This personal statement was part of this student’s successful application to London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University College London (UCL), University of Warwick, and King’s College London.
Hearing stories from my parents about the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis fascinated me – how a sudden collapse could ripple through international economies, affecting citizens of my nation in ways I had not yet fully understood. With limited economic knowledge then, I was deeply moved by how the crisis exposed the fragility of Malaysia’s financial systems, and it made me realise just how crucial social safety nets are in safeguarding the marginalised; hence, sparking a curiosity that led me to explore how public welfare policies can both prevent and perpetuate inequality in our society.
My formal engagement with economics began when I studied for and became a finalist out of 768 competitors in the 2023 Malaysian Economics Olympiad. There, I was introduced to John Rawls’ Theory of Justice; his ideas on fairness struck a chord, especially his belief that societal structures should be designed to benefit the least advantaged. This principle became the lens through which I viewed most economic problems, particularly in education; thus, enabling me to apply reverse game theory in designing a capstone project that incentivised students to value academic integrity by structuring institutional rules to align their self-interest with honesty. Through this question, I recognised that fairness and efficiency are not mutually exclusive but can – and should – be reconciled.
Having read Amartya Sen’s ‘Development as Freedom’, his argument that development transcends economic growth and requires the expansion of individual capabilities deeply resonates with me. I am particularly drawn to his emphasis on education as a tool of empowerment – an idea central to welfare economics; government grants in Malaysia that aim to bolster university enrollment rates, e.g., the PTPTN, have achieved some success, but they fail to address the question: ‘What kind of education should students have?’ It should be a given that economic interventions must be underpinned by philosophical ideals that promote autonomy and agency; hence, my views are in consensus with Sen’s: education should not only prepare students for the workforce but should foster their intellectual and personal growth, allowing them to participate fully in democratic life.
As I have delved deeper into questions of real-world economics, my understanding of crises like the Asian Financial Crisis has evolved; what once seemed like purely economic problems now appear deeply intertwined with political decision-making and philosophical debates about equity and justice. Hence, it is this interdisciplinary approach that draws me to PPE: where economics provides the mechanism, politics shapes implementation, and philosophy offers the ethical grounding necessary for meaningful reform in public policies.
Grasping each chance to engage with economics beyond the classroom, I spearheaded a nationwide Model Parliament in Singapore, an opportunity made possible by earning a full-ride IBDP scholarship in the country; I not only directed the planning and execution of the event but also chaired the Lok Sabha council, tackling reforms in the Indian education system. There, I understood that while economic policies can be sound in theory, their effectiveness is contingent upon the underlying phronesis and political environment.
Meanwhile, having volunteered as a debate coach for a Malaysian government school, I taught students to engage critically with geopolitical issues, particularly a motion on abolishing veto power in the UNSC. Watching them develop nuanced arguments, with even one student earning the title of ‘Overall Best Speaker’ at the state level, made me realise how debate instils a deeper understanding of the political structures we navigate – reinforcing my desire to explore these intersections through PPE.
By studying PPE, I hope to transform my passion for social justice into tangible changes against inequality; to be a voice for those often unheard and to ensure that a brighter future is within everyone’s reach.
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