phd student in economics

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.   

Jump to navigation

Search form

• History of Women Faculty in Economics
• Chairs & Managers
• Research Centers
• Publications
• Year-end letter: Berkeley Economics
• Faculty Profiles
• In Memoriam
• Graduate Program and Advising
• Graduate Profiles
• 2023-2024 Job Market Candidates
• 2023-2024 Ph.D. Job Market Infopage
• Undergraduate Program
• Prospective Majors
• Current Majors
• Student Organizations
• Commencement
• Course List
• Course Enrollment
• This Week's Seminars
• Next Week's Seminars
• Summer 2024 Economics Classes
• Fall 2024 Economics Classes
• Charter Hill Society for Economics
• Submit a note
• Alumni Notes

Ph.D. in Economics

The Ph.D. program at Berkeley is designed for students interested in pursuing advanced study and conducting original research in Economics. The Ph.D. degree is awarded in recognition of the recipient's qualifications as a general economist and of the ability to make scholarly contributions in fields of specialization. Additionally, the Economics Ph.D. program is residential, there is no remote enrollment option. 

In advancing to the Ph.D. degree, students pass through two major stages:

• Preparation for candidacy typically takes two to three years. During the first two semesters, students take courses to achieve competence in econometric methods, methods of economic history and fundamentals of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. During the next two years, students prepare for examination in two fields of specialization of their choosing, prepare a dissertation prospectus, and take an oral examination. When these steps are completed, students are advanced to candidacy.
• Completion of a dissertation after advancing to candidacy typically takes one to two years. The dissertation must be based on original research and represent a significant contribution to the body of Economic knowledge.

The entire process takes approximately five to six years, although some students are able to complete the program in less time. Below is an overview of the program requirements by year and other pertinent information.

ECONOMICS GRADUATE STUDENT SERVICES

The Economics Student Services Mission is to advise our students holistically by providing a high standard of service in a supportive and collaborative environment.  Professional and peer advisors work as a team to provide accurate information in a timely manner.  We partner with faculty to assist students in engaging with the campus and the global economic community.  We value fairness, diversity, and the important roles our students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Economics play at the University of California, Berkeley.

Meet the members of the Economics Graduate Student Services advising team!

Graduate Office Address:

Ph.D. in Economics

The Ph.D. program in the Department of Economics at Columbia University trains students to do cutting edge research in economics.  Students in our program do research in all major areas of economics including microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, international economics, labor economics, public finance, industrial organization, development economics, and urban economics.  Our department provides strong training both in theoretical economics and in applied and empirical economics.  The Ph.D. program is primarily designed for students that are interested in pursuing a career in teaching and research within academia but is also useful for student interested in certain positions within governments, research organizations, or private businesses.

The first two years of our Ph.D. program is largely devoted to rigorous coursework. After the second year, however, students devote most of their time to their own research under the supervision of faculty advisors. Students in our program generally complete their Ph.D. in 5 or 6 years.

Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly selective.  We receive approximately 1,000 applications each year for an incoming class of roughly 25 students.  We place a high value on attracting the very best minds, and recruiting members of groups who will both enhance the diversity of research in the field and contribute to the diversity of the university’s academic and professional community.

The Ph.D. program has a long and illustrious history.  Alumni of the program include some of the most distinguished economists of the last century – including Nobel Prize winners Kenneth J. Arrow, Milton Friedman, Simon Smith Kuznets, and William S. Vickrey.

• Program Description
• Admissions Information
• Placement Information
• Student Life
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Program Requirements
• Announcements
• Graduate Student Appointments
• Office Hours
• List of 2nd Year Fields
• PhD Administrative Forms
• Job Market Candidates
• Honors and Prizes
• 1st Year Students (2024)
• 2nd Year Students (2023)
• 3rd Year Students (2022)
• 4th Year Students (2021)
• 5th Year Students (2020)
• 6th Year Students (2019)
• Bridge to the Ph.D. Program

1022 International Affairs Building (IAB)

Mail Code 3308

420 West 118th Street

New York, NY 10027

• Programs Overview
• Joint Finance PhD Program

Joe Sterbenc

The Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics is one of the world's foremost economics departments, and its faculty are renowned for their seminal contributions to the field, achievements recognized with numerous Nobel Prizes, Clark Medals, and other distinctions. Students admitted to doctoral studies research, interact daily with the faculty, as well as fellow graduate students, and pursue their own interests, thus furthering their own scholarship and research, ultimately continuing to shape the discipline itself.

The Department of Economics receives 600-700 applications for an entering class of 20-25 students per year. The number of well-qualified applicants exceeds the number of offers we can make. Nevertheless, we still strongly encourage those interested in graduate economic study to apply.

