Don’t Fight the Feeling
What happens when an artsy, creative type develops a late-in-life obsession with economics?
I WORSHIP at the Church of Plain English: always have, always will. I’m not a fan of jargon or overly complex language. In fact, I’m offended by it. As a designer, copywriter, and content creator, I’ve worked with dozens of organizations. Over the years, I’ve written about dog food, investment funds, supply chain management, art exhibitions, health care—you get the idea. I’ve spent a lot of time translating acronyms and in-group lingo into stories that everyone can understand. To me, simple, easy-to-understand language is a thing of beauty.
It’s not just about the words. It’s about the intention. I’ve always sensed a kind of hostility attached to the glib use of undefined acronyms and obscure references. Some people are offended by opposing political views or salty language. I’m offended by “in-speak” run amok.
This aversion to jargon may be why I’ve been swatting away a growing interest in economics for the past several years. I approach the topic timidly. When I get too close, I’m shocked by an imaginary electric fence. I usually enjoy diving into unknown waters and making sense of new ideas, but my lack of patience has made this obsession with economics a thorn in my side.
My interest in economics comes from an enduring curiosity about how money, interpersonal relationships, power, and labor intersect. I am a squishy, right-brain type—and deeply intuitive. I am interested in the unspoken bonds that keep systems and relationships in place, not graphs and tables. Still, as the years roll on, I continue to be drawn to this topic. I’ve decided not to fight it anymore.
In grad school, I learned the difference between “quantitative” (think numerical data and statistics) and “qualitative” (think stories and narratives) research. It was obvious that I belonged on the qualitative side. Of course, quantitative data tell stories too, though there may be disagreement about what those stories are.
As a “regular person” with an interest in economics, I’m usually on the lookout for clear, easy-to-understand resources. In my book, I mention the Fed’s annual Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households. I’ve returned to that report each year since I heard about it in 2016. Why? It’s easy to read and understand—and it’s actually quite interesting. I found it after reading Neal Gabler’s article in The Atlantic, “The Secret Shame of Middle-Class Americans.” I also find myself referring to “The Employment Situation,” a monthly report from the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The language here is fairly clear as well, though I’ll confess that my eyes glaze over once I hit the tables and fine print.
I like reading these reports: my background in research gives me a bias towards primary sources. As I learn, I’ll share.
Brigitt Thompson is a writer, designer, and storyteller. She is the author of Trust Yourself with Money: Build Financial Confidence through the Simple Art of Saving. Learn more at trustyourselfwithmoney.com.
