phd research topics in development economics

Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development

Senior Economist, Education Global Practice

Join the Conversation

• Share on mail
• comments added

• Faculty Intranet

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

• Prospective Ph.D.s
• Fields of Study

Development Economics

Global poverty research lab.

The Global Poverty Research Lab, housed in the Buffett Institute for Global Studies, uses empirical evidence to address the challenges of overcoming poverty and improve well-being in the developing world. The Lab is an academic hub for empirical development economics and related disciplines

VISIT THE  WEBsite

Northwestern has a fast-growing, dynamic group of faculty working in the area of economic development. Development economics increasingly emphasizes research that integrates  cutting-edge theory  and  first-rate empirical work , and Northwestern's development community benefits from interaction with the theory, econometrics, and labor groups within the department, as well as the Mathematical Economics and Decision Sciences, Finance and Management and Strategy groups within the Kellogg School of Management, and the labor and education economists in the School of Education. The department has a weekly Applied Microeconomics seminar and additionally, development faculty and students often attend seminars held by the Institute for Policy Research (IPR), and other departmental field seminars such as theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics.

Within the economics department, Northwestern's development faculty includes affiliates of major research organizations such as the National Bureau for Economic Research (NBER) and Centre for Economic Policy Research, as well as leading development organizations including the Bureau for Research and Economics Analysis of Development (BREAD), Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), and the International Growth Centre.

In an exciting development, 2011 saw the creation of the Center for the Study of Development Economics (CSDE), a research center based in the economics department and dedicated to top-quality empirical development research. The Center for International Macroeconomics (CIM), a joint venture of the Economics Department and Kellogg School of Management's finance group, also funds research in development economics. These affiliations and resources put Northwestern's faculty at the heart of field-based data collection, including surveys, field experiments, and field-based lab experiments.  In 2017, CSDE joined forces with the newly created Global Poverty Research Lab, housed in the Buffett Institute for Global Studies.

Browse Course Material

Course info, instructors.

• Prof. Esther Duflo
• Prof. Benjamin Olken

Departments

As taught in.

• Developmental Economics
• Microeconomics

Learning Resource Types

Development economics, research proposal.

The maximum length of the write-up should be 3 pages single-spaced (but less is fine). The goal of this research proposal is to give you a “jump start” on working on a topic that you could (ideally) work on for your second-year paper (or a future paper for your dissertation). If you are in the second year, it is okay for you to talk about the topic that you will be working on for your second-year paper. It should be development though… (but as you know development is a big tent). 

You can co-author the proposal with any student(s) in the program. However, we would like to  see as many proposals as people in the class. 

Note that the deadline is the last possible date that we are allowed to accept assignments under end  of term regulations, so we will not be able to provide extensions. Please therefore budget your time wisely. 

The proposal should include 

•  A clear statement of your research question       
• Brief motivation of your research question       a. Why is this question important?        b. What is the policy implication?        c. What (if any) economic theory it is testing? 
• (Short) Review of the relevant theoretical and/or empirical literature. 
• Description of your proposed empirical strategy and proposed (realistic) data sources.        a. You can propose an RCT where you’d collect the data, as long as it is realistic for a PhD student (not necessarily in the scope of a second year paper).        b. If you project is empirical, write-out clearly and in detail what are the proposed        regression specifications.  
• Clear discussion of your contribution to the prior literature.       
• Clear discussion of what challenges you expect to encounter. 

Think of this project as the shell of a research paper that contains everything but your findings: you will motivate the question; place it in the literature; and lay out your data sources (if any) and your research design. We do not expect to see any preliminary results (for empirical papers) or fully fledged model (for theory paper).

You are leaving MIT OpenCourseWare

Jump to navigation

Community Development and Applied Economics

• Undergraduate Programs
• Community and International Development
• Community Centered Design Major
• Community Entrepreneurship
• Public Communication
• CDAE Minors
• Internships
• Dual Degree Program - Vermont Law & Graduate School
• Graduate Programs
• Master of Science in CDAE
• Master of Public Administration
• Master of Science in CDAE - Accelerated
• Master of Public Administration - Accelerated
• Peace Corps Coverdell Program
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Community Resilience and Planning

Ph.D. in Sustainable Development Policy, Economics and Governance

• Courses in CDAE
• Faculty and Staff
• Advising and Student Support
• Internship Program
• Peace Corps at UVM

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

The Sustainable Development Policy, Economics and Governance (SDPEG) Ph.D. program offers a transdisciplinary doctoral education in the policies, practices and theories of sustainable development. By offering a core curriculum that includes applied policy and economic analysis, governance and process design, social science methods, and professional skills development, the program produces graduates capable of conducting original, applied research that is designed to support sustainability and resiliency across social, ecological, and technical systems. 

This degree will prepare students to assume positions as policy leaders in government, higher education, public and private sector organizations, non-governmental organizations, and research institutes with the expertise and vision to inform local, state, national, and international policy.  

Asim Zia, Director and Professor of Public Policy and Computer Science

Travis Reynolds, Associate Professor

Dan Tobin, Associate Professor

Trisha Shrum, Assistant Professor

David Conner, Professor

Josh Farley, Professor

Sarah Heiss, Associate Professor

Qingbin Wang, Professor

Anaka Aiyar, Assistant Professor

Joe Ament, Assistant Professor

Kate Mays, Assistant Professor

Benjamin Dangl, Lecturer

Edward McMahon, Adjunct Associate Professor

Pablo Bose, Professor

Stephanie Seguino, Professor Emerita

Gregory Rowangould, Associate Professor

Donna Ramirez-Harrington, Associate Professor

Brian Beckage, Professor

Elizabeth Doran, Research Assistant Professor

Jane Kolodinsky, Professor Emerita

Christopher Koliba, Professor Emeritus

Kelsey Gleason, Assistant Professor

Dana Rowangould, Assistant Professor

Degree Requirements

Milestones, guidelines and timeline to degree completion.

Minimum Degree Requirements

The degree requires a total of 75 credits. A minimum of 51 credits must be completed in residence. The residency requirement is completed by courses that:

1. are taken for graduate credit through the University of Vermont, and

2. are taken after the student has been admitted to the Graduate College.

The program’s course of study includes: 

1. 15-credit core 2. Up to 24 transfer credits from prior master’s degree (12 out of 24 transferable credits must meet pre-requisite requirements in statistical methods, research methodology, economics and policy process theory) 3. 15 credits of a pre-approved Certificate of Graduate Study or a customized sequence of advisor-approved graduate level elective courses 4. 21 dissertation research credits

15 credit core includes:

Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Students will advance to candidacy following completion of the core curriculum, passage of a written and oral comprehensive exam, passage of the written dissertation and oral dissertation defense exam, and acquisition of teaching experience in the field of sustainable development policy, economics and governance. A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained.

Tuition Information

International Student Admissions

Funding Opportunities

Meet the Students

Request Information

Application Procedures & Admissions Requirements

We are no longer accepting applications for Fall 2024. Please check back in September 2024 for updated admissions guidelines. 

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

• Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, economics, natural resources, engineering, ecology, food systems, political science or a closely related field, including social sciences, professional fields, and STEM
• Completion of graduate level course in statistical methods
• Completion of graduate level course in research methodology
• Completion of graduate level course in economics
• Completion of graduate level course in policy process theory
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae 
• Applicants must submit evidence of experience and success in the research process such as writing sample(s), and/or evidence of research experience(s) (e.g., theses, term papers, class projects, research reports and/or other descriptions of past research experience from academic or professional lives).
• The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is optional.
• For international students whose native language is not English or who have not completed undergraduate or master’s degrees in English, scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo must be submitted.

Doctoral Program

The Ph.D. program is a full time program leading to a Doctoral Degree in Economics.  Students specialize in various fields within Economics by enrolling in field courses and attending field specific lunches and seminars.  Students gain economic breadth by taking additional distribution courses outside of their selected fields of interest.

General requirements

Students  are required to complete 1 quarter of teaching experience. Teaching experience includes teaching assistantships within the Economics department or another department .

University's residency requirement

135 units of full-tuition residency are required for PhD students. After that, a student should have completed all course work and must request Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) status.

Department degree requirements and student checklist

1. core course requirement.

