By: Ogunkola Oluwadamilola, ACIA
Hear me out before you come for me!
Being an economist comes with a level of responsibility that often goes unspoken. It’s as if the weight of the world’s problems rest on your shoulders.
In fact, I’d argue that becoming an economist is harder than becoming a medical doctor.
I was having a discussion with Philip Alege, and we were talking about how, as a medical doctor, making a wrong diagnosis can affect a single patient.
However, as an economist, a wrong diagnosis or analysis can impact not just one person, but an entire country. The consequences can ripple through society for years, affecting millions.
As an economist, I’m not allowed to get it wrong. I understand the gravity of my analysis, knowing that people’s livelihoods and the stability of economies depend on the decisions I help inform.
So when an economist gives you a prescription, rest assured they’ve done their due diligence. Every recommendation is backed by thorough research and careful thought.
Economists Are the Invisible Doctors
Doctors are hailed as heroes, and rightfully so. But economists? They often work in the background, rarely getting the recognition they deserve.
Yet, the policies they recommend directly influence everything from how much you pay for groceries to whether you’ll have a job next year. It’s like being a superhero who no one knows is saving the world!
To my fellow economists: Even though we often work behind the scenes, your efforts don’t go unnoticed. Today, I give you your flowers for taking on the bold challenge of studying and practising this delicate field.
You’ve chosen a path where the stakes are incredibly high, knowing that lives depend on your work. You’re truly one of a kind, and it’s not easy doing what you do. No one could do it better!
If you have a contradictory view on this opinion you may contact Kandjengo on his email: gerastus16@gmail.com
Ogunkola Oluwadamilola is an economist and Associate at the Chartered Institute of Administration in Nigeria. The views expressed herein are her own.
