When talking about an economist, usually an image of a boring old academic with glasses pops up in people's heads. However, Kirida Bhaopichitr, a country economist at the World Bank's Bangkok office, is an exception.

Kirida, whose responsibility is to monitor not only the Thai economy but also the economies of Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia, is lively and energetic.

She was born into a typical family, in which the parents wanted to see their child become a doctor when she grew up. She was told to pursue a career in medical school and she wasn't against that thought.

Things could have been different had she not taken a macro-economic course while she was in high school at Ruamrudee International School. Since then, she has felt like math is in-between the arts and science.

"With math, you can understand why people economically do this or that," Kirida says.

After high school she decided to study economics at Thammasat University. She graduated with a first honours degree and won a prestigious Ananda Mahidol Scholarship.

"Back then, I thought if I carried on in economics, the alternatives for my career path would be narrow. Economics cannot make a career but economics can be adapted to any career. Only one career is left for those who study economics, and that is to become an instructor. To become an instructor, a master's degree is not enough. Therefore, I thought that I should continue to finish my PhD."

While she was studying for her doctoral degree at Cornell University in the United States, Kirida was thinking about what she would like to do when she came back to the Kingdom.

"Working with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund or an organisation like this was my intention back then," Kirida said.

She chose the World Bank over the IMF because of the variety of jobs the World Bank can provide. Also, her adviser, who used to work with the World Bank, inspired her.

Luck was in her favour when she got her degree in 1999. Partly in response to the 1997 Asian economic crisis, the World Bank decided to set up a hub office in Thailand to take care of five countries - Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia and Thailand.

As Mongolia is closer to China, the World Bank eventually pulled back the Mongolia case to its China office.

Kirida started her career at the World Bank as a junior economist. Over the past seven years she and her team have done a number of jobs, but she does not take credit for any great results.

"Our studies have effects in the long term. We only study and send our findings to the governments. Then it is up to them.

"Even if the government adapts our study to its project, we don't have any indicator to claim that the improvement is derived from our effort," she added.

Looking forward, Kirida says she may step up to work in the World Bank's office in Washington DC. Or she might decide to do something else, like teach or conduct research.

"Recently, I have had to travel to Laos often, as the bank wants me to join the team there. Conducting research there is exciting and challenging. I'm still having fun," she said.

Kirida also lectures on economic development in Thammasat's economics faculty.

"I teach only one semester a year. Economic development is not among the students' favourite subjects. Most of them go for trade, finance or industrial economics. It doesn't matter what subject you are studying. The important thing is to think clearly about what you learn."

She says Thailand needs a solid education and skills base to succeed economically, using South Korea as an example.

"The Korean government has been very supportive of the university-industry linkage. This is why research there parallels what the industries want. The country's public research institution also plays an important role."

Kirida is one of the few Thais working for the World Bank's Bangkok office. To climb up to this position, she says, she just "gave everything a go".

She believes that there are many serious Thai economists, but most of their findings or thought are not publicised. She also believes that research on economic matters should be presented in plain Thai language. She says that would narrow the average person's economic knowledge gap.

Piyarat Setthasiriphaiboon

The Nation