Rachel Chang is a second-year MPA/ID student at Harvard Kennedy School. She was accepted into the Growth Lab's 2022 Fall and Winter RA Program where she helped construct visual stories that translate data and visualizations into timely insights for decision-makers.
Why did you apply for the Growth Lab RA position?
I applied to the Growth Lab RA position because I wanted to utilize the findings from the Atlas of Economic Complexity and Metroverse to create compelling data-driven visual stories. The Growth Lab RA position was a great way for me to contribute my product management experience, along with the analytical frameworks and economic rigor from the MPA/ID curriculum.
What did you work on?
I generated three distinct story concepts and eventually focused on Taiwan's need for diversification beyond chips and semiconductors. This involved conducting outside research, using the Atlas of Economic Complexity and Metroverse, and working closely with the Growth Lab team.
In what ways were you challenged?
I was challenged because I wanted to connect country-level data from the Atlas and city-level data from the Metroverse to create a cohesive narrative for Taiwan. This was challenging because there wasn’t a clear connection between the data.
What was your most exciting/surprising experience?
The most exciting part was finding a way to bring the Atlas and Metroverse data together in a seamless manner. I was thrilled to see this piece come together using analytical economic methods and crafting a narrative.
What advice would you give future Growth Lab interns/RAs?
I would advise future Growth Lab RAs to supplement their RA-ship with courses, such as API313M: The Tools and Methods of Economic Complexity Analysis and DEV 309: Development Policy Strategy. The Op-Ed writing class at HKS was also especially helpful in providing best practices for writing compelling pieces (for those interested in writing short stories for the Growth Lab). The technicalities learned from these classes were directly relevant to my project analysis!
What’s next for you?
I'm further inspired to utilize data as a means to explore international economic growth opportunities and to bridge both the micro and macro aspects of economic advancement. I hope to continue working on these topics after graduating from the MPA/ID program.