Navigating academia: a development economist's perspective | Teresa Molina from University of Hawaii

IBJ Podcast

Teresa Molina is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Research Affiliate at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics, Research Fellow at UHERO, and Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development. She also serves as an Associate Editor for Journal of Health Economics and Economic Development and Cultural Change. She received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Southern California and her undergraduate degree from Stanford University.
In this episode, she discusses her journey in the field of development economics and provides insights into finding a research topic, choosing an advisor, and publishing papers. She emphasizes the importance of time and project management in academia and highlights her research interests, including health, education, and government policies. She discusses the role of causal inference in empirical papers, the value of consulting with experts, the flow of information in policy-making, and the role of academic research in influencing policy decisions. Additionally, Teresa shares her experience using Google Trends in her research and presents findings on the effects of drug policy in the Philippines. She concludes by offering insights into the psychological journey of research and tips for applying to academic positions.
Takeaways
- Finding a research topic requires exploring multiple ideas and working on several projects simultaneously.
- When choosing an advisor, seek someone willing to invest time and provide guidance.
- Publishing papers requires perseverance and the ability to handle rejection.
- Causal inference plays a significant role in empirical papers, and understanding basic econometric tools is essential
- Consulting with experts and gaining domain-specific knowledge can enhance research outcomes
- Google Trends can be a valuable tool for researchers, providing insights into public opinion and the impact of events or policies.
- The research process can be a rollercoaster of emotions, with moments of excitement and despair, but experience and resilience can help navigate the ups and downs.
- When applying to academic positions, it is important to apply widely and seek guidance from advisors who can support and advocate for you.
- Economic research offers a fulfilling career path for those interested in making a positive impact through rigorous analysis and evidence-based policy recommendations.
Where to find Teresa
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/teresasmolina
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-molina-6862b637/
Where to find Ida
Website: https://idajohnsson.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ida-johnsson/
X: https://twitter.com/IdaBJohnsson
Timestamps
00:00 Preview
01:21 What is development economics
03:14 How Teresa got into econ
05:48 Finding a research topic
08:40 Choosing an advisor
11:24 Getting things published
13:56 Productivity systems
15:24 Teresa's research interests
16:35 Econometric preparation
18:18 Domain-specific expertise
20:50 Impact of health shocks on earnings
24:42 Long-term implications of early life shocks
29:49 Impact of research on policy
32:17 Drug policy in the Philippines
37:26 The psycological journey of creating
41:00 Tips for people applying for academic positions

Reach out to me at www.idajohnsson.com