About How the Economy Works Pathway

Modern economies feel complex, but the forces that drive them are surprisingly simple. This pathway explores how the economic machine works, from trade, money, and credit to the systems that shape growth, cycles, and crises. At its core, the economy runs on exchange, trust, and the balance between what is earned and what is owed. It also looks at why economies move in cycles, as periods of growth give way to imbalance, and how confidence can both drive expansion and trigger downturns. The role of governments and central banks comes into focus as they step in to stabilise the system, often reshaping it in the process. Overall, this pathway offers a clear perspective on how economies grow, falter, and reset.

In this pathway

Pathway experts

Prasad Gollakota

20 years: Capital markets & banking

Prasad has spent 20 years working in financial services, where he spent the majority of his time at UBS, with his last role there being Managing Director within the combined Debt and Equity capital markets business. Before joining xUnlocked, Prasad worked at an Infrastructure and Renewables advisory business, where he delivered projects such as financing the largest operational solar farm in Australia. Prasad is Chief Content Officer at xUnlocked, a B Corp best known for its flagship learning platform 'Sustainability Unlocked', serving global clients that include Santander, Airbus and the London Stock Exchange.