Personal Statement:Politics philosophy and economics ppe 6 - The Student Room

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I have enjoyed economics and current affairs discussions for several years. After my first year of economics at school I became interested in understanding how the theoretical structures we were taught had evolved over time and I read A History of Economic Thought by Lionel Robbins, focusing on the chapters on Adam Smith, Locke and Mill. Subsequently I started to read extracts from The Wealth of Nations (Book I so far). I could see how Smith mapped out the foundations of liberal economic thought, and I was especially interested by his chapters on natural prices of commodities and his implicit attempt to find justice in economic life. Subsequent chapters discuss Smith’s Labour Theory of Value; I found his distinction between values and prices of particular interest, even though the former concept feels rather elusive. Smith’s Invisible Hand principle provides an elegant cohesion to his model of the economy. This cohesion has broken down today and the current crisis illustrates how far we have strayed from Smith’s self-correcting economy. I enjoyed the contrast between Paul Krugman’s representation of the market in The Crisis of 2008 with Smith’s concept of a purer market that works towards the common good. I explored this topic further in an essay on the current economic crisis, in which I concluded that the current economic failure is not entirely that of the market economy, but in large measure, I believe, a failure of the regulatory bodies charged with supervising economic activity.

I wanted to gain a first perspective on political philosophy and I read An Introduction to Political Philosophy by Jonathan Wolff. This sparked my interest to read Locke’s Second Treatise of Civil Government and I found the discussion of the rights of the individual and the role of the state as relevant today as it was to Locke. We are experiencing an ever-expanding public sector and I found it useful to understand how Locke justifies the legitimacy of the state. I was curious to see how this legitimation had evolved over the subsequent three centuries and I read Mill’s On Liberty. It seems to me that Locke was accommodating to the role of the state provided it acted for the good of society. Mill, on the other hand, seems to adopt a position of an active crusade for the individual with his critique of the tyranny of the majority and his somewhat elitist praise of the eccentric individual pursuing his private interests. The tyranny of the majority has some resonance today in certain political regimes in the Middle East, prompting some personal research on the influence of political structures on economic development in the region. My conclusion was that democratic structures stimulate greater economic development in the Middle East. This experience however is not necessarily borne out in other countries, China in particular, and I would like to study more about this topic in the future.

I am entering the Blumenau Philosophy competition and will write an essay on “God does not play dice, but nature does”. This topic appeals to me and I will try to reconcile the two concepts – God and Nature. These concepts have a fairly clear and established meaning in the context of Judaism, in which I have been brought up, but in a philosophical discussion closer definition and greater rigour will be necessary, and it will be interesting to challenge belief with analysis.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

After my initial studies of economics at school, I pursued further reading that connected theoretical knowledge with historical economic thought, such as Lionel Robbins’ A History of Economic Thought and Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations. This allowed me to understand foundational economic principles and the evolution of economic ideas in context. My engagement with Paul Krugman’s analysis of the 2008 crisis contrasted with Smith's ideas, enhancing my critical thinking and understanding of economic failures, particularly regulatory shortcomings.

In political philosophy, reading Jonathan Wolff’s An Introduction to Political Philosophy prepared me with core concepts which led me to primary texts by Locke and Mill. This progression deepened my insight into the role of the individual, government legitimacy, and civil liberty debates, connecting historical philosophical ideas with current political contexts. These studies have provided a strong foundation for analytical thinking relevant to my intended course.

My academic pursuit of philosophy is further demonstrated by my participation in the Blumenau Philosophy competition, where I will develop an essay exploring the relationship between God and Nature, drawing from my own religious background in Judaism while embracing rigorous philosophical inquiry. This exercise builds my skills in philosophical argumentation and critical examination.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Over the past two summers, I have had useful internships with two financial firms and a financial media company, which gave me practical experience in the financial sector and provided insight into real-world economic activities and market dynamics.

In my extracurricular activities, I led the school Jewish Assembly, which helped me develop my public speaking and communication skills while engaging with complex cultural and religious topics weekly. I have also actively participated in school and club tennis and was a member of the Under 18 Great Britain tennis team for the Maccabi Games, a quadrennial Jewish Olympic Games, in July 2009. This experience taught me teamwork, discipline, and resilience.

Additionally, my involvement in charitable work, such as volunteering at a soup kitchen and supporting an organization for underprivileged children, has given me a broader perspective on social issues and the value of community service. These experiences enrich my understanding of societal structures and human values, which underpin politics, philosophy, and economics.

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

Need help with your personal statement? You can ask a question or get feedback from The Student Room community (and our trained personal statement experts) on the personal statement advice forum.