Beyond Economics

Outside Academia

Outside of research and teaching, I value activities that give me balance and perspective. I enjoy spending time outdoors—hiking, camping, and paddle-boarding. Cooking is another passion: experimenting with new recipes and sharing meals with friends is one of my favorite ways to connect across cultures. My name, Shadi Rahimfallah, reflects this outlook as well: Shadi means joy in Persian, and Rahimfallah combines mercy and success, a reminder to approach life with kindness and positivity.

Reading is also an important part of my life. I read broadly beyond economics—literature, history, psychology, and science—which helps me stay curious and often inspires fresh perspectives for my work.

Books I Recommend

For students and anyone interested in seeing economics in action, these are books I often suggest. They are accessible, engaging, and connect economics to broader questions in society.

• Poor Economics by Abhijit Banerjee & Esther Duflo — Evidence-based insights into poverty and development.
• Misbehaving by Richard Thaler — A lively introduction to behavioral economics.
• Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson — Institutions and the roots of development.
• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman — How we think, decide, and sometimes err.
• Factfulness by Hans Rosling — A hopeful, data-driven look at global progress.

Reflections

This page is a space where I share ideas and recommendations that go beyond my academic work. Whether it’s a book that shaped my perspective, a lesson from time outdoors, or a reflection on teaching and learning, my aim is to stay curious, kind, and open to new ways of thinking.