Required: Core Microeconomics (202-203-204) Core Macroeconomics (210-211-212) Econometrics (270-271-272).  The Business School graduate microeconomics class series may be substituted for the Econ Micro Core.  Students wishing to waive out of any of the first year core, based on previous coverage of at least 90% of the material,  must submit a waiver request to the DGS at least two weeks prior to the start of the quarter.  A separate waiver request must be submitted for each course you are requesting to waive.  The waiver request must include a transcript and a syllabus from the prior course(s) taken.  

2.  Field Requirements

Required:  Two of the Following Fields Chosen as Major Fields (click on link for specific field requirements).  Field sequences must be passed with an overall grade average of B or better.  Individual courses require a letter grade of B- or better to pass unless otherwise noted.

Research fields and field requirements :

• Behavioral & Experimental
• Development Economics
• Econometric Methods with Causal Inference
• Econometrics
• Economic History
• Environmental, Resource and Energy Economics
• Industrial Organization
• International Trade & Finance
• Labor Economics
• Market Design
• Microeconomic Theory
• Macroeconomics
• Political Economy
• Public Economics

3.  Distribution

Required:  Four other graduate-level courses must be completed. One of these must be from the area of economic history (unless that field has already been selected above). These courses must be distributed in such a way that at least two fields not selected above are represented.  Distribution courses must be passed with a grade of B or better.

4.  Field Seminars/Workshops

Required:  Three quarters of two different field seminars or six quarters of the same field seminar from the list below.   

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Main navigation

Mphil/phd in development economics.

• Jump to: Key information
• Jump to: Course overview
• Jump to: Structure
• Jump to: Teaching and learning
• Jump to: Fees and funding
• Jump to: Employment

Key information

Home student fees (full-time) : £4,860 per year Home student fees (part-time) : £2,430 per year Overseas student fees (full-time) : £22,490 per year Overseas student fees (part-time) : £11,245 per year

Please note that fees go up each year.   See  research fees  for further details.

Admission and thesis requirements. A good Masters degree in Economics plus one reference is usually required. Students are normally registered for the MPhil degree in the first instance. Once approval of the Research Student's Supervisory Committee has been received, the student's registration is upgraded to PhD status (and backdated to the commencement of the MPhil registration), usually at the end of the first year of study, for which the minimum registration period is double that of full-time study. Candidates are expected to present a thesis of not more than 55,000 words for the MPhil, while for the PhD the maximum length is 100,000 words. International applicants should also see  Doctoral School English language requirements

Course overview

The PhD in Development Economics is a research degree offered by the Department of Economics, and is also part of the PhD pathway, 'International Development', within the Bloomsbury Doctoral Training Partnership.

The latter forms one of the few Centres recognised by the UK's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), thereby receiving financial support, and especially individual grants, for MSc and PhD students.

Why study PhD Development Economics at SOAS?

• We are ranked 27th in UK for economics (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• We are top 20 in the UK for student satisfaction with teaching (Complete University Guide 2023)
• We are top 40 in the UK for economics (Complete University Guide 2023)
• This PhD pathway is open to applicants whether or not eligible for, or in receipt of, ESRC funding, with ESRC-funded students expected to form a small minority overall. Successful applicants to the MPhil/PhD in Development Economics will normally have a good Master's degree in a relevant subject if entering directly into the MPhil/PhD pathway although each applicant is assessed on merits including work and other experience
• The first year of training involves attendance at courses and/or seminars but not usually formal written examinations. Students are registered for an MPhil in their first (full-time equivalent) year but usually convert to a PhD after their upgrade viva rather than continuing to the MPhil qualification
• An essential feature of the MPhil and PhD process is the close working relationship between research students and supervisors. Supervisors and students meet regularly and consult closely. All research students have a Supervisory Committee to cover theoretical, empirical and regionally-specific supervision, as appropriate

Research student tutors

There are Research Student Tutors with overall responsibility for research students, who are available for discussion of general problems. And the Departmental Empirical Support Committee (DESC) offers detailed and individual advice to students about fieldwork and empirical analysis as appropriate.

As necessary, upon request, DESC will consider individual student needs and allocate one or more members of staff (not necessarily the supervisor) to advise.

Workshop/seminar

Students are required to participate in a workshop/seminar in which research topics and results are presented and discussed by staff and students. In addition, there is a regular Departmental seminar, to which members of the Department and visiting speakers present papers.

There is a strong interdisciplinary basis for research and teaching in political economy, development economics and area or specific country studies. London, moreover, provides an unrivalled opportunity for students to hear papers read by leading authorities in African and Asian studies, as well as in economics and development more generally.

Many SOAS research students spend some time doing fieldwork in the regions of their research. The Faculty of Law and Social Sciences and the School as a whole, through their various connections with individuals and institutions in the universities and governments of Asia and Africa, can usually facilitate this with personal contact and introductions.

Scholarships, funding and ESRC recognition

There are a number of scholarships available to research (and MSc) students at SOAS. Please see Scholarships and Bursaries for further information. But it is a condition of acceptance that students embarking upon a research degree have the capacity to fund the full duration of their studies. There may be some paid opportunities for teaching, normally not in the first year, but these cannot be relied upon and will not begin to cover fees and maintenance fully.

The research degree embodies a core of training in research methods combined with a clear structure of progression thereafter. The training components are explained below. The duration and structure of the research degree will be as follows:

Full time research degree: 3 years plus 1 year writing up

Year 1 -  research training.

Research students will take the 'Research Methods for Development Economics' course in the Economics Department.

Year 1 -  Upgrade

Students will normally be expected to pass an upgrade from MPhil to PhD status within 9 months of commencing the degree.

Year  2-3 -  Research

Core research undertaken; primary and secondary data collection as appropriate, thesis chapters finalised.

Year 4 -  Write up

If necessary a fourth year can be taken to write the final thesis. Examination of the thesis will take place after submission within the 4th year.

Part-time research degree: 6 years, plus 1 year writing up

The research degree can be undertaken over 6 years:

• Research Methods course must be taken over the first two years.
• Upgrade  will take place withing the 21 months after initial registration.
• Examination  will take place after submission within the writing-up year (year 7) at the latest.

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes. However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Teaching and learning

Research training in development economics.

All research students are expected to attend a dedicated research student seminar. In addition, a separate programme of research training is offered for first-year students. The sessions will deal with theoretical and methodological issues in Economics and Development Economics, as well as subject-specific guidance on other generic research skills (such as literature reviews, fieldwork planning).

In addition, students will attend a termly Development Economics research day, where there will be a mediated discussion of theoretical and methodological issues faced and an opportunity for students to present their own research. Students will also attend the general Research Students Seminar that provides a range of input for all stages in the completion of a PhD and Early Career Development for Development Economists.

• to encourage and enable students to complete an original thesis in the expected time.
• to provide training and experience in fieldwork and across a variety of schools of economics and in a variety of statistical techniques.
• to allow flexibility in training to suit students with different backgrounds and subsequent research needs.
• to make available and to monitor first class research supervision with the involvement of at least two members of staff through individual Research Student Supervisory Committees.
• to encourage knowledge of other relevant disciplines and the adoption of an interdisciplinary approach where appropriate.
• to equip students with the ability to assess one another's work critically, whether in response to written or spoken presentation.
• to obtain language skills as appropriate.
• to ensure students experience a congenial and productive environment for the conduct of research through availability of a wide range of facilities and full participation in the intellectual life of the Department and School.  Library facilities are outstanding and computing facilities are attuned to student needs.
• to emphasise the relevance of research to theoretical, empirical and policy issues.
• to draw upon the Department's particular strengths, especially its expertise in different approaches to economic problems and its experience in problems of development, specific regions, and comparative analysis.
• to involve students in the specialised Centres of the School where appropriate.
• to advise on publication and career progression.

A broader student-tailored programme of training needs can also be established in the first weeks of study, with a range of courses available from the Department’s MSc programmes. To this end, all students should undertake a Training Needs Analysis with their supervisor in the first weeks of Term 1 .

Supervision

1. The role of the second and third members of the Supervisory Committee (SC) Will be focused on the following two core tasks:

• Participate in the upgrade process of the student, including the final decision relating to his/her transfer from MPhil to PhD.
• Participate in other dicisions relating to his/her eligibility for enrolment on Extension of Writing-up (Continuation) Status or, where necessary, termination of registration.

