Why Did We Choose Economics?

As millions of students return to school, many are questioning if their chosen major is the right fit. In this episode, Matt and Jadrian share their personal stories about why they chose economics. They reflect on the experiences and insights that led them to this field, discussing the motivations, challenges, and defining moments that shaped their decision. Whether you're contemplating your own major or just curious about their journey, join Matt and Jadrian for a thoughtful exploration of what it means to pursue a passion in economics.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How it took Matt until junior year to find economics as a major

• How Jadrian outdid Matt and waited until senior year

• Some of Matt and Jadrian’s favorite topics they learned as an undergrad

• Why we loved majoring in economics

• And a whole lot more!

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Some show notes:

The new semester is about to kick off, but Matt and Jadrian sat down a few weeks before the semester started to record this episode. They’re both in the thick of preparing for another academic year, so they earned a break to chat and have a drink. To celebrate a brief break, Matt enjoyed a gifted beer, Skyline Falls from Brothers Craft Brewing, courtesy of Lauren Shifflett via Tim Dye and. Jadrian surprised Matt with a nonalcoholic Free Wave Hazy IPA from Athletic Brewery Company—a favorite of both hosts. They’re both eagerly anticipating a sponsorship deal with Athletic Beer.

Before they dive into the new semester, they’re setting personal goals alongside their academic ones. Both have faced challenges over the past few semesters, so they’re committing to lose at least 10 pounds by the end of the year. To stay accountable, they’ve agreed to donate $100 to each other’s universities if they fall short. If they meet their weight loss goal, they’ll contribute to their own students instead. Either way, their students will benefit, and Matt and Jadrian hope to achieve their health goals in the process.

Over the past few episodes, we’ve had the pleasure of exploring the career paths of various economists, but we realized we haven’t yet shared our journeys into the profession. Jadrian's high school economics class was more of a formality, lacking any real substance. Meanwhile, Matt didn’t have any economics classes in high school and initially aimed for a computer science course in college but didn’t enjoy it. Instead, he stumbled upon an open seat in an economics class and fell in love with the subject. Jadrian didn’t fall in love with economics until he got into the intermediate microeconomics course with the “tough” professor.

This week’s pop culture references:

Matt recently shared a sneak peek of a song he’s developing for BroadwayEconomics.com titled “How to Wash a Check.” This song focuses on a lot of concepts from the economics of crime and reflects one of the reasons Matt loves economics so much and finds it so engaging. He’s excited to share it on the site soon (with lessons), but for now, you can check out the song with lyrics on YouTube.

AT JET SET in early August, Jadrian highlighted his partnership with the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE). FEE offers free teaching resources that complement the articles Jadrian writes for his Monday Morning Economist newsletter. During their presentation, Derek and Jadrian highlighted a viral TikTok clip that illustrates the behavioral economics concept of anchoring.