When Peter Mackenzie MAE’20 first enrolled in the Master of Applied Economics program at Saint Mary’s University, a PhD wasn’t part of the plan. Today, he’s helping shape national conversations on Canada’s economy as a Senior Policy Analyst at the C.D. Howe Institute—a journey he credits in large part to his time in Halifax.
“I honestly wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do after my undergraduate degree,” Mackenzie says. “But the MAE program stood out. It looked like a great opportunity to apply economics to real-world problems, and that really drew me in.”
Discovering a passion for economics
Originally from Ontario, Mackenzie came to Halifax for its strong academic reputation and the applied focus of the MAE program. What he found was something more transformative than expected.
“I liked economics before,” he explains, “but the program really deepened that interest. It got me to a point where I wanted to commit another five years to studying it.”
That decision led him to pursue a PhD at York University, specializing in econometrics, a field that combines statistical methods with economic theory to analyze data and inform policy decisions.
Learning by doing
A defining moment in Mackenzie’s academic journey came through his master’s thesis. This was the first time he led a full-scale research project from start to finish.
“That experience was huge,” he says. “Learning how to design research, analyze data and communicate findings clearly are skills I still rely on every day.”
Those skills carried him through his doctoral studies and into roles at institutions such as the Bank of Canada, where he worked as an economics PhD intern, and later into his current position at the C.D. Howe Institute.
Today, his work focuses on financial services research and economic analysis, including contributions to widely read commentary on Canada’s GDP performance and economic outlook.
Making sense of Canada’s economy
Mackenzie recently co-authored a piece examining Canada’s economic resilience in the face of global uncertainty. While many predicted a downturn, the economy proved more stable than expected.
“People were expecting a recession, and we didn’t see that,” he explains. “In some ways, the economy performed better than anticipated, but there’s still room for improvement.”
It’s this balance—combining data-driven analysis with real-world implications—that continues to motivate his work.
“One of the things I love about economics is how versatile it is,” he says. “You can apply it to almost any issue, especially when it comes to public policy.”
Advice for future economists
For current and prospective students, Mackenzie emphasizes both effort and genuine interest.