2. In addition to these core roles, the second and third members of the SC may be expected to:

• Enhance or augment the supervision of the student by contributing addition guidance and expertise, if required/sought by the student and/or the supervisor throughout the time of active research.
• To act on behalf of the supervisor during unforeseen periods of absence. This role will have be agreed by consent of all parties (student, supervisor and the two members of the SC) and one of the two members will be designated as cover in absence for the period in question.

3. Only rarely is joint supervision allowed, for which a strong case would need to be made. Whilst the primary responsibility for guiding student's research and to review written work and progress rests with the supervisor, once upgrade is successfully completed, other members of the supervisory committee must receive the student’s thesis drafts at appropriate times, with support also available to students from the Departmental Empirical Support Committee (DESC).

Computing facilities

Full computing facilities are available to postgraduate students. Computers dedicated for the use of research students in the Economics Department are also available. Software available includes word-processing and specialised statistical, econometrics and spreadsheet packages. The School’s computing staff are on hand to assist with general computing problems.

SOAS Library

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Scholarships

Fees and funding, fees for 2023/24 entrants per academic year.

Please note that fees go up each year.

See  research fees  for further details.

Economics graduates leave SOAS with a solid grounding in statistical skills and an ability to think laterally, take a global perspective, and employ critical reasoning.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

• Bain & Co
• Bank of America
• Cabinet Office
• Ernst & Young
• NHS England
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi
• UK Civil Service
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• University of Bayreuth
• HM Treasury
• Department for International Development
• King’s Investment Fund
• The World Bank
• British Chamber of Commerce
• European Commission
• Institute for Social and Economic Studies
• International Climate Change Economics
• Overseas Development Institute

Find out about our  Careers Service

SOAS Voices

Finding solutions to capitalism's crises: Research insights from SOAS economists

Explore recent research by the SOAS Department of Economics that delves into pressing issues exposed by the various fragilities of global capitalism across the world.

SOAS Economist assists in unveiling plaque to Joan Robinson

On Tuesday 9 April, English Heritage unveiled another of its characteristic blue plaques on the house at 44 Kensington Park Gardens, in the Notting Hill district of London, where the famous economist Joan Robinson (1903-1983) lived, while attending St. Paul's School (she was then Joan Maurice).

Feminist political economy is essential for understanding inequality

Dr Sara Stevano advocates for the integration of feminist approaches into mainstream economic discourse and shows how SOAS is one of the few institutions offering dedicated modules in feminist economics.

What is the current state of capitalism? Insights from SOAS academics

In the aftermath Global Financial Crisis, the world entered a period of transition, prompting crucial questions about the trajectory of global capitalism. Matteo Giordano highlights some of the key economic analyses from SOAS scholars.

Involving Multilateral Development Banks in debt relief: not only feasible, but desirable 

Dr Marina Zucker-Marques explores the compelling reasons why Multilateral Development Banks should get involved in debt relief.

Transforming Finance in the Era of the Climate Crisis

Responding to the climate emergency and reducing growing inequalities are two key challenges of our age. Tackling these challenges requires a rapid transition to a net zero carbon economy. Such a transition won’t be achieved without the implementation of a wide range of radical policies as part of a transformational Green New Deal.

Greening the Financial System in Thailand: Advancing Climate and Environmental Analytics and Knowledge for Resilient Finance

Business models.

This research focuses on understanding the emerging business models and how innovation, including in the area of venture capital investments, can promote sustainable structural transformation in Africa.

Industrial policy

This research focuses on how governments can reshape industries creating new markets and building productive coalitions, to direct the economy towards sustainable prosperity.

Infrastructure development

This research focuses on how government and private sector can cooperate in building the infrastructure for sustainable energy system and mobility system.

Restructuring of supply chains

This research focuses on how supply networks should be re-organised and developed for development of mobility- and energy-related industries in Africa.

Critical minerals

This research focuses on how African economies should manage the relationships with international mining companies promoting socio-economic development.

Energy transition

This research approaches the issue of energy transition in Africa, investigating the existence of feasible opportunities to realise green industrialisation in Africa.

Unlocking finance and managing climate risks for India’s transition to a resilient, Paris-aligned economy

This project, led by the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), aims at engaging with and supporting the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on climate-related issues.

Political Economy Analysis of Food Industry (PEAFI)

Debt relief for a green and inclusive recovery.

The Debt Relief for a Green and Inclusive Recovery Project is a collaboration between the SOAS Centre for Sustainable Finance, the Boston University Global Development Policy Center and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. Utilizing rigorous research, the DRGR Project seeks to develop systemic approaches to both resolve the debt crisis and advance a just transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy in partnership with policymakers, thought leaders and civil society around the world.

Scaling Up Green Investment in the Global South: Strengthening Domestic Financial Resource Mobilisation and Attracting Patient International Capital

The research project will provide evidence-based analysis that will help to design policies that will support the scaling up of sustainable investment in the Global South.

INSPIRE Sustainable Central Banking Toolbox Policy Briefing Paper Series

Policy briefing paper series designed to support central bankers and financial supervisors in calibrating monetary, prudential and other instruments in accordance with sustainability goals.

Related content

Department of Economics

The Department of Economics at SOAS University London.

MSc Economics

MSc Economics at SOAS University of London

Economics: Research Degrees (MPhil/PhD)

Economics: Research Degrees (MPhil/PhD) at SOAS University of London

Featured Topics

View the  Entrepreneurship Working Group  page.

Econometrics

Microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, financial economics, public economics, health, education, and welfare, labor economics, industrial organization, development and growth, environmental and resource economics, regional and urban economics, more from nber.

In addition to working papers , the NBER disseminates affiliates’ latest findings through a range of free periodicals — the NBER Reporter , the NBER Digest , the Bulletin on Retirement and Disability , the Bulletin on Health , and the Bulletin on Entrepreneurship  — as well as online conference reports , video lectures , and interviews .

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

Course type

Qualification, university name, phd degrees in development economics.

11 degrees at 8 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

About Postgraduate Development Economics

Development economics is a branch of economics that focusses ondeveloping countries and regions. The main aim is to figure out what helps these regions to grow economically, reduce poverty and make people's lives better overall. Experts in this field study how money is allocated in education, healthcare, roads and buildings and the systems that help these countries to function.

In the UK, there are more than 10 PhD options in development economics. Entry requirements for this doctoral programme requires a master's degree in economics or a related field, demonstrating strong quantitive skills and an understanding of development economics, as well as a solid research proposal.

Studying a PhD in development economics means studying advanced ideas and practices related to how economies grow, especially in the context of global challenges. Those who complete this programme can go on to have senior jobs as economists or policymakers, working at international research centres.

What to Expect

The PhD programmes involves an in-depth exploration into your chosen area of interest. Your research will likely cover topics like economic theory, international econometrics, poverty reduction strategies, sustainable development and international trade dynamics.

You’ll dedicate a significant amount of time to your thesis, which contributes scholarly research to the field of development economics. The programme includes opportunities for fieldwork, data collection and collaboration with international development agencies and NGOs.

PhD graduates emerge as experts in development economics, with skills in advanced economic analysis, policy formulation and economic research methods. They are sought after by international development agencies, government economic departments, think tanks and higher education institutions.

Related subjects:

• PhD Development Economics
• PhD Applied economics
• PhD Econometrics
• PhD Economics
• PhD Environmental Economics
• PhD Health Economics
• PhD International Economics
• PhD Macroeconomics
• PhD Microeconomics
• PhD Social Economics

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

PhD in Development Studies

Soas university of london.

The Department currently has 52 research students, working on a range of research topics in many parts of Asia, Africa, Latin America and Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,860 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,430 per year (UK)

Development Studies - Research, MPhil/PhD

Faculty of engineering & science, university of greenwich.

Our Natural Resource Institute (NRI) in Medway provides an ideal environment for innovative and original research in development Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 4 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD International Development by Distance Learning

University of birmingham.

The International Development Department (IDD) is committed to encouraging new thinking in the fields of development and public Read more...

• 3 years Distance without attendance degree: £4,778 per year (UK)
• 6 years Distance without attendance degree

Development Studies, PhD

Swansea university.

