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My interest in economics has developed during my period of work in the retail sector. Dealing with money and observing the behavior of customers has made me speculate about the role that economic considerations play in our lives, and my conclusions are that nearly everything in the human world seems to be conditioned in some way by money and the availability of resources. I am full of curiosity about how the world actually works, and why some countries, such as Britain, despite its current difficulties, are so much richer than others. I am fascinated at the way that things have changed economically in such a short time, how countries which looked prosperous before the crisis of 2008 suddenly found themselves on the edge of bankruptcy, and how the new “tiger” economies were faced with the disappearance of the markets they depended on to sell the goods they had produced. Economics for me has the appeal of a subject that is current and immediate, not just something in a book or a laboratory. The forces that can affect our lives so dramatically can seem mysterious and alarming, and it is of the first importance that we should try to understand them and quantify them, and, if possible, find ways to control them.

I have a good grounding in mathematics, and I am currently completing a course on book-keeping, which has given me some insight into accounting. I have also studied human behaviour in a psychology course. All of these are clearly relevant to economics, which is fascinating because it is not exactly a science, though it is often discussed as if it had laws in the same way as physics. I understand, though, that the study of economics can allow us to forecast such things as how markets will behave, how customers will make their choices, and how monopolies will distort the way things operate. I am also interested in the macroeconomic aspects, such as the ways that the production of goods, the financial sector and the labour market interact, the impact of changes in taxation and interest rates, and how an economy establishes its level of spending. It seems to be all about making decisions which can affect many people’s lives, and I am intrigued to discover why we (or our governments) still get it wrong.

I have worked for several years in a retail business as a customer assistant, handling money and dealing with customer queries and complaints. I keep abreast of economic developments and news about business and finance by close attention to the media, and it is my long-term ambition to become an economist myself and perhaps help to make the system run more efficiently. I enjoy the challenge of problems and finding creative solutions, a taste which developed out of my study of mathematics. Having the courage to think originally and perhaps unconventionally seems to me to be a very important asset.

I am bilingual, having fluent English and Swahili, a skill which I believe may be vary valuable in today’s increasingly globalised world. Outside of my economic interests I enjoy maintaining my fitness through working out in a gym, exercising and swimming, and my main pleasure is my social life with my family and friends. One of my proudest achievements is my ascent of Kilimanjaro a few years ago, which involved an effort and a degree of self-discipline which have given me confidence and determination in my life.

I am trustworthy and reliable, and I believe my colleagues and friends see me as considerate and friendly, and respectful of others’ interests and views. I am happy to work as part of a group, but I also have considerable initiative and can be depended on to complete a set task. My working life has helped me to develop the confidence to express myself clearly, to work under pressure, and to be tolerant towards others. I have a genuine intellectual curiosity about economic matters, and would find huge satisfaction in studying for a degree in the subject. I hope you will consider my application.