From October 6 through October 10, 2024, Professor Scott Schaefer and Associate Program Director Hina Baig led a group of nine undergraduate students from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business on a tour of Washington, D.C. Among some of the notable institutions the students visited were the World Bank, the Congressional Budget Office, the American Enterprise Institute, the International Finance Corporation, the Brookings Institution, and more. The students also met with esteemed economists and policymakers and dined with alumni as they soaked in the culture and ambiance of Washington during a sunny and warm week in early fall. Each of the students shared his or her impressions of the trip, with all expressing gratitude for the opportunity to participate. They noted that it was both valuable and enlightening.

Some of the themes the students identified from the trip include how the organizations they visited impact government fiscal and monetary policies, the influence a career in economics can have globally and domestically, and how the trip helped clarify their future career plans.

Many of the students were impressed by how the organizations they visited influence the government’s fiscal, monetary, and even political policies. Senior Annabella Miller noted, “Despite us living in a very politically divided world, with the election coming up, it was interesting to see how the CBO provided actionable insights to policymakers based on facts and in a bipartisan way.” Sophomore Dillon Nguyen concurred, adding that the most important takeaway from the trip was “learning about how each company itself influenced public policy.”

The ability of think tanks to influence policies caught sophomore Chesney White’s attention, particularly the “diversity of their interests and what their goals are as companies.” Senior Grace Peters was also impacted by the policy work being done at the organizations, stating that she found it exciting “how research actually can influence policy.”

Several of the students also discussed how the organizations they visited in Washington, D.C., positively impact the lives of Americans and people worldwide. Instead of viewing these institutions as cold places devoid of personality, many students now see them as a force for change.

“I really enjoyed going to the Federal Reserve Bank and the CBO—places that impact policy and help people make better decisions,” said senior Kade Bessert. Kade added, “One of the ways I want to have an impact is staying in the United States.”

Along those lines, sophomore Parker Rose said his highlight was visiting the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. In addition to being “personally interested in tax policy,” he was extremely impressed with the people and mission of the organization.

All of the students found the trip extremely edifying in terms of their future goals, as it helped clarify their career choices and the importance of earning advanced degrees in economics.

Sophomore Logan Maddox was impressed with the people working at the International Finance Corporation, particularly with “the fulfillment they got from their career.” He added that graduate school is a requirement to work at this level, and it is now something he is considering. Junior Taylor Colosimo was also impressed by seeing first-hand the work finance and monetary organizations do in Washington. She noted that she was “exposed to so many different types of work” and “different career opportunities.”

Sophomore Nate Bengtson agreed, saying he “learned a lot” about fields he “didn’t know anything about” before the trip.