A PhD or MPhil in Development Studies at Swansea enables you to pursue a substantial project led by your own passions and interests. It Read more...

• 6 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD in Development Economics

The PhD in Development Economics is a research degree offered by the Department of Economics, and is also part of the PhD pathway, Read more...

Development Studies with Reference to Emerging Economies MPhil/PhD

King's college london, university of london.

The Department of International Development (DID) at King's has a different agenda to traditional development studies in the UK and wider Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,936 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,468 per year (UK)

Development Studies (IDS) PhD

University of sussex.

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) transforms the knowledge, action and leadership needed for more equitable and sustainable Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree
• 2 years Part time degree

MRes/PhD International Development

London school of economics and political science, university of london.

This programme offers you the chance to undertake a substantial piece of work that is worthy of publication and which makes an original Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,829 per year (UK)

PhD in Development Studies by Published Works

Institute of development studies.

Study with the world leaders in development studies and realise your potential to transform the world with our PhD by Published Works in Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £4,596 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £4,596 per year (UK)

Study with the world leaders in Development Studies and realise your potential to transform the world The Institute of Development Studies Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree
• 6 years Part time degree

PhD in Development Studies by Research

Study with the world leaders in developments studies and realise your potential to transform the world with our PhD by Research. The PhD Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,596 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £4,596 per year (UK)

Course type:

• Distance learning PhD
• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Related subjects:.

Development Economics PhD supervision

We welcome applications from PhD candidates interested in conducting research in line with the subject areas covered by the Development Economics research group .

Take a look at the type of research conducted by our faculty and the PhD supervisions they are interested in. More information about the ISS PhD programme and how to apply can be found on the ISS PhD Programme page .

prof.dr. (Arjun) AS Bedi

• Full professor - International Institute of Social Studies

I have a wide range of interests but I tend to supervise projects in the area of applied microeconomics/microeconometrics.

I have successfully supervised PhD candidates and co-authored papers with them on evaluating the impact of educational interventions in Ecuador and Portugal; analysing the increase in female labour force participation in Kenya and most recently on the role of agricultural diversification in reducing poverty in Vietnam.

prof.dr. (Peter) PAG van Bergeijk

I work a lot with master and PhD students and the collaboration often results in working papers, conference papers and articles or book chapters. Typically this works best when students work on topics that fit in my research profile, but at ISS it is also possible to choose your own topic.

My present research interests are: world trade collapse and financial crisis, economic diplomacy and sanctions, gravity and trade and investment, and meta-analysis.

dr. (Georgina) GM Gomez

• Associate professor - International Institute of Social Studies

I am fascinated by the diversity of forms of organizing local economic schemes. My interests focus on patterns of collaboration and competition around the configuration of money, markets and enterprises. My research covers complementary currency systems, local markets, local production systems and social economy organisations. I consider these are niches for learning-by-doing and experimenting with alternative economic activities that may later expand or contest the capitalist system at large. I approach these topics from a historical and institutional perspective, because I consider institutions are the most essential brick in the structuring of socio- economic life.

prof.dr. (Mansoob) SM Murshed

My research interest confined to developing economies.

I welcome PhD research projects in the field of political economy, especially fiscal capacity, aid conditionality, political economy of growth, political economy of macroeconomic policy making, and economics of conflict, such as rational choice approaches, peace agreements, micro-studies of conflict, and the liberal (capitalist) peace.

I also welcome candidates researching the natural resource economics in particular resource curse and ‘Dutch’ Disease; as well as in international economics.

My preference is to supervise PhD students researching  in the areas of Industrial policy and Industrialisation.

This may include topics such as business cycles in the global economy as a whole and developing countries in particular; the sources and nature of shifts in global economic power between regions and countries; industrial development and industrialisation policies in developing countries; functioning of money and capital markets in developing countries.

I also welcome candidates in the fields of economic and financial integration in the East Asian region; the experience with, and future prospects for, development banking; and determinants of external payments balances and exchange rate movements in developing countries.

(Elissaios) E Papyrakis

My research interests lie in the intersection of environmental and development economics.

I have worked extensively on issues pertinent to the long-term economic growth processes of developing economies, in particular with reference to those exporting mineral resources.

I have supervised PhD students working on the following research topics: agriculture and climate change, international finance and the effectiveness of policy instruments, mineral extraction and welfare, climate finance and poverty alleviation, energy transitions and investment in the renewable sector, child poverty and government interventions, network theory and resilience. 

prof.dr. (Lorenzo) L Pellegrini

I welcome PhD students who want to engage with: Governance and environmental policies, corruption, institutional settings and collective action in environmental management, forestry and poverty reduction, natural resources dependency and poverty, extraction of non-renewable resources and institutional determinants of long‑run economic development.

PhD candidates who want to work on interdisciplinary issues around the extraction of hydrocarbons and minerals in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Central Asia are especially invited to apply. 

(Matthias) M Rieger

• Associate professor

I am happy to supervise students in all areas of micro-development economics, behavioural/experimental economics and health economics.

You can find my latest research here:  http://matthiasrieger.weebly.com

dr. (Zemzem Shigute) ZS Shuka

• Assistant professor - International Institute of Social Studies

My research interests include applied microeconomics in the areas of Global Health, Impact Evaluation of Social Protection Programs, Community-Based Development, Human Capital Investments and Labour markets.

I am happy to work with PhD candidates who come up with topics related to these areas.

dr. (Robert) RA Sparrow

My research interests relate to development economics, policy impact evaluation, education, child labour, nutrition, and health economics.

Most of my research projects have focused on social policy evaluation in South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

I have supervised PhD students on topics such as public spending and public service delivery, social policy and poverty reduction, migration and development, poverty reduction and human capital, as well as the impact of community based health insurance, cash transfer programs and social protection programmes.

prof.dr. (Irene) IP van Staveren

I am a pluralist economist. I work in the perspectives of social economics, institutional economics, Post Keynesian economics and feminist economics. I welcome research proposals in either of these schools of thought, preferably with a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. I am interested in both macro and micro economics. I have no preference for a particular region of the world.

(Natascha) N Wagner

• Visiting professor - International Institute of Social Studies

My research interests are in international economics, development and health.

In my research, I apply quantitative microeconomic methods to interdisciplinary questions. For example, I studied the role of Information Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D): in particular I analyzed the impact of SMS messages on retention and adherence of people living with HIV in Burkina Faso.

I am also interested in the uptake and benefits of on-grid and off-grid solar electrification. Furthermore, I address topics such as the economic consequences of female genital cutting (FGC), the link between bride price payments and fertility decisions, the impact of polygamous household organization on child health and the determinants of intended return migration among refugees.

My research is to a large extent the result of primary data collections and I have ample experience in impact evaluations employing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as well as quasi-experimental designs.

I welcome PhD students with similar interests and experience in these areas.

Share this page

Iss phd programme, iss phd public defences.

200+ PhD defences at ISS - showcasing our doctoral research

Compare @count study programme

• Duration: @duration

• Browse All Articles
• Newsletter Sign-Up

DevelopmentEconomics →

No results found in working knowledge.

• Were any results found in one of the other content buckets on the left?
• Try removing some search filters.
• Use different search filters.

134 Economics Thesis Topics: Ideas for Outstanding Writing

Writing a thesis is not an easy task. For most of the students, it can be even intimidating, especially when you do not know where to start your research.

Here, we have provided an economics thesis topics list. After all, everyone knows that choosing the right idea is crucial when writing an academic paper. In economics, it can combine history, math, social studies, politics, and numerous other subjects. You should also have solid foundations and a sound factual basis for a thesis. Without these elements, you won’t be able to master your research paper.

The issue is:

It is not always clear what could be seen as an excellent economics thesis topic. Our experts can assist you with this challenge. This list contains some outstanding examples to get you started.

• ⭐ Thesis in Economics
• 🔥 Supreme Thesis Topics
• 👍 Bachelor’s Thesis
• 😲 Master’s Thesis

📊 Microeconomics

📈 macroeconomics.

• 🤔 Developmental
• 👨‍💼 Behavioral
• 💼 Financial
• 🌱 Agricultural
• 🤝‍ Sociology
• 📚 Ph.D. Topics
• 📝 How to Pick a Topic

⭐ What Does a Thesis in Economics Look Like?