  _______________________________________________________________________

Sofia Shchukina, Department PhD Student, Awarded Funding through UChicago GRAD PhD Advance Program

Sofia Shchukina, a PhD student in the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, was awarded funding for the 2023-24 academic year as part of UChicagoGRAD's PhD Advance internship program for her work with NPR's Planet Money.

The PhD Advance program supports students in building new skills and applying their advanced-degree training in an area of professional interest in academia, industry, nonprofits, or government. The internships are student driven and engage students’ academic work. With coaching from UChicagoGRAD, PhD students create their own projects based on their specific interests and needs. They receive a $6,000 stipend for an internship lasting 300 hours.     The PhD Advance program prioritizes applicants who design customized, project-based internships. Project-based internships are those that engage the intern in a coherent set of responsibilities that progressively build toward a specific deliverable or outcome. Internships involving unrelated, ad-hoc tasks are not considered project-based opportunities. The program also gives preference to internship projects at organizations at which the applicant has no previous affiliation.

For more information about the program and to apply, visit grad.uchicago.edu .

Welcome incoming Ph.D. students! (alphabetical listing):  Hazal Basaran; Connor Brennan; Joseph Campbell; Seamus Duffy; Sebastian Freed Huici; Alfonso Gauna; Javiera Gazmuri; Ariel Goldszmidt; Maria Del Mar Gomez Ortiz; Jiesheng Hong; Reigner Kane; Hanvit Kim; Philipp Kropp; Neel Lahiri; Yier Ling; Ayman Moazzam; Matthew Neils; Kyunghee Oh; Laura Pittalis; Jose Rishmawi; Amy Smaldone; Marco Spinelli; Rathan Sudheer; Shengning Zhang

Congratulations 2023-2024 Ph.D. Graduates! 2023-2024 PhD graduates (alphabetical listing): Scott Behmer • Maria Ignacia Cuevas de Saint • Santiago Franco • Zhiyu Fu • Michael Galperin • Shanon Hsu-Ming Hsu   •   Elena Istomina • Ihsan Furkan   Kilic • Nadav Kunievsky • Marco Loseto • Nadia Lucas • Sangmin Oh • Aleksei Oskolkov • Estéfano Rubio • Francesco Ruggieri • Sidharth Sah • Marcos Gabriel Sorá  • Michael Varley

_____________________________________________________________________________

Postdoctoral Program The Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics is proud to announce its first year (2023-24) of having a postdoctoral program! 

Selected postdoctoral scholars in the program for 2023-24 are Harshil Sahai (PhD '23) and Esperanza Johnson Urrutia (PhD '23).  Postdoctoral scholars in the program for 2024-25 are Elena Istomina and Shanon Hsuan-Ming Hsu.

STEM Eligibility The PhD program is STEM eligible for international students.

Divisional Graduate Resources

Find divisional Graduate Resources here.

The Economics PhD Program is administered by: Kathryn Falzareno Graduate Student Affairs Administrator SHFE 510 Phone: 773-702-3026 Email: [email protected]

PhD Admissions Application

This website uses cookies..

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

• Utility Menu

44d3fa3df9f06a3117ed3d2ad6c71ecc

• Administration

econ-hero-6.jpg

The doctoral program in Economics at Harvard University is one of the leading programs in the world. Supported by a diverse group of faculty who are top researchers in their fields and fueled by a vast array of resources, the PhD program is structured to train and nurture students to become leading economists in academia, government agencies, the technology industry, finance and banking, and global policy organizations.

Harvard University and the Department of Economics are regularly ranked amongst the top programs in the world, and the consistency of success among our graduates is inspiring. We have educated several foreign heads of state, Nobel Prize Winners, Clark Medal Winners, MacArthur Fellowship Recipients - many of whom have returned to Harvard to offer their expertise and brilliance in shaping and nurturing our students.  Learn more about where we place our  graduates  and explore our  Program  to find out if a PhD in Economics is a good fit for you. 

Program Requirements

As a PhD student in the Economics program, students will spend the first two years in the program engaged in rigorous coursework designed to develop a foundational understanding of economics. In the following years, students transition to research under the guidance of strong faculty mentorship and participate in field workshops. In the final year, students conduct independent research and complete a dissertation.

The department of Economics at Harvard University is committed to seeking out and mentoring scholars who wish to pursue a rigorous and rewarding career in economic research. Our graduates are trailblazers in their fields and contribute to a diverse alumni community in both the academic and non-academic sectors. We invite you to learn more and apply to the PhD program in Economics. 

Financial Support

Students have access to a variety of funding and financial support opportunities.

• Research Funding
• Teaching Fellowships and assistants
• Additional external and internal resources

Learn more about financial support

Upcoming Events

Econ 3006 graduate student workshop in macroeconomics, location: .

