Amanina Abdur Rahman

Course: Bachelor of Business and Commerce, 2012 and Doctor of Philosophy, 2018
Nationality: Malaysian
Current role: Economist, World Bank Group

Please tell us about your role in your current organisation.

I am currently working as a Research Associate, specialising in the area of Social Protection and Jobs at the World Bank Group Global Knowledge and Research Hub in Malaysia. Within this role, I contribute towards the Hub’s objectives of sharing and operationalising Malaysia’s development experience in developing countries and creating innovative policy research on national, regional, and global issues.

Why did you choose Monash?

Monash Malaysia gave me the opportunity to obtain an international education while having the benefits of being close to my family. Beyond classroom learning, Monash provided me with the opportunity to be in an environment that breeds independence and critical thinking.

Tell us briefly about your PhD research.

My PhD dissertation is on the relationship between freedom and subjective well-being, or life satisfaction. In short, greater freedom – both economic freedom and the freedom of choice and control over one’s life – is associated with greater well-being, particularly when one’s basic needs have been met. Traditionally, GDP is considered as the measure of the success of nations. However, as countries continue to develop and people become more affluent, improvements in material standard of living no longer guarantees increased welfare, and alternative measures of well-being are increasingly being used to identify areas in which countries can focus on to further improve the standard of living, one of which is freedom.

My research lends further empirical support to this area of study, which has gained traction in the public policy sphere. For instance, the New Zealand Treasury recently introduced the Living Standards Framework, in which they identify several domains – several of which include different aspects of freedom – that can enhance the quality of its advice for the New Zealand Government with the goal of improving the well-being of the people of New Zealand.

Did you participate in any student activities or opportunities while at Monash?

I think I definitely made the most of the Monash experience! In my undergraduate years, I was part of the volunteer program and worked as a Research Assistant. Later on, as a postgraduate, I participated in three international conferences and spent five months as a PhD researcher at Erasmus University in the Netherlands. All of these experiences and opportunities contributed to the development of the skills that I have and use as a working professional, on top of having been thoroughly enjoyable!

What did you enjoy most about your student life?

One of the most enriching parts of my life at Monash is the lasting friendships that I made with the faculty, other staff, and my peers. Here’s a shout-out to my PhD cohort, whose support played a big role in getting me to where I am today.

What are your career goals?

My objective – regardless of what the actual career path may look like – is to be able to make a difference in the trajectory of public policy, and through that, people’s lives, first and foremost in Malaysia, but also beyond.