A good thesis in economics is a blend between an empirical paper and a theoretical one. One of the essential steps in choosing a topic in economics is to decide which one you will write.

You may write, research, analyze statistical data and other information. Or build and study a specific economic model.

Or why not both!

Here are some questions you can ask when deciding what topic to choose:

• What has already been written on this topic?
• What economic variables will my paper study?
• Where should I look for the data?
• What econometrics techniques should I use?
• What type of model will I study?

The best way to understand what type of research you have to do is to write a thesis proposal. You will most probably be required to submit it anyway. Your thesis supervisor will examine your ideas, methods, list of secondary and primary sources. At some universities, the proposal will be graded.

After you get the initial feedback, you will have a clear idea of what to adjust before writing your thesis. Only then, you’ll be able to start.

🔥 Supreme Economics Thesis Topics List

• Fast fashion in India.
• The UK housing prices.
• Brexit and European trade.
• Behavioral economics.
• Healthcare macroeconomics.
• COVID-19’s economic impact.
• Global gender wage gap.
• Commodity dependence in Africa.
• International trade – developing countries.
• Climate change and business development.

👍 Economics Bachelor’s Thesis Topics

At the U.S. Universities, an undergraduate thesis is very uncommon. However, it depends on the Department Policy.

The biggest challenge with the Bachelor’s Thesis in economics concerns its originality. Even though you are not required to conduct entirely unique research, you have to lack redundant ideas.

You can easily avoid making this mistake by simply choosing one of these topics. Also, consider visiting IvyPanda essays database. It’s a perfect palce to conduct a brainstorming session and come up with fresh ideas for a paper, as well as get tons of inspiration.

• The impact of the oil industry on the economic development of Nigeria. The oil industry is vital for the economic development of Nigeria. In this thesis, students can discuss the notion of the resource curse. Analyze the reasons why general people are not benefiting from the oil industry. Why did it produce very little change in the social and economic growth of the country?
• Sports Marketing and Advertising: the impact it has on the consumers.
• Economic opportunities and challenges of investing in Kenya .
• Economic Development in the Tourism Industry in Africa. Since the early 1990s, tourism significantly contributed to the economic growth of African countries. In this thesis, students can talk about the characteristics of the tourist sector in Africa. Or elaborate on specific countries and how their national development plans look like.
• Globalization and its significance to business worldwide .
• Economic risks connected to investing in Turkey .
• The decline in employment rates as the biggest American economy challenge .
• The economics of alcohol abuse problems. In this thesis, students can develop several essential issues. First, they can examine how poverty is connected to alcohol abuse. Second, they can see the link between alcohol consumption and productivity. To sum up, students can elaborate on the economic costs of alcohol abuse.
• Causes and solutions for unemployment in Great Britain.
• Parallel perspective on Global Economic Order: China and America. This thesis can bring a comparative analysis of the economies to a new level. China and The US are the world’s two largest economies. These two countries have a significant impact on the global economic order. So, looking at the set of institutions, policies, rules can be constructive.
• The new international economic order after COVID-19
• Financial stability of the banking sector in China.
• New Electronic Payment Services in Russia.
• The influence of culture on different entrepreneurial behaviors.
• The impact of natural cultural practices on entrepreneurial activity.
• The relationships between national culture and individual behavior.
• The main reasons for salary inequalities in different parts of the U.S.

😲 Economics Master’s Thesis Topics

Student life can be fascinating, but it comes with its challenges. One of which is selecting your Master’s thesis topic.

Here is a list of topics for a Master’s thesis in economics. Are you pursuing MPhil in Economics and writing a thesis? Use the following ideas as an inspiration for that. They can also be helpful if you are working on a Master’s thesis in financial economics.

• The impact of visual aid in teaching home economics.
• The effect of income changes in consumer behaviors in America.
• Forces behind socio-economic inequalities in the United States. This thesis can explore three critical factors for socio-economic differences in the United States. In the past 30 years, social disparities increased in the United States. Some of the main reasons are technology, trade, and institutions.
• The relationships between economic growth and international development.
• Technological innovations and their influence on green and environmental products.
• The economics of non-solar renewable energy .

• The economic consequences of terrorism . Terrorism not only takes away lives and destroys property but also widely affects the economy. It creates uncertainty in the market, increases insurance claims, slows down investment projects, and tourism. This thesis can address all of the ways in which terrorism can affect economies.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation in the Oil and Gas Industry in Africa.
• Use of incentives in behavioral economics.
• Economic opportunities and challenges of sustainable communities .
• Economics of nuclear power plants.
• Aid and financial help for emerging markets. This topic is very versatile. Students can look at both the positive and the adverse effects that funding has on the development. There are plenty of excellent examples. Besides, some theories call international help a form of neocolonialism.
• Multinational firms impact on economic growth in America .
• The effect of natural disasters on economic development in Asia.
• The influence of globalization on emerging markets and economic development.

📑 More Economics Thesis Topics: Theme

For some students, it makes more sense to center their search around a certain subject. Sometimes you have an econ area that interests you. You may have an idea about what you want to write, but you did not decide what it will be.

If that’s the case with you, then these economics thesis topics ideas are for you.

• An analysis of the energy market in Russia.
• The impact of game theory on economic development.
• The connection between minimum wage and market equilibrium.
• Gender differences in the labor market in the United States. This topic can shed light on gender differences in the labor market in the United States. In the past years, the overall inequality in labor in the markets decreased. However, there is still a lot of work that can be done.
• Economic reasons that influence the prices of oil .
• Relationship between the Lorenz curve and the Gini coefficient.
• Challenges of small businesses in the market economy.
• The changes in oil prices: causes and solutions . Universal economic principles do not always apply to the sale and purchase of the oil. The same happens with its cost. In the thesis, talk about what affects the prices. What are the solutions that can be implemented?
• The economic analysis of the impact of immigration on the American economy.

• Economic inequality as a result of globalization . Economic inequality becomes even more apparent on the global level. There is a common belief that globalization is the cause of that. Discuss what can be the solutions to these problems. This topic is vital to minimize the gap between the rich and the poor.
• The economic explanation of political dishonesty .
• Effect of Increasing Interest rates costs in Africa .
• The connection between game theory and microeconomics.
• Marketing uses in microeconomics.
• Financial liability in human-made environmental disasters.
• Banks and their role in the economy. Banks are crucial elements of any economy, and this topic covers why. You can explain how banks allow the goods and services to be exchanged. Talk about why banks are so essential for economic growth and stability.
• Inflation in the US and ways to reduce its impact.
• The connection between politics and economics.
• Income Dynamics and demographic economics.
• US Market Liquidity and macroeconomics.
• Macroeconomics and self-correction of the economy .
• The American economy, monetary policy, and monopolies .
• The importance of control in macroeconomics. One of the central topics in macroeconomics is grouped around the issue of control. It is quite reasonable that control over money and resources should become a topic of discussion.
• Analysis of Africa’s macroeconomics and its performance.
• Economics of education in developing markets.
• Problems and possible solutions for Japan macroeconomics .
• Comparative analysis of British macroeconomics concerning the US .
• Public policies and socio-economic disparities.
• The world problems through macroeconomic analysis. Indeed, macroeconomics is very complicated. There are many influences, details, and intricacies in it. However, it allows economists to use this complex set of tools to examine the world’s leading problems today.

• The connection between employment interest and money.

🤔 Development Economics

• Economics of development . This topic is very rich in content. First, explain what it is. Then pay particular attention to domestic and international policies that affect development, income distribution, and economic growth.
• The relation between development and incentive for migration.
• The impact of natural disasters on the economy and political stability of emerging markets.
• The economic consequences of population growth in developing countries.
• The role of industrialization in developing countries . The industrialization has been connected with the development. It promotes capital formation and catalyzes economic growth in emerging markets. In this thesis, you can talk about this correlation.
• Latin American economic development.
• Gender inequality and socio-economic development .
• Problems of tax and taxation in connection with economic growth.
• The economic impact of terrorism on developing markets.
• Religious decline as a key to economic development. Not everyone knows, but a lot of research has been done in the past years on the topic. It argues that decreased religious activity is connected with increased economic growth. This topic is quite controversial. Students who decide to write about it should be extra careful and polite.