Laura Nicolae (Harvard University) "The Effect of Inflation-Indexation on Employment: Evidence from Belgium" (with Gert Bijnens, Helene Hall, and Hugo Monnery)... Read more about Econ 3006 Graduate Student Workshop in Macroeconomics

ECON 3005 Graduate Workshop in Economic Development

Raul Duarte (Harvard) "Patronage in Customs"

Oluchi Mbonu (Harvard Kennedy School) "Market Segmentation and Flexibility in Informal Public Transportation: Evidence from Johannesburg's Minibus Taxi Networks"... Read more about ECON 3005 Graduate Workshop in Economic Development

Seminar in Behavioral & Experimental Economics

Suproteem Sarkar (Harvard Univesity), job market candidate, "TBD"

Meets with ECON 3001 Graduate Student Workshop in Behavioral Economics. ... Read more about Seminar in Behavioral & Experimental Economics

View all Workshops

View all Seminars

Department of Economics

• Graduate Courses
• Program Requirements
• For Admitted Students
• Funding and Financial Aid
• For Current Students
• Recent Placements

The rigorous PhD economics program at Johns Hopkins is among the best in the nation. With its world-class faculty, individualized attention, and small classes, the doctoral program is the centerpiece of the Department of Economics. From financial analysis to applied research, students are well-prepared to be leaders in the field.

The department is dedicated to maintaining strong research and teaching cores in applied microeconomics, economic theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics. Faculty members are experts in their fields, and they are actively involved in thesis supervision and research seminars . The unique Hopkins difference is the direct interaction and one-on-one attention students receive from faculty. Such attention opens the door to myriad opportunities for students to conduct groundbreaking research, apply complex economic theories, and make educated financial analyses and predictions.

Student Life

Graduate students enjoy a diverse social life outside of the department’s rigorous curriculum and their individual research interests. Faculty and students – from both inside and outside the department – have ample opportunities to spend time together socializing and discussing their studies. 

In addition to frequent student-planned happy hours, social outings, and local events, the Department of Economics and the JHU Graduate Representative Organization host many functions throughout the year.

• At the beginning of the fall semester, the Department of Economics hosts a welcome dinner and party to encourage new students to meet their peers, older students, and faculty.
• The department throws an annual holiday party immediately following completion of the first term, as well as an end-of-year barbecue to celebrate the completion of the spring semester.
• JHU sponsored coffee “happy hours” offer graduate students opportunities to meet people from outside their department.
• Intramural sports are popular among graduate students at Hopkins, and the economics department often forms teams that compete against other departments.

Students and faculty members often know each other by name before taking classes together, and first-year students enjoy straightforward access to faculty members and their more experienced peers. This collegial atmosphere makes for an easy transition into graduate life and comfortable communication once research begins in earnest.

Economics across JHU Schools

Carey business school.

The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School is the graduate business school of Johns Hopkins University and offers full-time and part-time programs leading to the Master of Business Administration and Master of Science degrees.  The School has a number of distinguished economists who interact with the faculty and graduate students in the Department of Economics.

School of Advanced International Studies

The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies is a graduate school of Johns Hopkins University based in Washington, D.C., United States, with campuses in Bologna, Italy, and Nanjing, China. It is consistently ranked one of the top graduate schools for international relations in the world.  The economists at the school interact with the faculty and graduate students in the Department of Economics.

Advanced Academic Programs Applied Economics

The Johns Hopkins Division of Advanced Academic Programs is a  division of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences in Washington DC which offers high-level graduate-level education in Applied Economics, with a variety of Masters Degrees designed to build on the intellectual strength and educational requirements of professional adults.

• Research Centers
• Academic Programs
• Princeton University
• News & Activities
• Prospective Majors
• Major Requirements
• Course Selection
• Independent Work
• Other Rules and Grading Guidelines
• Economics Statistical Services (ESS)
• Minors and Programs
• Study Abroad and Internship Milestone Credit
• Funding, Research Assistant, and Career Opps
• Common Questions

Ph.D. Admissions

Current Students

• Course Offerings
• Job Market and Placements
• Graduate Student Directory

Graduate Program

Ph.d. studies at princeton economics.

The Ph.D. program at Princeton Economics is one of the premier economics programs in the world. The small number of students admitted each year receive training in an exceptional research environment, supported by faculty members who are working at the forefront of research in their fields.

Admission to the program is extremely selective. Each year, the department receives approximately 800 applications for a class of 20 to 25 students. Students come from diverse backgrounds and from dozens of countries around the globe.

Princeton provides all admitted Ph.D. students tuition and fellowship support for the academic year. Admitted students also receive fellowship support through the summer months so they can continue their study and research when classes are not in session.

The Economics Department at Princeton does not offer a Master’s Degree. Students looking for information about the Master in Finance can learn more on the Princeton Bendheim Center for Finance website .

