Economics is a unique field, in that many of the issues it attempts to solve are familiar to a wide audience. For instance, my work focuses on housing markets and sea level rise. The typical adult probably has some familiarity with housing markets, and at this point sea level rise is a commonly known phenomenon of global warming. However, a general audience may be unfamiliar with the economic mechanisms at work between housing markets and sea level rise. Therefore, it is imperative not to skip over any details when explaining exactly why sea level rise matters in housing markets, how housing prices will be affected, and how ordinary people are affected by the economic mechanisms. Indeed, relating the issue at hand to the average person or to a important policy consideration is key. Else, the entire subject may seem arbitrary or unimportant.

Currently, I am planning on pursuing a PhD in economics. Therefore, I will need to interact with those within my field with even more frequency than now. However, economics is an eclectic field, and throughout future research I will definitely need to communicate with specialists in other social sciences and in the natural sciences. Even with my current Brackenridge research, I necessarily need to communicate with specialists in global warming and sea level rise, such as geologists. Outside of the academic community, I will need to communicate with others in business and industry. In fact, a common industry role for economists is as consultants, those who lend their economic expertise on a wide variety of business, political, and legal cases. Regardless of what career path I choose, my economics degree will require communication with those outside my field on a regular basis.