F ew places exemplify the differences between communism and capitalism better than Berlin, Germany—where the East and West sides of the city were split along these ideological lines for 41 years.

So, what better place for Georgia College & State University students to examine those economic principles up close and personal?

Those were the thoughts of Dr. Cullen Wallace, assistant professor of economics, and Dr. Alex Scarcioffolo, who formerly taught economics at Georgia College. Together, they crafted “Comparative Economic Systems,” a 15-day study abroad program in Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany.

“The students were really able to take the theories and ideas we talked about and apply them with on-the-ground experiences,” Wallace said. “For me, the biggest part of the experience was driving home the economic points they were learning by seeing it in real life, museums and memorials.”

In addition to seeing museums, touring German Parliament and exploring the city, students of all academic backgrounds engaged in copious educational opportunities. They heard a first-hand account of life and economy in the separated German city by Dr. Michael Tolksdorf, professor of economics and law at HWR Berlin. Tolksdorf’s been a resident of West Berlin since before the Berlin Wall fell.
 
“On one side of a city, not only are you in different countries, but you have different ways of life because of how the government and economies are set up,” Wallace said. “It was almost too good to be true, and the students went through an experience that is still a little bit mind-boggling to me.”

Before the trip, rising junior economics major Josh Wilson had never been on an airplane. After a scant, nine-hour trip, his entire worldview opened to entirely new possibilities.

“It was incredible,” he said. “I can’t envision myself staying in Georgia my whole life after just two weeks abroad. Everything was so different, and it’s really crazy how everybody was so inviting. They wanted to teach us, help us learn and share their culture.”

The group walked city tours with an emphasis on economic history, met representatives of the Federal Ministry of Finance and visited monuments from the Topography of Terror to burning of books memorial.

“When we went to the money bank in Frankfurt, we got to hold 100 trillion Deutsche Marks—little pieces of paper currency because of hyperinflation,” Wilson said. “People in pre-war Germany sometimes burned it.”

Wallace and Scarcioffolo want the trip to more than facts and figures, though. This trip hit the mark, they said. 

“With study abroad, the experience is everything,” Wallace said. “It’s riding the subway, eating the food and seeing the museums. But, it’s also coming away with a more holistic learning experience that enables you to go back and have perhaps a better dialogue or approach when discussing polarizing economic concepts.”

When they weren’t immersed in the economic history of Germany, Wilson and other students on the trip rode trains to shops, dined in restaurants, sampled diverse cuisine and explored activities in the heart of Berlin.

“You’re not just learning economics,” Scarcioffolo said, “you’re learning culture, how people behave and a wide range of things just by being there. When you experience this idea that there are opportunities outside your country it broadens your idea of what you can do.”
 
In the future, Wilson wants to help people manage their money. After this experience, he’s ready to take on whatever comes his way—including visiting somewhere abroad again.
 
“I wanted to do something that was a big risk—a big reward type thing—and I’m really glad I did,” he said. “It’s shown me there’s so much more. And it’s given me a much deeper understanding, not only of overseas politics, but also that I need to do more here, like shadowing at other banks.”

Many forms of financial assistance are available for students wanting to experience study abroad programs at Georgia College. The GCSU Study Abroad Program Scholarship and New Horizons Scholarship are designed to help students travel to their preferred destinations.

In addition, study abroad program advisors help match interested students to Georgia College partners for scholarships or grants to fund the program costs.
 
This and more can be found on the International Education Center’s scholarships and funding page, by reaching out to studyabroadinfo@gcsu.edu or visiting financial aid staff in Parks Hall 103.

“If you have the opportunity to go, whether it’s Berlin for economics or any other program, any of them will change your perspective,” Wallace said. “It’s a mile marker in your educational experience.”