Job Market Placements

About Stanford GSB

• The Leadership
• Dean’s Updates
• School News & History
• Commencement
• Business, Government & Society
• Centers & Institutes
• Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
• Center for Social Innovation
• Stanford Seed

About the Experience

• Learning at Stanford GSB
• Experiential Learning
• Guest Speakers
• Entrepreneurship
• Social Innovation
• Communication
• Life at Stanford GSB
• Collaborative Environment
• Activities & Organizations
• Student Services
• Housing Options
• International Students

Full-Time Degree Programs

• Why Stanford MBA
• Academic Experience
• Financial Aid
• Why Stanford MSx
• Research Fellows Program
• See All Programs

Non-Degree & Certificate Programs

• Executive Education
• Stanford Executive Program
• Programs for Organizations
• The Difference
• Online Programs
• Stanford LEAD
• Seed Transformation Program
• Aspire Program
• Seed Spark Program
• Faculty Profiles
• Academic Areas
• Awards & Honors
• Conferences

Faculty Research

• Publications
• Working Papers
• Case Studies

Research Hub

• Research Labs & Initiatives
• Business Library
• Data, Analytics & Research Computing
• Behavioral Lab

Research Labs

• Cities, Housing & Society Lab
• Golub Capital Social Impact Lab

Research Initiatives

• Corporate Governance Research Initiative
• Corporations and Society Initiative
• Policy and Innovation Initiative
• Rapid Decarbonization Initiative
• Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative
• Value Chain Innovation Initiative
• Venture Capital Initiative
• Career & Success
• Climate & Sustainability
• Corporate Governance
• Culture & Society
• Finance & Investing
• Government & Politics
• Leadership & Management
• Markets and Trade
• Operations & Logistics
• Opportunity & Access
• Technology & AI
• Opinion & Analysis
• Email Newsletter

Welcome, Alumni

• Communities
• Digital Communities & Tools
• Regional Chapters
• Women’s Programs
• Identity Chapters
• Find Your Reunion
• Career Resources
• Job Search Resources
• Career & Life Transitions
• Programs & Webinars
• Career Video Library
• Alumni Education
• Research Resources
• Volunteering
• Alumni News
• Class Notes
• Alumni Voices
• Contact Alumni Relations
• Upcoming Events

Admission Events & Information Sessions

• MBA Program
• MSx Program
• PhD Program
• Alumni Events
• All Other Events
• Requirements
• Requirements: Behavioral
• Requirements: Quantitative
• Requirements: Macro
• Requirements: Micro
• Annual Evaluations
• Field Examination
• Research Activities
• Research Papers
• Dissertation
• Oral Examination
• Current Students
• Entering Class Profile
• Education & CV
• GMAT & GRE
• International Applicants
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Reapplicants
• Application Fee Waiver
• Deadline & Decisions
• Job Market Candidates
• Academic Placements
• Stay in Touch
• Fields of Study
• Student Life

Economic Analysis & Policy

Our doctoral program in the field of economic analysis and policy prepares students for research careers in economics. The program offers rigorous training and has several distinct advantages:

Low Student-to-Faculty Ratio

First, enrollment in the program is small. This encourages close faculty-student contact and allows students to become involved in research very early. Students work first as assistants on faculty research projects and, as their interests and skills develop, on their own research. Students often begin their publishing careers before completing their degrees.

Flexible and Innovative Program

Second, the program is flexible and innovative; students can draw on both the school’s and the university’s distinguished faculty. In addition to the faculty in the economics group at Stanford GSB and in the university’s economics department, students have access to faculty in political and behavioral sciences; accounting and finance; mathematics, statistics, and computer science; and many other disciplines.

A Top-Ranked School

Third, the program is part of a top-ranked professional school. This setting allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the actual processes of business decision-making and public policy formulation.

Preparation and Qualifications

Students who enroll in this program have a substantial background in economics and mathematics. They are expected to have, minimally, mathematical skills at the level of one year of advanced calculus and one course each in linear algebra, analysis, probability, optimization, and statistics.

The faculty selects students based on predicted performance in the program. Evidence of substantial background or ability in the use of mathematical reasoning and statistical methods is important. Most successful applicants had quantitative undergraduate majors in economics, mathematics, or related sciences.

In addition to evidence of ability and letters of recommendation, the faculty considers carefully the applicant’s statement of purpose for pursuing the PhD degree. The successful applicant usually has clearly defined career goals that are compatible with those of the program.

Acceptance into the program is extremely competitive. Admitted applicants compare very favorably with students enrolled in the top economics departments of major universities.

