Why does the global economy like winners? Interview with Ekaterina Bakhmeteva, a first-year master's student.
Meet Ekaterina Bakhmeteva, a first-year master's student in the "World Economy" program, a graduate of the bachelor's program "World Economy", an intern researcher at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS) and an invited lecturer at the Department of World Economy, a participant in the International Academic Cooperation project "Approaches to an Alternative International Financial System", a student in the unified "master's + postgraduate" track, a winner and prize-winner of the "I am a Professional" Olympiad and a six-time prize-winner of the "Higher League" Olympiad.
1. Tell us, why did you decide to continue your studies in the "World Economy" field?
The decision to continue my studies in the master's program was based on several reasons. Firstly, my bachelor's degree gave me a solid foundation and the confidence that this is exactly my field. World economics teaches critical thinking, data analysis, and trend forecasting—skills that are highly valued everywhere today. Secondly, I have always been inspired by our teachers—true experts who shape the agenda in their field through their own research and publications. Learning from them is a great fortune.
And finally, already during my bachelor's studies, I tried my hand at research and realized: this is what I want to do further. World economics is a key to analyzing the most complex problems: from inequality and poverty to climate change and energy security. Seeking solutions through research is my professional goal.
2. Did you manage to combine studies and research during your bachelor's degree?
In our program, deepening in research begins quite early. From the first years, you can participate in projects, and from the second year—write term papers. My first term paper was on import substitution in the Russian agro-industrial complex under the supervision of E.A. Galchenko. At the same time, I tried myself in several research projects on different topics: collecting information on import substitution in Russia, processing data for CPI calculation using machine learning methods, a joint HSE and Ruhr University Bochum course on intercultural communication, translating academic texts from German to Russian, preparing materials for a corporate finance course. Analytical work inspired me: searching for information, reading articles, figuring out data. These skills later proved very useful.
In my third year, I defended a paper on the growth factors of BRICS countries, written under the supervision of A.K. Morozkina. This research became a starting point for me. I am very grateful to Aleksandra Konstantinovna not only for her supervision but also for believing in me as a co-author. We continued this work, preparing an article "Expanded BRICS: Is There Common Ground in Growth Problems?" (in Russian) for the journal Russia in Global Affairs and a chapter for a textbook.
For my diploma, I took on a new topic—social inequality in access to healthcare in South Africa. We identified key factors of this inequality, and based on this work, our joint article with A.K. Morozkina was published in the Journal of the Institute for African Studies (Russian Academy of Sciences).
During my pre-diploma internship, I participated in a CCEIS project dedicated to the analysis of integration indicators in the EAEU, under the supervision of D.V. Skrypnik and A.A. Zaitsev. In the project, I was engaged in data collection and primary processing, as well as searching for articles and analytical materials on the research topic. It was very interesting for me to participate in this project: I was able to apply the skills acquired during my bachelor's studies and learn a lot about mutual trade and investment within the EAEU. After participating in this project, I became even more convinced that I would like to connect my professional career with research work.
3. Are you just as actively involved in research now?
Yes, even more so! Since August, I have been participating in the project "Approaches to an Alternative International Monetary System" under the supervision of A.V. Podrugina. It is implemented in collaboration with the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil and is dedicated to the extremely relevant topic—how the financial system is transforming, using BRICS countries as an example. The traditional system dominated by the US dollar no longer meets the interests of many countries, and we are exploring possible alternatives: new settlement mechanisms, reserve restructuring, models of unified platforms.
We are preparing research and analytical materials on the financial systems of BRICS countries and possibilities for their transformation; moreover, we regularly hold joint seminars and other scientific events with colleagues from the University of Campinas. By the way, our project is always open to students who want to try their hand at research—bachelor's and master's students can participate in creating a quarterly monitoring of the macroeconomic and financial situation of BRICS countries by applying at the "Project Fair". The first issue of the monitoring will be released in December, and the next recruitment of students for the project to create a new issue will open at the beginning of 2026.
Within the project, A.K. Morozkina and I prepared an article "Approaches to the Formation of a BRICS Reserve Currency Portfolio", dedicated to the prospects of creating a BRICS reserve asset based on a currency basket. I presented its results at the project's working seminar and at the Autumn Economic School of the Russian-Armenian University in Yerevan. Currently, I am writing an article dedicated to a comparative analysis of BRICS central bank policies in managing international reserves, also under the supervision of A.K. Morozkina. I have already presented interim results of this article at the youth session of the XIII Annual Conference on the World Economy "BRICS and Rethinking the Global Economic Order".
In October, I joined a project dedicated to analyzing responsible business in BRICS-5, under the supervision of N.A. Vukovich. My task in this project is to analyze research in the field of responsible business practices in South Africa. Participation in this project has allowed me to broaden my horizons and look from a different perspective both at studying the economies of BRICS-5 countries and at research in sustainable development.
4. I know you also teach at HSE. How do you find this experience?
My first experience was back in my second year—I conducted German language classes in the "Optimum" project under the guidance of Maria Rozhkova, a graduate of the "World Economy" bachelor's program, and then for several years I was a teaching assistant for German language teachers M.A. Maltsev and E.V. Lyukina.
Now I conduct seminars for the course "Global Business Environment: Key Trends and Prospects" as part of the minor "World Economy and International Business". I really enjoy it—it's great to see the interest and engagement of the students.
Next semester, I plan to conduct seminars in English for the course "Financial Decisions in International Companies". I hope everything goes well!
5. Final question: what are your career plans?
After my master's degree, I plan to enter HSE's postgraduate program in "World Economics". I am already preparing—I am studying in the unified "master's + postgraduate" track, which involves writing the text of a candidate's (PhD) dissertation already during the master's program. My potential dissertation will be dedicated to the factors determining the structure of international reserves of BRICS countries' central banks. If everything works out, I would like to continue research work at CCEIS.
World economics is a complex, dynamic system with many variables and constantly changing conditions. Studying it means constantly solving new puzzles, encountering new theories and practical cases. This stimulates mental work and broadens one's horizons.
Studying world economics for me is the key to understanding how the world works, why countries develop differently, how to foresee crises and find points of growth. It is not just an academic discipline, but a tool for shaping a better future.
