Gevorg Minasyan MAP '23 first discovered the MITx MicroMasters Program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) - jointly led by the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and MIT Open Learning - when he was looking to better understand the process of building effective, evidence-based policies while working at the Central Bank of Armenia. After completing the MicroMasters program, Minasyan was inspired to pursue MIT's Master's in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy program.
Today, Minasyan is the director of the Research and Training Center at the Central Bank of Armenia. He has not only been able to apply what he has learned at MIT to his work, but he has also sought to institutionalize a culture of evidence-based policymaking at the bank and more broadly in Armenia. He spoke with MIT Open Learning about his journey through the DEDP programs, key takeaways, and how what he learned at MIT continues to guide his work.
Q: What initially drew you to the DEDP MicroMasters, and what were some highlights of the program?
A: Working at the Central Bank of Armenia, I was constantly asking myself: Can we build a system in which public policy decisions are grounded in rigorous evidence? Too often, I observed public programs that were well-intentioned and seemed to address pressing challenges, but ultimately failed to bring tangible change. Sometimes it was due to flawed design; other times, the goals simply didn't align with what the public actually needed or expected. These experiences left a deep impression on me and sparked a strong desire to better understand what works, what doesn't, and why.
That search led me to the DEDP MicroMasters program, which turned out to be a pivotal step in my professional journey. From the very first course, I realized that this was not just another academic program - it was a completely new way of thinking about development policy. The courses combined rigorous training in economics, data analysis, and impact evaluation with a strong emphasis on practical application. We weren't just learning formulas or running regressions - we were being trained to ask the right questions, to think critically about causality, and to understand the trade-offs of policy choices.
Another aspect that set the MicroMasters apart was its blended structure. I was able to pursue a globally top-tier education while continuing my full-time responsibilities at the Central Bank. This made the learning deeply relevant and immediately applicable. Even as I was studying, I found myself incorporating insights from class into my day-to-day policy work, whether it was refining how we evaluated financial inclusion programs or rethinking the way we analyzed administrative data.
At the same time, the global nature of the program created a vibrant, diverse community. I engaged with students and professionals from dozens of countries, each bringing different perspectives. These interactions enriched the coursework and helped me to realize that despite the differences in context, the challenges of effective policy design - and the power of evidence to improve lives - were remarkably universal. It was a rare combination: intellectually rigorous, practically grounded, globally connected, and personally transformative.
Q: Can you describe your experiences in the Master's in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy residential program?
A: The MicroMasters experience inspired me to go further, and I decided to apply for the full-time, residential master's at MIT. That year was nothing short of transformative. It not only sharpened my technical and analytical skills, but also fundamentally changed the way I think about policymaking.
One of the most influential courses I took during the master's program was 14.760 (Firms, Markets, Trade, and Growth). The analytical tools it provided mapped directly onto the systemic challenges I saw among Armenian firms. Motivated by this connection, I developed a similar course, which I now teach at the American University of Armenia. Each year, I work with students to investigate the everyday constraints that hinder firm performance, with the ultimate goal of producing data-driven research that could inform business strategy in Armenia.
The residential master's program taught me that evidence-based decision-making starts with a mindset shift. It's not just about applying tools, it's about being open to questioning assumptions, being transparent about uncertainty, and being humble enough to let data challenge intuition. I also came to appreciate that truly effective policy design isn't about finding one-off solutions, but about creating dynamic feedback loops that allow us to continuously learn from implementation.
This is essential to refining programs in real time, adapting to new information, and avoiding the trap of static, one-size-fits-all approaches. Equally valuable was becoming part of the MIT and J-PAL's global network. The relationships I built with researchers, practitioners, and fellow students from around the world gave me lasting insights into how institutions can systematically embed analysis in their core operations. This exposure helped me to see the possibilities not just for my own work, but for how public institutions like central banks can lead the way in advancing an evidence-based culture.
Q: How are you applying what you've learned in the DEDP programs to the Central Bank of Armenia?
A: As director of the Research and Training Center at the Central Bank of Armenia, I have taken on a new kind of responsibility: leading the effort to scale evidence-based decision-making not only within the Central Bank, but across a broader ecosystem of public institutions in Armenia. This means building internal capacity, rethinking how research informs policy, and fostering partnerships that promote a culture of data-driven decision-making.
Beyond the classroom, the skills I developed through the DEDP program have been critical to my role in shaping real-world policy in Armenia. A particularly timely example is our national push toward a cashless economy - one of the most prominent and complex reform agendas today. In recent years, the government has rolled out a suite of bold policies aimed at boosting the adoption of non-cash payments, all part of a larger vision to modernize the financial system, reduce the shadow economy, and increase transparency. Key initiatives include a cashback program designed to encourage pensioners to use digital payments and the mandatory installation of non-cash payment terminals across businesses nationwide. In my role on an inter-agency policy team, I rely heavily on the analytical tools from DEDP to evaluate these policies and propose regulatory adjustments to ensure the transition is not only effective, but also inclusive and sustainable.
The Central Bank of Armenia recently collaborated with J-PAL Europe to co-design and host a policy design and evaluation workshop. The workshop brought together policymakers, central bankers, and analysts from various sectors and focused on integrating evidence throughout the policy cycle, from defining the problem to designing interventions and conducting rigorous evaluations. It's just the beginning, but it already reflects how the ideas, tools, and values I absorbed at MIT are now taking institutional form back home.
Our ultimate goal is to institutionalize the use of policy evaluation as a standard practice - not as an occasional activity, but as a core part of how we govern. We're working to embed a stronger feedback culture in policymaking, one that prioritizes learning before scaling. More experimentation, piloting, and iteration are essential before committing to large-scale rollouts of public programs. This shift requires patience and persistence, but it is critical if we want policies that are not only well-designed, but also effective, inclusive, and responsive to people's needs.
Looking ahead, I remain committed to advancing this transformation, by building the systems, skills, and partnerships that can sustain evidence-based policymaking in Armenia for the long term.