Economic Analysis & Policy Faculty

Mohammad akbarpour, claudia allende santa cruz, susan athey, lanier benkard, jeremy i. bulow, modibo khane camara, sebastian di tella, rebecca diamond, yossi feinberg, guido w. imbens, charles i. jones, jonathan levin, michael ostrovsky, garth saloner, yuliy sannikov, kathryn shaw, andrzej skrzypacz, paulo somaini, takuo sugaya, juan carlos suárez serrato, christopher tonetti, shoshana vasserman, ali yurukoglu, weijie zhong, emeriti faculty, alain c. enthoven, robert j. flanagan, david m. kreps, peter c. reiss, john roberts, a. michael spence, robert wilson, recent publications in economic analysis & policy, a kinky consistency: experimental evidence of behavior under linear and non-linear budget sets, policy learning with adaptively collected data, trading stocks builds financial confidence and compresses the gender gap, recent insights by stanford business, a “grumpy economist” weighs in on inflation’s causes — and its cures, if/then: why research matters, at what point do we decide ai’s risks outweigh its promise, placement director.

• See the Current DEI Report
• Supporting Data
• Research & Insights
• Share Your Thoughts
• Search Fund Primer
• Teaching & Curriculum
• Affiliated Faculty
• Faculty Advisors
• Louis W. Foster Resource Center
• Defining Social Innovation
• Impact Compass
• Global Health Innovation Insights
• Faculty Affiliates
• Student Awards & Certificates
• Changemakers
• Dean Jonathan Levin
• Dean Garth Saloner
• Dean Robert Joss
• Dean Michael Spence
• Dean Robert Jaedicke
• Dean Rene McPherson
• Dean Arjay Miller
• Dean Ernest Arbuckle
• Dean Jacob Hugh Jackson
• Dean Willard Hotchkiss
• Faculty in Memoriam
• Stanford GSB Firsts
• Annual Alumni Dinner
• Class of 2024 Candidates
• Certificate & Award Recipients
• Dean’s Remarks
• Keynote Address
• Teaching Approach
• Analysis and Measurement of Impact
• The Corporate Entrepreneur: Startup in a Grown-Up Enterprise
• Data-Driven Impact
• Designing Experiments for Impact
• Digital Marketing
• The Founder’s Right Hand
• Marketing for Measurable Change
• Product Management
• Public Policy Lab: Financial Challenges Facing US Cities
• Public Policy Lab: Homelessness in California
• Lab Features
• Curricular Integration
• View From The Top
• Formation of New Ventures
• Managing Growing Enterprises
• Startup Garage
• Explore Beyond the Classroom
• Stanford Venture Studio
• Summer Program
• Workshops & Events
• The Five Lenses of Entrepreneurship
• Leadership Labs
• Executive Challenge
• Arbuckle Leadership Fellows Program
• Selection Process
• Training Schedule
• Time Commitment
• Learning Expectations
• Post-Training Opportunities
• Who Should Apply
• Introductory T-Groups
• Leadership for Society Program
• Certificate
• 2024 Awardees
• 2023 Awardees
• 2022 Awardees
• 2021 Awardees
• 2020 Awardees
• 2019 Awardees
• 2018 Awardees
• Social Management Immersion Fund
• Stanford Impact Founder Fellowships
• Stanford Impact Leader Prizes
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Stanford GSB Impact Fund
• Economic Development
• Energy & Environment
• Stanford GSB Residences
• Environmental Leadership
• Stanford GSB Artwork
• A Closer Look
• California & the Bay Area
• Voices of Stanford GSB
• Business & Beneficial Technology
• Business & Sustainability
• Business & Free Markets
• Business, Government, and Society Forum
• Get Involved
• Second Year
• Global Experiences
• JD/MBA Joint Degree
• MA Education/MBA Joint Degree
• MD/MBA Dual Degree
• MPP/MBA Joint Degree
• MS Computer Science/MBA Joint Degree
• MS Electrical Engineering/MBA Joint Degree
• MS Environment and Resources (E-IPER)/MBA Joint Degree
• Academic Calendar
• Clubs & Activities
• LGBTQ+ Students
• Military Veterans
• Minorities & People of Color
• Partners & Families
• Students with Disabilities
• Student Support
• Residential Life
• Student Voices
• MBA Alumni Voices
• A Week in the Life
• Career Support
• Employment Outcomes
• Cost of Attendance
• Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program
• Yellow Ribbon Program
• BOLD Fellows Fund
• Application Process
• Loan Forgiveness
• Contact the Financial Aid Office
• Evaluation Criteria
• English Language Proficiency
• Personal Information, Activities & Awards
• Professional Experience
• Optional Short Answer Questions
• Application Fee
• Reapplication
• Deferred Enrollment
• Joint & Dual Degrees
• Event Schedule
• Ambassadors
• New & Noteworthy
• Ask a Question
• See Why Stanford MSx
• Is MSx Right for You?
• MSx Stories
• Leadership Development
• How You Will Learn
• Admission Events
• Personal Information
• GMAT, GRE & EA
• English Proficiency Tests
• Career Change
• Career Advancement
• Career Support and Resources
• Daycare, Schools & Camps
• U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
• Faculty Mentors
• Current Fellows
• Standard Track
• Fellowship & Benefits
• Group Enrollment
• Program Formats
• Developing a Program
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Strategic Transformation
• Program Experience
• Contact Client Services
• Campus Experience
• Live Online Experience
• Silicon Valley & Bay Area
• Digital Credentials
• Faculty Spotlights
• Participant Spotlights
• Eligibility
• International Participants
• Stanford Ignite
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Operations, Information & Technology
• Organizational Behavior
• Political Economy
• Classical Liberalism
• The Eddie Lunch
• Accounting Summer Camp
• California Econometrics Conference
• California Quantitative Marketing PhD Conference
• California School Conference
• China India Insights Conference
• Homo economicus, Evolving
• Political Economics (2023–24)
• Scaling Geologic Storage of CO2 (2023–24)
• A Resilient Pacific: Building Connections, Envisioning Solutions
• Adaptation and Innovation
