My Interest In Further Study Of History And Economics
It is my belief that history cannot be fully understood without a realisation of the economic factors that often drive events, and effective analysis requires an understanding of both quantitative and qualitative methods of evaluation. The “Lessons from Auschwitz” programme, in which I was lucky enough to participate, enabled me to visit both of the camps in Oswiecim; where over 1. 1 million innocent people died. My visit to Auschwitz, combined with the knowledge of the significance of the Wall Street Crash and Great Depression in the rise of the Nazi regime, starkly illustrated to me the wide-reaching impact of economics throughout history. Historical examples may help shed light on contemporary economic issues. In particular, I have been fascinated by the BBC programme “The Long View,” which compares modern issues to those of the past.
One episode analysed the Eurozone crisis with regards to Greece, drawing parallels to Britain’s decision to leave the Gold Standard in the context of the Great Depression In the context of the modern world, I would now argue that Greece could potentially emulate Britain’s past recovery if Greece left the Eurozone, allowing Greece to exert more influence over the value of its currency. I have become intrigued by developmental economics, having studied the potential impact of poverty through the Cold War and the Russian Revolution. This had lead me to read Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo, which controversially asserts that foreign aid actually inhibits the development of countries within Africa. I found Moyo’s argument, that careless foreign aid can have a negative impact, promoting corruption and destroying local businesses, to be highly convincing, challenging my preconceptions. I disagree, however, with her predominant argument that non-emergency aid could be almost entirely removed and replaced with conditional micro financing, as further research revealed to me these loans can be often used to pay for simple necessities, often trapping recipients in a cycle of debt.
Moreover, completing a MOOC on the Value of Coffee, a vital resource, has illustrated to me how protectionist policies of MEDCs can negatively impact the economies of LEDCs through constriction of mutually beneficial trade, and I think that fostering free trade amongst all countries could be an alternative, perhaps better, solution. Mathematics has equipped me with the essential knowledge to better understand economic theory. For example, my study of Game Theory has allowed more effective modelling of economic behaviour. In addition, studying both Physics and Chemistry has allowed me to broaden my academic horizons, while enhancing my ability to accurately and methodically, collect, process, and draw conclusions from data. Furthermore, I am intrigued by how both modern and historical scientific advancements can impact history. For instance, studying Chemistry has allowed me a greater understanding of chemical warfare in WW1, as well as chemical processes such as the Haber process that were vital to keeping the wartime economy and logistics of Germany afloat.
As part of my Duke of Edinburgh gold award, I regularly attend an Amateur Boxing Club, where I have participated in both training and full-contact sparring. The commitment required to succeed in boxing has taught me the value of perseverance and determination. Furthermore, through my volunteering at the local library, I have dealt with people from all ages and all walks of life, and have enjoyed being a valued part of a team. Moreover, working at a library has enabled me to foster my love of history through a greater appreciation of local history, learning the role that my small town played in huge historical events, such as suffering bombing raids during WW2. My love of History and Economics, combined with my inquisitive, hard-working nature motivates me to improve myself, and I look forward to the study of more advanced, difficult topics at university.
