#PolicyProfile: Fernando Pernas, MPA '24
May 10 2024
By
Brittany N. Murray
Source
Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
My great-grandmother was one of the first female candidates for vice president in Latin America and navigated the perilous waters of politics and activism during a time of brutal political oppression. Driven by a deep-seated commitment to justice, free speech, and democratic principles, she consistently chose to do what she believed was right, regardless of the potential consequences. Her legacy has motivated me to pursue a career in civil service and to actively participate in transformative processes within the public sector. While studying economics at Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, I developed a passion for economic development, particularly the transformative processes that enhance a nation's productivity, prosperity, and overall well-being.
This interest convinced me that a career in civil service would enable me to actively participate in and influence these transformative processes from within the public sector.Fernando Pernas, MPA '24
I spent five years working for the Dominican Republic government in organizations such as the Central Bank, the Ministry of Economy, Development and Planning, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. I've seen firsthand that having good policymakers in macroeconomic areas creates financial and political stability that fosters growth. The country's growth has been some of the highest in the world in the last 20 years. The highlight of my time there was working on the COVID response task force and creating emergency economic and social relief programs. Despite the high uncertainty at the time, we were able to create cash transfer programs that helped millions of people. Studies have shown that as many as 400,000 people didn't fall below the poverty line because of these programs. My long-term goal is to return to the DR and work in government, and I am committed to pursuing good, evidence-based policymaking. I am driven by the understanding that while good policy does not automatically ensure economic development, bad policy can decidedly undermine it.
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