• Changing Climate
• Civil Society
• Climate Impact Summit
• Climate Science
• Corporate Carbon Disclosures
• Earth’s Seafloor
• Environmental Justice
• Operations and Information Technology
• Organizations
• Sustainability Reporting and Control
• Taking the Pulse of the Planet
• Urban Infrastructure
• Watershed Restoration
• Junior Faculty Workshop on Financial Regulation and Banking
• Ken Singleton Celebration
• Marketing Camp
• Quantitative Marketing PhD Alumni Conference
• Presentations
• Theory and Inference in Accounting Research
• Stanford Closer Look Series
• Quick Guides
• Core Concepts
• Journal Articles
• Glossary of Terms
• Faculty & Staff
• Subscribe to Corporate Governance Emails
• Researchers & Students
• Research Approach
• Charitable Giving
• Financial Health
• Government Services
• Workers & Careers
• Short Course
• Adaptive & Iterative Experimentation
• Incentive Design
• Social Sciences & Behavioral Nudges
• Bandit Experiment Application
• Conferences & Events
• Reading Materials
• Energy Entrepreneurship
• Faculty & Affiliates
• SOLE Report
• Responsible Supply Chains
• Current Study Usage
• Pre-Registration Information
• Participate in a Study
• Founding Donors
• Program Contacts
• Location Information
• Participant Profile
• Network Membership
• Program Impact
• Collaborators
• Entrepreneur Profiles
• Company Spotlights
• Seed Transformation Network
• Responsibilities
• Current Coaches
• How to Apply
• Meet the Consultants
• Meet the Interns
• Intern Profiles
• Collaborate
• Research Library
• News & Insights
• Databases & Datasets
• Research Guides
• Consultations
• Research Workshops
• Career Research
• Research Data Services
• Course Reserves
• Course Research Guides
• Material Loan Periods
• Fines & Other Charges
• Document Delivery
• Interlibrary Loan
• Equipment Checkout
• Print & Scan
• MBA & MSx Students
• PhD Students
• Other Stanford Students
• Faculty Assistants
• Research Assistants
• Stanford GSB Alumni
• Telling Our Story
• Staff Directory
• Site Registration
• Alumni Directory
• Alumni Email
• Privacy Settings & My Profile
• Event Registration Help
• Success Stories
• The Story of Circles
• Support Women’s Circles
• Stanford Women on Boards Initiative
• Alumnae Spotlights
• Insights & Research
• Industry & Professional
• Entrepreneurial Commitment Group
• Recent Alumni
• Half-Century Club
• Fall Reunions
• Spring Reunions
• MBA 25th Reunion
• Half-Century Club Reunion
• Faculty Lectures
• Ernest C. Arbuckle Award
• Alison Elliott Exceptional Achievement Award
• ENCORE Award
• Excellence in Leadership Award
• John W. Gardner Volunteer Leadership Award
• Robert K. Jaedicke Faculty Award
• Jack McDonald Military Service Appreciation Award
• Jerry I. Porras Latino Leadership Award
• Tapestry Award
• Student & Alumni Events
• Executive Recruiters
• Interviewing
• Land the Perfect Job with LinkedIn
• Negotiating
• Elevator Pitch
• Email Best Practices
• Resumes & Cover Letters
• Self-Assessment
• Whitney Birdwell Ball
• Margaret Brooks
• Bryn Panee Burkhart
• Margaret Chan
• Ricki Frankel
• Peter Gandolfo
• Cindy W. Greig
• Natalie Guillen
• Carly Janson
• Sloan Klein
• Sherri Appel Lassila
• Stuart Meyer
• Tanisha Parrish
• Virginia Roberson
• Philippe Taieb
• Michael Takagawa
• Terra Winston
• Johanna Wise
• Debbie Wolter
• Rebecca Zucker
• Complimentary Coaching
• Changing Careers
• Work-Life Integration
• Career Breaks
• Flexible Work
• Encore Careers
• Join a Board
• D&B Hoovers
• Data Axle (ReferenceUSA)
• EBSCO Business Source
• Global Newsstream
• Market Share Reporter
• ProQuest One Business
• RKMA Market Research Handbook Series
• Student Clubs
• Entrepreneurial Students
• Stanford GSB Trust
• Alumni Community
• How to Volunteer
• Springboard Sessions
• Consulting Projects
• 2020 – 2029
• 2010 – 2019
• 2000 – 2009
• 1990 – 1999
• 1980 – 1989
• 1970 – 1979
• 1960 – 1969
• 1950 – 1959
• 1940 – 1949
• Service Areas
• ACT History
• ACT Awards Celebration
• ACT Governance Structure
• Building Leadership for ACT
• Individual Leadership Positions
• Leadership Role Overview
• Purpose of the ACT Management Board
• Contact ACT
• Business & Nonprofit Communities
• Reunion Volunteers
• Ways to Give
• Fiscal Year Report
• Business School Fund Leadership Council
• Planned Giving Options
• Planned Giving Benefits
• Planned Gifts and Reunions
• Legacy Partners
• Giving News & Stories
• Giving Deadlines
• Development Staff
• Submit Class Notes
• Class Secretaries
• Board of Directors
• Health Care
• Sustainability
• Class Takeaways
• All Else Equal: Making Better Decisions
• If/Then: Business, Leadership, Society
• Grit & Growth
• Think Fast, Talk Smart
• Spring 2022
• Spring 2021
• Autumn 2020
• Summer 2020
• Winter 2020
• In the Media
• For Journalists
• DCI Fellows
• Other Auditors
• Academic Calendar & Deadlines
• Course Materials
• Entrepreneurial Resources
• Campus Drive Grove
• Campus Drive Lawn
• CEMEX Auditorium
• King Community Court
• Seawell Family Boardroom
• Stanford GSB Bowl
• Stanford Investors Common
• Town Square
• Vidalakis Courtyard
• Vidalakis Dining Hall
• Catering Services
• Policies & Guidelines
• Reservations
• Contact Faculty Recruiting
• Lecturer Positions
• Postdoctoral Positions
• Accommodations
• CMC-Managed Interviews
• Recruiter-Managed Interviews
• Virtual Interviews
• Campus & Virtual
• Search for Candidates
• Think Globally
• Recruiting Calendar
• Recruiting Policies
• Full-Time Employment
• Summer Employment
• Entrepreneurial Summer Program
• Global Management Immersion Experience
• Social-Purpose Summer Internships
• Process Overview
• Project Types
• Client Eligibility Criteria
• Client Screening
• ACT Leadership
• Social Innovation & Nonprofit Management Resources
• Develop Your Organization’s Talent
• Centers & Initiatives
• Student Fellowships