👨‍💼 Behavioral Economics

• Risk Preferences in Rural South Africa.
• Behavioral Economics and Finance .
• Applied behavioral economics in marketing strategies. If you want to focus your attention on marketing, this topic is for you. Behavioral economics provides a peculiar lens to look at marketing strategies. It allows marketers to identify common behaviors and adapt their marketing strategies.
• The impact of behavioral finance on investment decisions.
• Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs in North Texas.
• Guidelines for Behavioral Economics in Healthcare Sector.
• Cognitive and behavioral theories in economics .
• Cross-cultural consumer behavior and marketing communication. Consumers are not only affected by personal characteristics, but also by the culture they are living in. This topic focuses on the extent it should determine marketing strategy and communication.
• Behavior implications of wealth and inequality.

• Optimism and pessimism for future behavior.

💼 Financial Economics

• Financial Economics for Infrastructure and Fiscal Policy .
• The use of the economic concept of human capital. Students can focus on the dichotomy between human and nonhuman capital. Many economists believe that human capital is the most crucial of all. Some approach this issue differently. Therefore, students should do their research and find where they stand on this issue.
• The analysis of the global financial crisis of 2020s. Share your thoughts, predictions, ideas. Analyze the economic situation that affects almost everyone in the world. This thesis topic will be fresh and original. It can help to start a good and fruitful conversation.
• The big data economic challenges for Volvo car.
• The connection between finance, economics, and accounting.
• Financial economics: Banks competition in the UK .
• Risk-Taking by mutual funds as a response to incentives.
• Managerial economics and financial accounting as a basis for business decisions.
• Stock market overreaction.

🌱 Agricultural Economics

• Agricultural economics and agribusiness.
• The vulnerability of agricultural business in African countries.
• Agricultural economics and environmental considerations of biofuels .
• Farmer’s contribution to agricultural social capital.
• Agricultural and resource economics. Agricultural and resource economics plays a huge role in development. They are subdivided into four main characteristics which in this topic, students can talk about: – mineral and energy resources; – soil resources, water resources; – biological resources. One or even all of them can be a focus of the thesis.
• Water as an economic good in irrigated agriculture.
• Agriculture in the economic development of Iran.
• The US Agricultural Food Policy and Production .
• Pesticides usage on agricultural products in California.

• An analysis of economic efficiency in agriculture. A lot of research has been done on the question of economic efficiency in agriculture. However, it does not mean there is no place for your study. You have to read a lot of secondary sources to see where your arguments can fit.

🤝‍Economic Sociology

• Theory, approach, and method in economics sociology.
• Economic sociology of capitalism. While economists believe in the positive effect capitalism has on the economy, the social effect is quite different. The “economic” part of the issue has been studied a lot. However, the sociology of it has been not. This thesis can be very intriguing to read.
• Political Economy and Economic Sociology.
• Gender and economic sociology .
• Progress, sociology, and economics.
• Data analysis in economics, sociology, environment .
• Economic sociology as a way to understand the human mind.
• Economic sociology of money.
• Economics, sociology, and psychology of security.
• Major principles of economic sociology. In the past decade, economic sociology became an increasingly popular field. Mainly due to it giving a new view on economics, human mind, and behavior. Besides, it explores relationships between politics, law, culture, and gender.

📚 The List of Ph.D. Topics in Economics

If you decide to go to grad school to do your Masters, you will likely end up getting a Ph.D. as well. So, with this plan in mind, think about a field that interests you enough during your Masters. Working with the same topic for both graduate degrees is easier and more effective.

This list of Ph.D. Topics in Economics can help you identify the areas you can work on.

• Occupational injuries in Pakistan and its effect on the economy. Injuries are the leading cause of the global burden of disability. Globally, Pakistan was ranked 9th populated country with a large number of unskilled workers. In this dissertation, consider the link between occupational injuries and their effects on the economy.
• The study of the Philippines’ economic development.

• Financial derivatives and climate change .
• Econometric Analysis of Financial Markets.
• Islamic Banking and Financial Markets .
• Health economics and policy in the UK.
• Health insurance: rationale and economic justification. In this dissertation, students can find different ways to explain and justify health insurance. Starting to philosophical to purely economic grounds. In the past years, there was a lot of discussion regarding the healthcare system for all. What are some of the economic benefits of that?
• Colombian economy, economic growth, and inequality.
• Benefits of mergers and acquisitions in agribusiness.
• Methods to measure financial risks when investing in Africa.
• The significance of financial economics in understanding the relationship between a country’s GDP and NDP.
• Network effects in cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies are not new anymore. However, it is still an original subject for a dissertation. Students can decide to choose several crypto coins and evaluate the importance of the network effect. This effect is particularly significant for Bitcoin. Explain why.
• The comparison of the Chinese growth model with the American growth model.
• An economic justification versus political expediency.
• Pollution Externalities Role in Management Economics .

📝 How to Select an Economics Thesis Topic

As your academic journey is coming to an end, it’s time to pick the right topic for your thesis. The whole academic life you were preparing to undertake this challenge.

Here is the list of six points that will help you to select an economics thesis topic:

• Make sure it is something you are genuinely interested in. It is incredibly challenging to write something engaging if you are not interested in the topic. So, choose wisely and chose what excites you.
• Draw inspiration from the previous student’s projects. A great place to start is by looking at what the previous students wrote. You can find some fresh ideas and a general direction.
• Ask your thesis advisor for his feedback. Most probably, your thesis advisor supervised many students before. They can be a great help too because they know how to assess papers. Before meeting with your professor, do some basic research, and understand what topic is about.
• Be original, but not too much. You do not want to spend your time writing about a project that many people wrote about. Your readers will not be interested in reading it, but your professors as well. However, make sure you do not pick anything too obscure. It will leave you with no secondary sources.
• Choose a narrow and specific topic. Not only will it allow you to be more original, but also to master a topic. When the issue is too broad, there is just too much information to cover in one thesis.
• Go interdisciplinary. If you find yourself interested in history, philosophy, or any other related topic, it can help you write an exceptional thesis in economics. Most of your peers may work on pure economics. Then, the interdisciplinary approach can help you to stand out among them.

Thank you for reading the article to the end! We hope this list of economics thesis topics ideas could help you to gather your thoughts and get inspired. Share it with those who may find it useful. Let us know what you think about it in the comment section below.

🔗 References

• Economics Thesis Topics List: Seminars Only
• How To Pick A Topic For Your Economics Research Project Or Master’s Thesis: INOMICS, The Site for Economists
• What Do Theses and Dissertations Look Like: KU Writing Center, the University of Kansas
• Writing Economics: Robert Neugeboren with Mireille Jacobson, University of Harvard
• Economics Ph.D. Theses: Department of Economics, University of Sussex Business School, IDEAS_RePEc
• World Economic Situation and Prospects 2018: United Nations
• Undergraduate Honors Theses: Department of Economics, University of California, Berkeley
• Economics Department Dissertations Collection: Economics Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Topics for Master Theses: Department of Economics, NHH, Norwegian School of Economics
• Share via Facebook
• Share via Twitter
• Share via LinkedIn
• Share via email

The dilemma I faced in getting Thesis proposal for my M Phil programme is taken away. Your article would be a useful guide to many more students.Thank you for your guidance.

Thanks for the feedback, John! Your opinion is very important for us!

I wants it for msc thesis

These are very helpful and concise research topics which I have spent days surfing the internet to get all this while. Thanks for making research life experience easier for me. Keep this good work up.

Thank you, Idris!

Glad to hear that! Thank you for your feedback, Idris!

Excellent research

For research

A very well written, clear and easy-to-read article. It was highly helpful. Thank you!

Thanks for your kind words! We look forward to seeing you again!

UCL Department of Economics

Topics in International Economics

PhD Skills Development Module, Term 2

This module offers an overview of several active areas of research in international trade. It introduces frontier topics, insights, and tools, with the goal of preparing PhD students to conduct independent cutting-edge research in the field, as well as in adjacent fields where ideas and techniques from international trade may be useful, such as urban and spatial economics, labor, development, IO, finance, and macro. 

