Three Inquiries: Applying Knowledge from Data Analysis, Economics, and Policy Formulation to Practical Scenarios
In the heart of Armenia, the MITx MicroMasters Program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) has left an indelible mark, as exemplified by the transformation of Gevorg Minasyan's career and the policymaking landscape in the country.
Minasyan, a former employee of the Central Bank of Armenia, first encountered the DEDP MicroMasters while working in his home country. The program proved to be a pivotal step in his professional journey, providing him with invaluable insights that he immediately applied to his policy work. Inspired by the program, Minasyan went on to pursue the full residential Master’s in DEDP at MIT, further refining his approach to policymaking by emphasizing evidence-based decision-making, transparency, and iterative learning.
The DEDP MicroMasters program instilled in Minasyan a mindset that values experimentation, piloting, and iteration before large-scale policy implementations, promoting a persistent shift toward policies that are effective and based on solid evidence rather than intuition. This mindset has been instrumental in shaping a more robust and evidence-based policymaking culture at the Central Bank of Armenia and beyond.
Minasyan's current role as the director of the Research and Training Center at the Central Bank of Armenia has enabled him to lead the effort to scale evidence-based decision-making not only within the bank but across a broader ecosystem of public institutions in Armenia. He has been instrumental in institutionalizing a culture of evaluation and feedback in policymaking, fostering data-driven research and policy design that is more inclusive and responsive to local needs.
The Central Bank of Armenia collaborated with J-PAL Europe to co-design and host a policy design and evaluation workshop, bringing together policymakers, central bankers, and analysts from various sectors. The workshop, which reflects the ideas, tools, and values Minasyan absorbed at MIT, is taking institutional form back home, with the ultimate goal of creating policies that are not only well-designed but also effective, inclusive, and responsive to people's needs.
Minasyan's journey underscores the reach of the DEDP MicroMasters program beyond personal education into systemic change in government practice and education. The program combines rigorous training in economics, data analysis, and impact evaluation with a strong emphasis on practical application, equipping participants like Minasyan to lead evidence-based policy transformation in their regions.
In sum, the DEDP MicroMasters and subsequent master’s program have empowered Minasyan to build a sustainable framework for evidence-based policymaking, enhancing both his career trajectory and the institutional capacity of Armenian policy institutions. His story is a testament to the transformative power of education and the potential for positive change in policymaking when guided by evidence and a commitment to learning.
[1] MIT News: Alumni Profile: Gevorg Minasyan
[2] J-PAL Europe: Policy Design and Evaluation Workshop in Armenia
- Gevorg Minasyan, previously a Central Bank of Armenia employee, discovered the MITx MicroMasters Program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) while working in his home country.
- The DEDP MicroMasters program played a crucial role in Minasyan's professional development, offering him insights that he promptly applied to his policy work.
- Motivated by the program, Minasyan enrolled in the full residential Master’s in DEDP at MIT, refining his policymaking approach with an emphasis on evidence-based decision-making, transparency, and iterative learning.
- Influenced by the program, Minasyan has been instrumental in cultivating a more robust evidence-based policymaking culture at the Central Bank of Armenia and beyond.
- As the director of the Research and Training Center at the Central Bank of Armenia, Minasyan is leading the initiative to expand evidence-based decision-making across a wider ecosystem of public institutions in Armenia.
- The Central Bank of Armenia, in collaboration with J-PAL Europe, co-designed and hosted a policy design and evaluation workshop, which reflects the ideas, tools, and values that Minasyan learned at MIT.
- The DEDP MicroMasters program's impact extends beyond personal education, contributing to systemic change in government practices and education by combining rigorous training with a strong focus on practical application.
