Economics Alumni Forum 2024 - Conducted

Ken Isaac Boltiador
November 3, 2024, 9:25PM

CEBU - The University of San Carlos - Department of Economics and the Carolinian Economics Society conducted the USC Days 2024 Alumni Forum of the Department of Economics last October 23, 2024 at the Arthur Dingman Hall of the University of San Carlos - Downtown Campus.

The Department and the Society invited Atty. Carlson Guillermo, an Economics undergrad who currently is an associate of Lumapas, Blanco, Borbajo, and Fiel Law Firm. He was the former President of the Carolinian Economics Society and Asst. Editor-in-Chief of the Carolinian Economics Society's IDEA Magazine. 

Atty. Guillermo, at first, discussed on the importance of Economics in the legal profession. He emphasized how private settlements in legal disputes tend to be more efficient if settled privately, as exhibited in the Coase Theorem. He also shared the need of an efficient legal system in the Philippines, which are currently brought about by Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADRs), E-filing of Pleadings and Motions, Legal Clinics, and emphasized how the importance of an efficient legal system, as taught in his undergrad years, can not only improve economic outcome but also benefit society as a whole. 

During the Fireside Chat, when asked about why he chose Economics for his undergraduate studies, Guillermo highlighted his love for mathematics and analytics, in which the study  Economics relies heavily on. "The strong emphasis on analytical thinking is what made me fall in love with Economics," Guillermo added. 

When asked on what makes Economics an interesting subject to learn, Guillermo mentioned how the perfect blend of history and how the economists of the past think of "how their world works" inspires him to learn more about the discipline. He also mentioned of the importance of Economics in Public Policy because of its two-fold focus on 1) promoting efficient and optimized systems, and 2) marginal thinking. 

The Alumni Forum of the Department of Economics is an annual forum conducted wherein the Department invites USC Alumni coming from the Economics program to share their experiences and the application of Economics to their professional and personal lives.