
I am disappointed I cannot be with you in person, but I am thrilled you will hear from
Boston Fed President Susan Collins. She is an outstanding colleague and economist, a
good friend. You are in for a fantastic discussion.
This event has a fairly self-explanatory title-exploring careers in economics. But the
broad range of opportunities is anything but straightforward. Economics touches every
aspect of daily life, and you can see its impact in the world outside your door-and inside
as well.
Some of you are veterans of economic study, while some of you are just "econ-curious."
Either way, I hope that when you sign off today, you will have a totally different view of
what economics can offer you.
I was raised by academics in a college town, but even that access and insight did not
give me the full picture of what was out there. A career in economics can take you in
directions you never thought possible. We live in a constantly changing world, which
means there is always new research to undertake, questions to be posed, and ground
to break.
My own studies allowed me to investigate everything from the impact of patents on the
nation's economic growth to the banking system in post-Soviet Russia. They also took
me to the archives of the Kremlin and to university in the United Kingdom and Senegal.
And that was just during my education! My career has taken me all over the globe.
Economics can take you just about anywhere, figuratively and literally.
So I do hope that we do a good job of showing you the world of possibilities in the field.
Because economics needs you.
Any field that studies the behavior of an entire population, as economics does, should
reflect the population it studies. We all come to the table with different experiences and
backgrounds, which give each of us unique perspectives.
Your generation has seen two once-in-a-century economic events within two decades.
Your economic experiences are different from anyone else's. That insight and
understanding will be critical to policymakers. The economics profession needs your
perspective. Future Fed staff, Governors, and Chairs may be participating today-I hope
we manage to play a small part in sending you down that path.
Finally, on that note, I would like to encourage everyone to reach out to others joining
today. Strong networks of both mentors and peers can be a lifeline. They are critical to
entering and completing advanced degree programs. They help navigate the
professional landscape. And they will offer both support and advice as you advance in
your career.
And we do hope that for some of you, that path is economics, and you will make the
Federal Reserve a stop along the way.
Thank you for joining us and enjoy the day.