The module will consist of 10 two-hour lectures. The preliminary set of topics includes:

• Trade, FDI and financial frictions (Kalina Manova)
• Global value chains and production networks (Kalina Manova)
• Trade and labor markets (Gabriel Ulyssea)
• Trade within countries and development (Gabriel Ulyssea)
• Cities and development (Gabriel Ulyssea)
• Spatial and general equilibrium spillovers (Kirill Borusyak)
• The effects of trade on welfare and inequality (Kirill Borusyak)

Students from University of London universities other than UCL are welcome to register.

Instructors

• Kirill Borusyak ( [email protected] , Drayton House 307)
• Kalina Manova ( [email protected] , Drayton House 301)
• Gabriel Ulyssea ( [email protected] , Office TBA)

Lectures : TBA Office hours : TBA

Prerequistes

We strongly recommend that students take or audit EC532 “International Economics for Research Students” during Term 1 at the LSE. This module covers baseline models in international trade that provide useful foundations for the topics course at UCL. UCL students can easily register for EC532, and Daniella Harper can assist with the logistics.

No formal assessment is required for this skills development PhD module. In order to fully benefit from the module, students are strongly encouraged to complete all assigned reading and participate actively in class. Interested students are welcome to develop a 5-page project proposal that they could pursue as part of their dissertation and receive constructive feedback from the lecturers.  

Reading List

• Foley, F. and K. Manova (2015). “International Trade, Multinational Activity, and Corporate Finance.” Annual Review of Economics 7: 119-46.
• Manova, K. (2013). “Credit Constraints, Heterogeneous Firms and International Trade.” Review of Economic Studies 80: 711-44.
• Antràs, P., Desai, M. and F. Foley (2009). “Multinational Firms, FDI Flows and Imperfect Capital Markets.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 124: 1171-219.
• Manova, K., Wei, S.-J. and Z. Zhang (2015). “Firm Exports and Multinational Activity under Credit Constraints.” Review of Economics and Statistics 97, p.574-88.
• Bilir, K., Chor, D., and K. Manova (2019). “Host Country Financial Development and Multinational Activity.” European Economic Review 115: 192-220.
• Berthou, A., Chung, J.H., Manova, K. and C. Sandoz (2018). “Trade, Productivity and (Mis)allocation." CEPR Working Paper.
• Antràs, P. and D. Chor (2021). “Global Value Chains.” NBER Working Paper 28549.
• Bernard, A. and A. Moxnes (2018). “Networks and Trade.” Annual Review of Economics 10: 65-85.
• Bernard, A., Dhyne, E., Magerman, G., Manova, K. and A. Moxnes (2020). “The Origins of Firm Heterogeneity: A Production Network Approach." Journal of Political Economy (forthcoming).
• Huang, H., Manova, K. and F. Pisch (2021). “Firm Heterogeneity and Imperfect Competition in Global Production Networks.” Mimeo.
• Autor, D. H., Dorn, D. and Hanson, G. H. (2013). “The China Syndrome: Local Labor Market Impacts of Import Competition in the United States.” American Economic Review 103(6), 2121-2168.
• Autor, D., Dorn, D. and Hanson, G. (2016) “The China Shock: Learning about Labor Market Adjustment to Large Changes in Trade.” Annual Review of Economics 8, 205-240.    
• Dix-Carneiro, Rafael, and Brian K. Kovak (2017). "Trade Liberalization and Regional Dynamics." American Economic Review 107: 2908-46.
• Ponczek, Vladimir, and Gabriel Ulyssea (2021). "Enforcement of Labor Regulation and the Labor Market Effects of Trade: Evidence from Brazil." Conditionally accepted at Economic Journal.
• Dix-Carneiro, Rafael, Pinelopi K. Goldberg, Costas Meghir, and Gabriel Ulyssea (2021). “Trade and Informality in the Presence of Labor Market Frictions and Regulations.” NBER Working Paper 28391.
• Donaldson, Dave (2018). "Railroads of the Raj: Estimating the Impact of Transportation Infrastructure." American Economic Review 108: 899-934.
• Atkin, David, and Dave Donaldson (2015). “Who's Getting Globalized? The Size and Implications of Intra-national Trade Costs.” NBER Working Paper 21439.
• Donaldson, D. and Hornbeck, R. (2016). “Railroads and American Economic Growth: A “Market Access” Approach.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 131(2), 799–858. 
• Ahlfeldt GM, Redding SJ, Sturm DM, Wolf N. (2015). “The Economics of Density: Evidence from the Berlin Wall.” Econometrica 83: 2127-89.
• Gharad Bryan, Edward Glaeser, Nick Tsivanidis (2020). “Cities in the Developing World.” Annual Review of Economics 12: 273-297.
• Tsivanidis, Nick (2019). "Evaluating the Impact of Urban Transit Infrastructure: Evidence from Bogota’s Transmilenio." Mimeo.
• Adão, R., Arkolakis, C. and Esposito, F. (2020). “General Equilibrium Indirect Effects in Space: Theory and Measurement.” Mimeo.
• Adão, R., Kolesár, M. and Morales, E. (2019). “Shift-Share Designs: Theory and Inference.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 134(4), 1949–2010.
• Borusyak, K., and Hull, P. (2021). “Non-Random Exposure to Exogenous Shocks: Theory and Applications.” Mimeo.
• Borusyak, K., Hull, P. and Jaravel, X. (2020). “Quasi-Experimental Shift-Share Research Designs.” Review of Economic Studies (forthcoming).
• Adão, R., Carrillo, P., Costinot, A., Donaldson, D. and Pomeranz, D. (2020). “Exports, Imports, and Earnings Inequality: Micro-Data and Macro-Lessons from Ecuador.” Mimeo .
• Adão, R., Costinot, A. and Donaldson, D. (2017). “Nonparametric Counterfactual Predictions in Neoclassical Models of International Trade.” American Economic Review 107: 633–689. 
• Arkolakis, C., Costinot, A. and Rodríguez-Clare, A. (2012). “New Trade Models, Same Old Gains?” American Economic Review 102: 94-130. 
• Baqaee, D. R. and Farhi, E. (2021). “Networks, Barriers, and Trade.” Mimeo.
• Borusyak, K. and Jaravel, X. (2021). “The Distributional Effects of Trade: Theory and Evidence from the United States.” Mimeo .

PhD research

How to become a phd student.

The main route to becoming a PhD student at the Amsterdam School of Economics is to follow the intensive 2-year Research Master's programme at the Tinbergen Institute (TI). The aim of this excellent Master's programme in economics, econometrics and finance is to prepare students for further academic research. In the 2 nd year of the Research Master's programme, students are usually assigned a supervisor, based on their research interests. Students who are assigned a supervisor from ASE have the opportunity to apply for a PhD position at our School.

For fields not covered by the TI, and for specific projects, vacancy announcements are posted on the website of the University of Amsterdam.

Candidates who are financially self-supporting (usually those who wish to pursue a PhD next to an appointment in a company or elsewhere) can apply for an external PhD. The conditions are stated in below document 'External PhD students ASE'.

Tinbergen Institute

Tinbergen Institute (TI) is one of Europe's top graduate schools and research institutes in economics, econometrics and finance. The institute uniquely combines the best of 3 leading universities in the Netherlands: the University of Amsterdam (UvA), VU University Amsterdam and Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). TI offers a Research Master's programme in Economics (with 3 tracks: Economics, Econometrics and Finance) as well as PhD opportunities under expert supervision by our international research fellows. With 30 nationalities in the institute and 70% of our students coming from abroad, Tinbergen Institute provides a truly international experience. The 3 universities also work together in the joint Research Master's Business Data Science .

PhD Council

At the beginning of 2021, the UvA Economics and Business PhD council was started. It represents the interests of all PhD candidates at the Faculty of Economics and Business, from both the Amsterdam School of Economics and the Amsterdam Business School. Aim of the council is to be a sounding board for organisational developments within the faculty that concern PhD candidates. In addition to this, they want to stimulate interaction and communication between PhD students at different sections and departments.

Cookie Consent

The UvA uses cookies to ensure the basic functionality of the site and for statistical and optimisation purposes. Cookies are also placed to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept all cookies' to consent to the placement of all cookies, or choose 'Decline' to only accept functional and analytical cookies. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .

