Testimonials
I feel that this degree gives you the space to really develop yourself the way you want to.
- Previous education
- Bachelor Economics and Business Economics, Radboud University / Bachelor Law, University of Cyprus
- Programme
- Economics, Behaviour and Policy
- Country of previous education
- The Netherlands / Cyprus
- Study start date
Constantina Markou is a Master's student Economics, Behaviour and Policy.
'I love that the programme pays attention to both human psychology and behavior, as well as to its implications for policymaking. These two themes come back in almost every course. By the end, I feel like I have gained a lot of knowledge in both.
I also love that we got a lot of practical experience in using behavioral insights. We had two real-life consultancy challenges: one with the Municipality of Nijmegen, and one with an SME that brings sustainability innovations to the market.
The programme challenged me to learn a lot of new information about human behavior, experimental methods, and the challenges of policymaking. At first glance, the courses do not seem so connected to one another. But by the end, they all helped me get a well rounded perspective on economic behavior and policy.
I enjoyed the atmosphere very much because most students who select this track are interested in it, and most lecturers who teach in it are passionate about their subject. I had a social and pleasant experience and I feel I got to know my track mates.
It is an intensive programme. If you want to do well, you need to be organized and determined from the start. Each course is demanding in different ways, and deadlines can be overlapping each week, especially during the first semester. So it is important to keep track of things.
During the beginning of my Master's, I worked at a local financial consulting firm. At the moment, I work as a student assistant in the Economics department.
My thesis is about how we measure well-being in society. In recent decades, many voices within and outside Economics have argued that GDP is an incomplete measure to represent well-being because it only focuses on the production of goods and services. My thesis focuses on alternative indicators that go beyond GDP. These indicators are also capable of measuring other important factors for people's well-being, such as income inequality or environmental degradation. How we use these statistics is directly relevant to policymaking.
I feel that this degree gives you the space to really develop yourself the way you want to. The curriculum is not as restricted as other Master's tracks. I shaped my degree to focus more around development and sustainability areas through my assignments and projects. But I could have also focused on other areas, such as health economics - there were even possibilities to do an internship at Radboud UMC. If you are looking for an economics Master's that is flexible and where you can get a well-rounded perspective on behavior and policy, this is a good match.
My plans for after my degree are open, and I am considering many different areas. For example, I am considering doing a PhD in Economics, working at a research institute, a public consultancy, or going into the field of sustainable investment. From guest lectures I have met a variety of people from these different areas and I am looking forward to discovering what will suit me best.'
I like the cooperative nature that most of the courses have, almost all of them had a socially engaging aspect to them including discussions, group assignments, and presentations.
- Previous education
- BSc Psychology - Radboud University
- Programme
- Economics, Behaviour and Policy
- Study start date
- Study end date
Koen Bax is a Master's student Economics, Behaviour and Policy.
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
The interdisciplinary nature of the study provides an excellent baseline for students who are nearing the end of their studying career. They can develop higher level skills and specialise their knowledge, and still have the space to further pursue interests in various directions. In contrast to my Psychology Bachelor's, the different approaches (especially in the pre-Master's programme) required a lot of mental flexibility and discipline, which led to fast development. I often found myself almost trivialising some skill or knowledge that seemed out of reach a few months earlier, because of the high tempo and active engagement with the material.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
I like the cooperative nature that most of the courses have, almost all of them had a socially engaging aspect to them including discussions, group assignments, and presentations. This allowed for a lot of professional discourse among peers and exposed me to a lot of interesting insights. I can honestly and enthusiastically say I have never conversed so actively with pretty much every teacher I have had over this year, I distinctly remember talking with mr. Fullbrunn after his lecture, realising it had been over an hour. It is an honor to have been treated like this.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The discipline that is required to keep the balls in the air during the challenging periods where multiple assignments or exams overlap is something that has kept me struggling for the many years of my student career. I am proud to note I have decisively overcome these challenges this past year, in stark contrast with earlier years. The reasons I attribute this success to are more social engagement with other students and more ambition to show the teachers what I can do than I did during my Bachelor's.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
After considering many topics and speaking to many teachers, my final epiphany was to write my take on why behavioural economics has risen to prominence in relatively recent history, and gained the recent respect and admiration that it has within academia. Since I recently pivoted towards (behavioural) economics myself, I am excited to dive into the reasons for the emergence of this field and its implications. It allows for a meta-view of the study I love, as well as some opportunity for academic self-reflection.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
With the increasing complexity of the world and the dominance of misinformation in the broader public sphere, it is ever more important that there is ambition to cross disciplinary lines and combine those with various expertises towards a cohesive common goal. Furthermore, a good choice for that goal is any of the great transnational social challenges that societies face, the solving of which requires more understanding of humans, their interaction, and the appropriate leadership that balances central guidance with personal freedom.