Dec 8, 2009

Computer Science vs. Economics For Me

A question people have asked me many times is why I went from Computer Science to Economics (although I'll note here that I actually did finish the CS degree instead of just transferring). It's a valid question, and I figure I'll answer it here.

Here are my reasons:
1) While I like programming and working with computers, I found that working with them 40+ hours per week drained my enthusiasm for playing around in the off-hours. I would get home from work and not want to go anywhere near code. It was depressing. Now, even after doing stats and math all day long, I have no problem writing code at night when I'm done studying. So therefore I have decided that I would like to keep coding as a hobby, and do something else to earn a living.

2) More of the people I care about are interested in Economics, so they actually want to hear what I have to say about it (which isn't all that much right now, strangely enough). Some of my friends do care about computer stuff, in fact some of them even read this blog (hey guys! *waves*) but the vast majority of my friends and family don't really care too much about programming, computer science, Linux, etc. It's not that it isn't relevant to them, most of them find computers useful in some form or another, but when you compare questions like "why did I get a virus?" to questions like "why did I get laid off?" or "why did my investment portfolio bomb?" there is a much higher level of interest in the latter two. It's also a question of respect, I suspect that economists get a slightly higher level of respect than do programmers (although these days maybe not!).

3) I feel I can make a bigger contribution to the economic world than the computer world. It seems to me like a lot of the people doing things at the top in economics are just wanking around with math and saying that it reflects reality. I think it would be interesting to see what happens when you throw in more computer simulations using AI, or start wondering what happens when you mix computational complexity with game theory. For example, existence/uniqueness of equilibria matter and all, but the ability for a decision-maker/market to find said equilibria in a timely manner matters too.

4) The computer industry is governed more by economics than computer science (technology/computer science does play a fair-sized part mind you, just the part played by economics seems to be bigger). Why is Microsoft so big? Why is Java so popular? The answers to these questions are answered by economics as much as by technology.

UPDATE: For those of you who are double-majoring in Computer Science and Economics, stay with it! If you go into an economics-oriented field, your computer skills will set you far apart from the hordes of computer-illiterate economics majors that graduate each year.
For those of you only studying economics, the best piece of advice for you is this: learn to use computers. And go beyond Excel, learn something sophisticated like SQL or R which are much more powerful.

7 comments:

John Downing said...

Hi! I came across your blog on Google when I searched economics and computer science. Coincidentally, I am also an Ubuntu user.

Having graduated with an Economics major and a CS minor in undergrad, I have found that I had more enthusiasm for my CS courses than my Econ ones. However, like you, I feel like Economics can contribute more to the world such as saving problems of poverty. I am taking a gap year right now while trying to decide whether to pursue an advanced degree in CS or Econ/Public Policy.

Just wanted to let you know that Economics vs CS is a dilemma for other people out there too!

Anonymous said...

I also found this post when searching Economics & Computer Science. I am currently double majoring in both. I don't know exactly which route I want to lean more. I mean I might even go Law, and I'm just a sophomore so there's a lot of time to still decide

Azhar Hafiz said...

i guess it's better to get technical first yeah?

Rob Britton said...

Yeah technical first is a good idea, since the skills are widely applicable. If you get an education in tech + something, you're pretty valuable.

Azhar Hafiz said...

thanks,why don't you merge your blogger profile with google+ (=

Rob Britton said...

I don't want to have a Google+ account, and I don't actually write on this blog anymore so it wouldn't be worth the effort anyway ;)

Constantine Tsardounis said...

After BSc & MSc in Economics (R + FreeBSD enthusiast, also) and reading your post, I think I'll stick to Economics instead of leaping to CS... thanks...