1. What is the essential role of economics in a given country’s social life? Why many
proven theories of economics have failed to apply to BRICS’s economic conditions?”
Those are just some of the questions that I constantly pose to myself during the past
year of my postgraduate program in economics at IIM-Indore. Economics, as a
rigorous system of generalized models that aim to be universally applicable, has
repeatedly proved its efficacy in explaining general issues in economic life. But
when applied to the specific economic issues in a particular country or region, its
value becomes seriously undermined due to the distortions and interventions
resulting from such factors as historical tradition, social conventions and political
system. As a student from a developing country, I have an especially strong feeling
about this situation.
While gladly appreciating the rapid social and economic development in BRICS
countries over the past two decades, I am also deeply concerned about some
inherent social and economic issues such as unemployment, the rich-poor polarity,
the failure to fully implement the rule of law, the slow progress in political reform,
the unbalanced social and economic development between the eastern and the
western regions of the country, the status of ethnic minorities, and loss of
traditional values and moral standards, etc. Underneath the increasing material
prosperity lie some alarming social problems. I would also like to explore the
successes and failures of traditional Eastern Asian culture in the modernization
campaigns. I am convinced that it is pointless being simply worried about the
existing problems and blame people for those problems. It is more important for me
to acquire the necessary academic foundation whereby to search for effective
solutions to those problems.
My initial interest in development came from a book called "China's Hidden
Agricultural Revolution" written by Philip C. C. Huang. In my opinion, labor
market distortions and urban biased policies are the main obstacles to promote
labor mobility and further to narrow the income gap. This experience also made me
aware of my limitations and therefore sparked my desire for an in-depth study. I
find that the research process is really like the procedure of diagnosis and
treatment, and in my opinion the best prescriptions are policy tools. Therefore, how
to solve such economic inequity by making fiscal policies is one area that I want to
delve into.

2. Having said that, on the onset, I must make it clear that I don’t have an academic
background in this subject specifically. It is only with my interest that I have tried
to self-learn a few things. Moreover, I come from an agricultural family background
and am still waiting for my chance to understand things at global level. In future, I
also plan to pursue a PhD in International Relations and hence this program will be
a huge boost to my dreams.
Under such circumstances, it is easy to comprehend how excited I am when I
discover that this program might allow me to combine my professional knowledge of
economics with my research interest in broad sociological issues.
As Karl Marx says, man strives for things that matter to him. In saying so, I
believe, he means not only material things, but also the spiritual and the ideal. It is
in the behalf of social justice and public well-being that I will strive, for the rest of
my life.
Thank you for your kind consideration of my application.