PinoyScientists

0 notes

Meet JC Punongbayan:

1) What do you do?

I’m currently a Ph.D. student at the UP School of Economics (UPSE). My current research focuses on structural transformation—an economy’s evolution from agriculture, manufacturing, to services—specifically on issues surrounding the Philippine services sector. More broadly, my research gravitates toward development economics, political economy, and applied microeconomics.

2) Where do you work?

Right now I’m a teaching fellow at UPSE handling three classes on introductory microeconomics for non-major students (like accounting, public administration, and tourism students). I am also currently a consultant at the Philippine Competition Commission under Chairman Arsenio Balisacan. 

Previously, I was Head Executive Assistant at NEDA (2014-2015) and an economist at the Securities and Exchange Commission (2012-2013). I have also worked at the World Bank Office in Manila (2013-2014).

3) Tell us about the photos!

[Left:] This was taken in November 2014 at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Philippine Economic Society, where I presented my paper entitled “Pork barrel, poverty, and inequality”. The pork barrel scam of 2013 inspired me to write a paper on the nexus between pork barrel allocations and regional development.

[Right:] This was taken on the San Juanico Bridge in April 2016. It was my first time at Leyte, where I was invited to give the keynote speech at 2nd Eastern Visayas Regional Economic Convention and also as a panelist on the thesis defense of UP Tacloban economics students. In between these events, I took the time to see the sights!

4) Tell us about your academic career path so far.

I’m a proud alumnus of Quezon City Science High School (2005). I took up a BS Econ degree from UP (2009, summa cum laude), thinking it would be a good pre-law. Then, I took up one year in UP Law, only to realize that my true calling had been Econ all along! To cut the long story short, I missed data crunching and the economic way of thinking. I returned as an RA for Econ professors, and I never left Economics since then.  After obtaining my MA Economics (2013), I’ve alternated work in academe, government, and development. My dream is to eventually travel the world to teach, write, and research about economics. 

5) Anything else you’d like to share? 

I love teaching economics, and for one sem in AY 2014-2015 I had the privilege of teaching one of Mareng Winnie Monsod’s favorite subjects in UP (Econ 191, Development Economics). I think some of the most interesting questions in economics can be found in development economics (such as, Why are some countries richer than others?). One day, I hope to teach it again not only in UP but also in other universities, here and abroad.

I also love writing about economics, and I’ve been contributing articles for Rappler since 2013. Recently they moved my pieces to the Thought Leaders section, for which I’m very grateful. Unfortunately, not enough economists are writing about economics with a broad audience in mind. Given the variety of policy issues the Philippines is facing right now, there’s room for bringing economics down from the ivory tower and sharing its insights to the general public. Of course, pure economic research remains crucial, but this is a balancing act that I enjoy treading on a daily basis.

Filed under economics development economics