Advice for First-Year Ph.D. Students in Economics at Cornell

First of all: welcome to Cornell and congratulations on your acceptance into the Ph.D. program in Economics! You must wonder about what the program and life at Cornell will be like, both academically and socially. The main focus of this document is to provide some information, grad student to grad student, about the academic aspects of the Ph.D. program in Economics at Cornell, though we will also get into some other aspects of life at Cornell. From your peers in the Ph.D. program, we want you to know that we are happy to talk to you and give you advice based on our own experiences. The comments and advice have been gathered from a broad spectrum of students, with varying backgrounds and experiences. We hope that this will provide you with a number of perspectives and ideas on how to handle the first year and succeed to the best of your ability.

You Are Here for a Reason

The Cornell Ph.D. program in economics admits a wide variety of students, with various backgrounds and levels of academic preparation. By some system, the faculty sifts through literally hundreds of applications, to find a broad profile of students that best fit the research interests and teaching needs of the department. It should be no surprise that many of your classmates list labor, development, theory or econometrics as primary fields of interest – these are four of the areas in which Cornell Economics is strongest. The research done in each of these areas, as well as the other economics fields, requires fairly different skill sets, and therefore the students chosen for admission will vary in their preparation for the focus of the firstyear: learning quantitative tools, basic economic modeling frameworks, and mathematical problem solving. Some of your classmates may have seen some of the material before. Don't let this discourage you – with sufficient effort and perseverance, you are all capable of succeeding in the first year. In order for you to be admitted, someone took notice of your file and saw something they liked. Remember these facts in the many challenging and difficult days you will face in the coming year. The Department does not accept students unless it believes they are capable of successfully completing the program, and differences in preparation in September will seem smaller come June.

You are also hopefully here for another reason, namely because you have decided that this is what you want to do (this being quantitatively-oriented research). For that reason, you should make the best of the opportunities here. Work as hard as you can, but enjoy the process. Yes, it is tough at times, but tough things can be made more bearable when we really enjoy the stuff and believe it is important. For this reason also, take initiative for your course of studies.

