My Burford-Harry Williamson

A Burford Journey into Economics | Harry Williamson, Ex-Burfordian

It’s hard to pick just one favourite memory from my time at Burford. The school trips definitely stand out. The Geography trip to Iceland was incredible, but so too was the much less glamorous trip down Burford Hill to carry out a traffic survey — which, if I’m honest, involved spending a fair amount of time in the sweet shop.

Academically, I particularly enjoyed Economics and Maths. They were subjects I genuinely looked forward to, and they played a big part in shaping what I went on to study later. At the same time, I also enjoyed having a go at subjects that didn’t come quite so naturally to me, such as Drama and Art. I still remember my Art teacher describing my work as “very unique” — I’m not entirely sure that was meant as a compliment!

What I enjoyed most about Economics was how closely it linked to everyday life. You would hear something on the news and realise it related directly to what you had been learning in class. The more you study Economics, the more you notice that almost everything around you connects to it in some way — from small, everyday decisions like the products you buy and how they’re priced, right through to bigger issues such as taxation and how public money is spent.

I also liked that Economics encourages critical thinking rather than simply testing your memory. There often isn’t one single right answer; instead, you’re asked to weigh up arguments, think about trade-offs, and use evidence to support your view. These are skills that become increasingly important as you progress in your career, and they’re ones I still use regularly now when thinking about policy priorities.

After finishing my A Levels in Economics, Maths, and Geography, I went on to study BSc Economics at the University of Exeter. Studying Economics at Burford was a huge help, particularly during my first year at Exeter, as the A Level provided a really solid foundation in the key macro- and microeconomic concepts that you then build on at university.

After graduating from Exeter, I completed a Master’s in Economic Policy at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, with support from the Burford School Bursary, for which I’m extremely grateful. This course had a much stronger focus on public policy, looking at how government policies are designed, tested, and evaluated, and how they impact people’s lives.

The course helped me secure a role working for the Irish Government in Dublin. I’ve now lived in Dublin for almost five years and currently work as a Senior Economist in the Department of Finance, the Irish equivalent of the Treasury. My role mainly involves writing and publishing research on contemporary labour market issues, such as the potential impact of AI on the labour market. I also regularly brief Ministers on the latest economic developments and represent Ireland at EU, OECD, and other international policy forums, discussing policy issues with colleagues from other Member States.

If I had any advice for current students, it would be to consider studying Economics at A Level and, if you enjoy it, pursuing it further. Economics can lead to lots of different pathways and doesn’t require you to fit into one specific mould. There are areas such as development economics, which sits somewhere between Geography and Economics; empirical economics, which is more focused on maths and data; behavioural economics, which blends psychology and economics; as well as fields like labour economics, environmental economics, and financial economics.

There’s also a wide range of career options, including working for government, international organisations such as the UN or OECD, in the private sector for consultancies, in academia or teaching, or in related sectors such as finance. Economists are always needed and play a key role in underpinning government decision-making by providing the evidence base from which Ministers set policy.

Above all, I’d encourage students to try things out and see what they enjoy. If you can, take up internships, summer work, or placements and use them to work out what you do — and don’t — like. For example, during my undergraduate degree, I spent a year working in finance in London for a large multinational FMCG company. While it was a valuable experience, it helped me realise that I wanted to work in a sector more closely aligned with public policy, which ultimately led me to apply for the Master’s in Utrecht.

Finally, I’d also recommend reading around the subject beyond the syllabus. Books like Freakonomics were what first really sparked my interest and showed me just how wide-ranging Economics can be.