For students Neha Muthiah and Dylan Margolis, economics has become more than a field of study; it is a platform for leadership, collaboration and career development. Through their work with the Berkeley Economic Review, both seniors helped lead UC Berkeley’s premier undergraduate economics publication by building a community of student writers, researchers and aspiring economists.
This week, they each will graduate from UC Berkeley with double majors. Muthiah will earn degrees in environmental economics and statistics, while Margolis will graduate with degrees in economics and data science. Their next steps reflect the different paths economics can take them. Muthiah will begin a predoctoral fellowship in economics at Yale University, and Margolis will start a job in economic consulting at the global consulting firm Charles River Associates.
Muthiah and Margolis recently spoke to Berkeley Social Sciences about their experience as Berkeley Economic Review leaders, the lessons they gained through leadership and what comes next. The interview is edited for clarity.
Tell us about your background and why you chose UC Berkeley.
Dylan Margolis: UC Berkeley is a tremendous research institution. It offers a good mix of access to industry professionals, academia and research. Going into college, I wasn’t entirely sure of which academic path I wanted to pursue, so Berkeley’s wide range of opportunities really appealed to me.
Neha Muthiah: Going into college, I knew I wanted to do work that focused on policy analysis. Berkeley stood out to me because of its strong commitment to social issues. It also mattered to me to be in an environment where I could conduct research as an undergraduate, especially in environmental economics.
Tell us about your double majors.
Neha Muthiah: I'm an environmental economics and statistics double major. I entered Berkeley knowing I wanted to do something related to policy. With environmental economics, I appreciated its focus on delivering social good and how it centers economics around externalities. I initially intended to pursue environmental law because I saw it as a field that could effectively influence policy. During my time at Berkeley, I realized I wanted to pursue economics within academia, so I added the statistics major to strengthen my technical background.
Dylan Margolis: I'm double majoring in economics and data science. I thought it would be an interesting combination because economics gives me the theoretical side of things, while data science allows me to observe practical outcomes. I can take my economics courses and look at high-level economic theory, then apply that perspective through reasoning and logic in mathematics and coding. Increasingly, these ideas are becoming applicable in day-to-day life, so having a strong understanding of how the world is working is incredibly exciting.
Tell us about your experiences leading the Berkeley Economic Review (BER).
Dylan Margolis: The Berkeley Economic Review functions as a research hub for economics majors across UC Berkeley. It’s a great community for students interested in economics to develop and exchange ideas.
Both of us have served as editors-in-chief for the past year. It’s been exciting because the role allows us to be involved in every part of the process, whether that’s the magazine, the journal or internal research. We’re able to engage with the organization at every stage of production.
Neha Muthiah: The Berkeley Economic review is made up of a variety of features where students can engage with economics in a practical way and foster professional development. We research and publish articles in-house, and our work is supported by resources partnerships, including consulting firms. Most of all, it’s a community of people connected by our shared interests. I personally have learned a lot about myself and grown as an economist by being a part of this club.
BER has achieved a lot at UC Berkeley. We started as a peer-reviewed journal and are now published and indexed. That’s a big accomplishment for an undergraduate journal, so we're very proud of that.
What would you say distinguishes the Berkeley Economic Review from other publications on campus or in general?
Neha Muthiah: There isn't another economic publication on campus to begin with, but we also stand out among undergraduate economic publications globally because very few fully indexed and student-run economic publications exist. As a student, it’s a rare opportunity to gain exposure to a wide variety of economic research and help demystify it.
I want to go into research and this publication has been the single most important experience in giving me the skills and the confidence to pursue that path. It's also a great community where you collaboratively review research, which is a very special experience that is different from what you do in a class. The organization is a place to apply the skills you learn in class and meet people who are interested in economics, even if they are not necessarily economics majors.
What does graduating from UC Berkeley mean to you?
Dylan Margolis: One of the things I really love about UC Berkeley is its size. Even though I’m graduating as an economics and data science major, I’ve been in the company of so many people from different backgrounds and majors.
Being a graduate of Berkeley means I know I can reach out to people with completely different experiences and still connect with them. Cal establishes a long-term community of intellectually rigorous people who are incredibly interesting and excited about learning.
Neha Muthiah: When I was first considering Berkeley, a lot of people told me that at a public university, professors don't care as much about teaching. My experience has been the complete opposite. What makes Berkeley special is the emphasis on social care that trickles down from its faculty. As a public research university, many professors choose to teach here because they care about the university and about passing down knowledge to their students. I’ve seen that reflected in the conversations I’ve had with professors.
I also think Berkeley culture is deeply rooted in research. That’s part of what the Berkeley Economic Review represents. Not everyone in the club wants to pursue research as a career, but everyone recognizes that it is an integral part of our education. Leaving Berkeley, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be surrounded by people trying to make a difference.
What are your plans after you graduate?
Dylan Margolis: Next year, I will be working in economic consulting at Charles River Associates in their competition division, focusing on antitrust and mergers and acquisitions.
Neha Muthiah: I want to go into academia, so I will be doing a predoctoral position in climate finance at Yale University with Stefano Giglio, a Yale professor of finance, management and entrepreneurship, and Johannes Strobel, a climate finance researcher at Yale University.
My goal after that is to complete a PhD in economics and then, eventually, become a professor. I’ll add that both of us have had many conversations about how the jobs we have lined up for next year are heavily influenced by the Berkeley Economic Review. The publication gave me a sense of a research institution, and I wouldn’t be here without it. I’m very grateful.