Why I left physics for economics

I recently decided to abandon the rules that govern nature for the rules that govern people and markets: economics. Why would I do such a thing?

I love physics. Brick by brick, you can build new theories from established ones and know that they will apply not just on Earth but throughout the entire universe. The upsides are incredible: I worked on the theory and simulation of plasmas (the stuff stars are made of) for nuclear fusion. If nuclear fusion succeeds in its objectives, it could mean the end of our reliance on fossil fuels, the end of climate change, and energy security for at least millions of years. The experiments in fusion push the limits of nature. Every time Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Ignition Facility in California fires its fusion laser, the world's most energetic, material is heated from 18 degrees above absolute zero to hotter than the centre of the sun in just a few nano-seconds. The work was as exciting and intellectually rewarding as you might expect.

As quantum mechanics brought down classical mechanics, the financial crisis has led to a reappraisal of macroeconomics

Related: A new CERN experiment targets even higher energies (eventually)