• Faculty of Arts and Sciences
• FAS Theses and Dissertations
• Communities & Collections
• By Issue Date
• FAS Department
• Quick submit
• Waiver Generator
• DASH Stories
• Accessibility
• COVID-related Research

Terms of Use

• Privacy Policy
• By Collections
• By Departments

Essays in Energy and Development Economics

Citable link to this page

Collections.

• FAS Theses and Dissertations [6138]

Contact administrator regarding this item (to report mistakes or request changes)

Home » Ph.D in Development Studies

• Ph.D in Development Studies

The Ph.D. programme is designed to create academic researchers as well as professionals who are capable of conducting policy analysis, relating to national and global economic and development issues, from a quantitative and inter-disciplinary perspective. While an interdisciplinary approach is encouraged, the programme lays somewhat larger emphasis on economics to provide an integrated framework within which various development issues can be addressed. Ph.D. students are expected to submit their dissertations within four years of joining the Institute. Ph.D. programmes involve successful completion of course work as well as submission of dissertation. M.Sc., stream students who would like to register for a Ph.D. degree need to pass the oral comprehensive examination in the form of proposal cum evaluation seminar and fulfil prescribed course and minimum grade requirements.

Admission Eligibility

Minimum qualification for admission to the Ph.D. programme include one of the following degrees or their equivalents :

M.A./M.Sc. in Economics/M.Stat./M.Sc. (Physics or Mathematics or Environmental Science or Operations Research)/M.B.A./M.Tech./M.E./B.Tech./B.E. with at least 55% aggregate marks for Economics discipline and 60% aggregate marks for other disciplines. The applicant must have studied mathematics at the higher secondary or higher level.

Course Structure and Duration

Ph.D. students are required to take fourteen courses (four compulsory and ten optional), which they are expected to complete in two years, students are required to take the course on Research Methodology and the course on Seminar Series.

The compulsory courses for Ph.D. students are Microeconomics-I, Macroeconomics-I,Econometrics-I, Energy and Environment-I.Ph.D. students have to choose their optional courses such that they include (i) any two courses from Microeconomics – II, Macroeconomics – II, Econometrics – II and Energy and Environment – II, (ii) one Major Field of Specialisation consisting of four optional courses in a related field, (iii) one Minor Field of Specialisation consisting of two optional courses in a related field, and (iv) two other optional courses that may be from un-related fields. The optional courses /fields of specialisation offered by the Institute are similar to those listed under the M.Sc. programme.

For continuation in the Ph.D. programme, the student has to pass an Oral Comprehensive Examination in the form of a Proposal cum Evaluation Seminar and is expected to write a Ph.D. dissertation within the stipulated time frame and fulfil prescribed course and minimum grade requirements.

Ph.D. students need to pay a tuition fee of Rs.16,000/- per semester and a hostel fee, which is 8% of their fellowship amount per month, plus water and electricity charges as per actual. The tuition fee may be revised from time to time.

Financial Assistance

Ph.D. students will receive a monthly stipend of Rs.31,000/- in the first two years. Those students, who fulfill the terms and conditions for Ph.D. registration, will receive a monthly stipend of Rs.43,750/- after Ph. D. registration in the third year. Students are required to provide part time research or teaching assistantship from their second year onwards.

In the past, Ph.D students from IGIDR have been placed in the corporate sector – a selected list of companies is provided in the section on past recruiters. Some of our students pursue their doctorates, either at IGIDR or abroad. In the last five years, our students have got admission with financial support from renowned universities abroad like Iowa State University, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, and University of California, Irvine.

Related Links:

• M.Sc. in Economics
• Admission-2024

Latest Posts

• IGIDR Publication: Catastrophic Decline in Women Ownership of Firms in India: 2014-2022
• The naysayers are wrong. Indian economy is seeing robust growth by Ashima Goyal
• Achievement Prof. Ashima Goyal , Emeritus Professor, IGIDR, was invited to deliver a keynote address at CitiFX Ladies Roundtable quarterly, London, April 29, 2024
• Achievement Dr. A. Ganesh Kumar , Professor, IGIDR has been appointed as a member of the National Statistical Commission, Government of India.

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Suggestions or feedback?

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Machine learning
• Social justice
• Black holes
• Classes and programs

Departments

• Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Brain and Cognitive Sciences
• Architecture
• Political Science
• Mechanical Engineering

Centers, Labs, & Programs

• Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
• Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
• Lincoln Laboratory
• School of Architecture + Planning
• School of Engineering
• School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
• Sloan School of Management
• School of Science
• MIT Schwarzman College of Computing

MIT’s Master of Applied Science in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy program adds a public policy track

Press contact :.

Previous image Next image

MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Department of Economics have announced an expansion of their jointly administered Master of Applied Science in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) program . This expansion adds a new public policy track to complement the existing international development track, opening up new avenues for student learning and research. 

Designed to tackle poverty alleviation and other pressing policy challenges in the United States and other high-income countries, the curriculum of the new track spans a diverse set of issues, from domestic concerns like minimum wage and consumer welfare to global matters including trade, climate change, and immigration. Applications for the public policy track will open this fall, with the inaugural cohort set to arrive on MIT’s campus in spring 2026.

The DEDP program, led by MIT professors and Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, along with professors Sara Fisher Ellison and Benjamin Olken, was established with the mission of equipping diverse cohorts of talented professionals with the knowledge and skills to tackle poverty using evidence-based approaches. The new master’s degree track will support this mission while also underscoring the program’s commitment to addressing a broad array of critical challenges in the fight against poverty worldwide.

"The DEDP program has proven successful on many dimensions, and we are enthusiastic about leveraging its successes to address a broader set of social challenges,” says Ellison, a faculty lead for the program. “The public policy track will enable us to apply evidence-based methodology to poverty alleviation and other related issues in the context of high-income countries, as well. Given increasing levels of wealth and income inequality in these countries, we feel that the timing is opportune and the need is great."

The DEDP program distinguishes itself with an innovative admissions model that prioritizes demonstrated ability and motivation over traditional credentials, such as standardized tests and recommendation letters. To be eligible to apply to the master’s program, candidates must have earned a DEDP MicroMasters credential by passing five of the DEDP online courses. The courses are completely free to audit. Those who wish to earn a course certificate can pay a fee, which varies by the learner’s ability to pay, to take the proctored exam. While applications are reviewed holistically, performance in these classes is the primary factor in admissions decisions.

This approach democratizes access to higher education, enabling students from typically underrepresented backgrounds to demonstrate their potential for success. Notably, the program has welcomed many students from nontraditional backgrounds, such as a student who enrolled directly from high school (and who is now a second-year PhD student in economics at MIT), reflecting the ambition of its faculty directors to make higher education more accessible.

Sofia Martinez, a graduate of the class of 2023 and now co-founder of Learning Alliance , says, "Without the MicroMasters paving the way, applying to MIT or any similar institution would have been unthinkable for us. Initially, my aim in taking the online courses wasn't to pursue the residential program; it was only after witnessing my own progress that I realized the possibility wasn't so distant after all. This sentiment resonates with many in our cohort, which is truly humbling.”

Since its launch in 2020, the DEDP master’s program has conferred degrees to 87 students from 44 countries, showcasing its global reach and the success of its admissions model. Upon arriving on campus, students embark on an accelerated master's program. They complete a full course load in the spring, followed by a capstone project in the summer, applying the theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained through the program at research and policy organizations.

Share this news article on:

Related links.

• Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) master’s program
• Department of Economics

Related Topics

• Online learning
• Education, teaching, academics
• School of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences

Related Articles

“To make even the smallest contribution to improving my country would be my dream”

Diverse international cohort first to earn MIT master's degrees in data, economics, and development policy

MIT launches master’s in data, economics, and development policy, led by Nobel laureates

Turning an economics education into solutions with impact

Previous item Next item

More MIT News

Researchers develop a detector for continuously monitoring toxic gases

Read full story →

The beauty of biology

Navigating longevity with industry leaders at MIT AgeLab PLAN Forum

Jeong Min Park earns 2024 Schmidt Science Fellowship

Scientists use generative AI to answer complex questions in physics

New tool empowers users to fight online misinformation

• More news on MIT News homepage →

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA

• Map (opens in new window)
• Events (opens in new window)
• People (opens in new window)
• Careers (opens in new window)
• Accessibility
• Social Media Hub
• MIT on Facebook
• MIT on YouTube
• MIT on Instagram