I like that economics studies human interactions systematically, using tools from mathematics and statistics.

To be honest I think it is an unproductive debate. It seems to me that it depends on how science is defined and also what field within economics you have in mind. For instance, applied microeconomics would fit the concept of pursuing testable explanations and predictions about the social world following a systematic methodology - and one could argue that is a definition of science.

I think inequality and structural changes in the labor market are the biggest challenges. They are difficult issues because they cannot be solved in the short term. Initiatives and interventions to solve these problems are like growing trees: they need to be planted in the present, but only bear fruit in the future.

I have been fortunate to work with very smart and productive scholars. All of my advisors, from undergraduate to Ph.D., are very inspiring to me.

Afrin Islam joined Temple University in August 2021 after completing her Ph.D. at Washington State University. Her current research focuses on understanding how information processing influences health and employment outcomes. She received her B.S.S and M.S.S. in Economics from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She also completed an M.S.S in Applied Economics from Illinois State University. Prior to higher studies in the United States, she worked as a consultant for the largest market development project in Bangladesh.

Five Questions for Afrin Islam

What attracted you to Economics? 
I fell in love with Economics when I was introduced to the subject matter in college. Particularly, the day my teacher discussed how each of us influences the everyday “rickshaw” fare. I was fascinated by the concepts of Demand-Supply explained with such a simple example. Following her, few years later, I started my journey at the Department of Economics, Dhaka University, Bangladesh.

Some “hard scientists” have been known to doubt that economics is a science. What do you think?
I believe that Economics is a science. Big data, complex methodologies and social experiments are reshaping the way to look at Economics.

What do you think is the most intractable economic problem facing the US today, & why do you think it is such a difficult problem?
In my opinion, the most intractable economic problem that US is facing currently is rising health care costs. The underlying reason for this is the unequal income distribution.

Is there an economist you particularly admire? Why? 
There are so many! Particularly Esther Duflo;* working as a development practitioner in Bangladesh, I can relate to Dr. Duflo’s work and recognize that a focus on the right policy can make an enormous amount of progress in alleviating poverty. Also, Susan Athey. The status of women in Economics is not great. And they are putting remarkable effort to inspire so many. 
*Esther Duflo is a Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Economic Development at MIT. She shared the 2019 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with Abhijit Banerjee and Michael Kremer. Susan Athey is the Economics of Technology Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. [Ed.]

What would you most want to do if you were not an economist?​
If I were not an Economist, I would have been an Archaeologist.

Joshua Mask joined Temple in the Fall of 2021.  He earned his BBA and MBA from the University of Memphis and his MA and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His research studies how starting a career in the middle of a recession can harm wages over time. He recently published a solo-authored article in the IZA Journal of Development and Migration. Prior to Temple, he worked in investment banking, healthcare, recruitment, interned at the United Nations, and served as a Peace Corps volunteer (Uganda ‘11).

Five Questions for Joshua Mask

What attracted you to Economics?
I wanted to understand why there was so much inequality in the world. I think students sometimes associate economics with the stock market, finance, etc., but economics is one of the best disciplines for assessing inequality and how to alleviate it.

Some “hard scientists” have been known to doubt that economics is a science. What do you think?
I’d tell them to read about this year’s Nobel prize winners in Economics: David Card, Josh Angrist, and Guido Imbens. They’ve spent their entire careers transforming the discipline to be more methodical and rely more on evidence. I would argue that Economics is one of the more scientific disciplines today, given the advances and reliance on econometrics.

What do you think is the most intractable economic problem facing the US today, & why do you think it is such a difficult problem?
As a labor economist, one thing I fear is that our recovery will be uneven again. After the Great Recession of 2009, Caucasian Americans saw their labor markets recover by 2014-2015. However, it wasn’t until 2019, shortly before the pandemic, that we saw a similar recovery for African Americans. My fear is that we are going to repeat history and further exacerbate inequality in this country.

Is there an economist you particularly admire?  Why?
Michael Clemens at the Center for Global Development. His paper, “Economics and Emigration: Trillion Dollars on the Sidewalk?,” completely changed my understanding of immigration and how it can help alleviate global inequality. He is also a very nice person who works hard to promote the work of younger economists in the field, which is especially admirable.

What would you most want to do if you were not an economist?
As a kid, I always dreamed of being a rock star. However, this was not a realistic dream for a kid who lacks rhythm, ha!