Humanizing Economics: Teaching Students to See Beyond the Numbers

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When Anna Shostya, PhD, talks about economics, she rarely starts with numbers. Instead, she begins with people, experiences, and the ways economic decisions shape lives. “Economics is often taught as abstract theory,” she explains. “But it doesn’t have to be. My goal is to humanize it and make it more relevant.”

That philosophy informs both her scholarship and her teaching. Shostya recently co-edited Pathways to Sustainable Development: Implementing the Pact for the Future, a forthcoming volume from Edward Elgar. The project, undertaken with longtime UN official Narinder Kakar, assembles an international team of contributors ranging from established experts to rising PhD students. “It was an honor to learn alongside Professor Kakar and gain deeper insight into how the UN works,” she says.

Bringing her research questions to the classroom is central to her approach. In her macroeconomics courses, Shostya pushes students to think beyond GDP. “Economic growth alone doesn’t guarantee well-being,” she notes. “We need to ask: does it help reduce inequality, preserve the environment, or create decent jobs?” To help students connect theory to lived realities, she incorporates case studies and personal experiences from teaching in China, Poland, and Moldova. Group projects ask students to research economic development issues in regions tied to their own backgrounds, weaving together data, stories, and creativity.

The results can be eye-opening. “Many students arrive unfamiliar with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,” she explains. “But when they learn about pollution in China or hear stories about the war in Ukraine, the issues become real.” For Shostya, those moments of recognition—the spark in a student’s eyes, a lively discussion, or even a burst of laughter—are what drive her teaching. “That connection inspires lifelong learning,” she says. “It’s what I’m most passionate about.”

Economics is often taught as abstract theory—but it doesn’t have to be. My goal is to humanize it and make it more relevant.

Her research is equally motivated by relevance and freedom to explore those themes that she is passionate about. “I appreciate the ability to pursue questions that resonate with my own experiences and reflect the issues that are faced by the international community,” she says. “Whether I explore sustainable consumption and production, national educational outcomes, or the impact of war on labor markets, I value the chance to contribute to conversations that matter.”

Now serving as chair of the Economics department, Shostya is mindful of the challenges ahead. Students enter with uneven preparation, shaped by the disruptions of COVID and growing dependence on technology. Her vision is to maintain rigor while adapting to change. “We want to embrace AI and other tools thoughtfully, so they enhance learning without replacing the human connection,” she explains. Across the department, she adds, faculty share two common traits: a passion for applied economics and a commitment to student success. They are all proud that their students graduate with skills and knowledge that help them find rewarding and exciting jobs.

It is that shared energy that Shostya hopes to sustain. “Economics is a tool,” she reminds her students. “If you learn to use it well, it can take you anywhere.” For her, the real work of teaching lies in making that tool relevant—and ensuring students see how it can help shape not only their futures, but the future of the world they inherit.