Belief is key – know that you can do this, as much as you might be tempted to doubt yourself (we all do). If you make the decision early to take the material seriously and try to master it and internalize it, and not just memorize, the dividends will be great. This takes commitment, but know that what seems confusing and abstract early on will clear up later. For example, it is quite common for students to struggle through the first semester of microeconomics, only to come out saying things like, "it was hard, but now I can see how it all fits together." The material will seem easier once you've worked at it and grasped it, and this takes time and hard work! It will be tempting to doubt yourself, as you enter a new academic setting in which nearly all of the students are accustomed to being "top of the class," so don't let early struggles get you down, and don't let yourself believe that you're not smart enough.

The Schedule

Of course, you will all get a schedule for first-year that lists your courses. However, we thought you might want a better feel for the rhythm of the first year.

Math Camp in August gives you a nice, gentle introduction to the program. For those of you who find it easy, don't get overconfident, because you will be challenged in time. For those of you who struggle, take it as a signal of things you need to work on. Just because some of the material covered in Math Camp may be difficult or new to you, it doesn't mean that you can't handle the program – but it does mean that you may have to put in extra time over the next few months ensuring that you understand the mathematical tools that you will need to know (this is part of what ECON 6170 is about). Fall semester is as much about picking up tools and mathematical skills as it is about learning economics (which is more of the focus in spring semester).

While the first week or two of classes are usually quite gentle, you will quickly hit the first wave of exams. At Cornell, almost every first-year Econ Ph.D. class has two exams (aka. prelims, midterms, quizzes), plus a final exam. The Econ Ph.D. program coordinates things, so you have two waves in the fall semester of about an exam or two per week (one wave in late September/early October, and one around November). Be prepared, and don't underestimate the classes based on the first couple of weeks. In second semester the schedule changes a little, and the focus shifts in the final run-up to qualifying exams (aka. "Qs"), which occur in early June. There are two weeks of intense studying between finals in May and the Qs in June. There are re- takes of the qualifying exams that are given at the beginning of August.

As mentioned above, the first semester courses focus a lot on building up tools and problem-solving skills. Many would say that the most important course during this semester is Econ 6090: Microeconomics I, which lays much of the foundation for what you do in later classes. It teaches you the basic structure of graduate-level economics, and also how to do fundamental things like solve an optimization problem, do comparative statics, or think about economic uncertainty in a rigorous way. Your macroeconomics sequence (Econ 6130 in the fall and Econ 6140 in the spring) is basically an introduction to dynamic modeling and a presentation of some of the key static and dynamic models in the field. Your Mathematics for Economists class (Econ 6170) is mainly focused on mathematical problem solving, though the material it conveys is also very important in other classes and for all economists to know. Your Econometrics I class (Econ 6190) is mainly focused on conveying the essential things you "need to know" in probability and statistics, both for later work in econometrics, and also for other theory courses.

In second semester, the focus shifts a little, with more emphasis on materials that can be mapped into real economic modeling and analysis. The microeconomics course in general equilibrium theory (Econ 6100), builds off of Microeconomics I, and in the end provide you with a broad look at much of the foundational material in microeconomics that is used by researchers in every imaginable area of economics. Your Econometrics II course gives a broad (and very fast) overview of many of the important topics in econometric theory (i.e. regression analysis). You may be asked to come up with, work on and present (both orally and in written form) a small empirical project, to demonstrate that you are capable of finding, organizing and analyzing economic data.

Most students take all eight of these core courses (three in micro, two each in macro and econometrics, and one in mathematical economics) during the first year. The exceptions are usually students who pass out of the math course or the first econometrics course. All course planning advice should come from the faculty, and especially our graduate director, Prof. Levon Barseghyan. Please talk to Prof. Barseghyan and/or senior faculty in the relevant area if you want to discuss your course planning further, and they can be extremely helpful in general. Remember, the department wants you to succeed.

If you are taking all four courses in you first semester, you will have two lectures per day of one hour and fifteen minutes each from Monday through Thursday. Lectures are taught by one of the faculty. On top of this, you will have four sections on Friday, again one hour and fifteen minutes each, which are taught by TAs (usually upper-years Econ Ph.D. students). Fridays give you an opportunity to look at material again from a different (often more directly applied and exam-relevant) perspective. But the biggest drain on your time will be problem sets, which are assigned on roughly a weekly basis in each class. Once you start having four problem sets a week, you may occasionally need to sacrifice a lot to get through these. Do get through them though – give each problem set the attention it deserves because solving problem sets is the primary way to learn graduate-level material.

One other thing you might not expect is the number of students in your classes. Beyond your core group of twenty-or-so first-year economics Ph.D. students, you will have about as many other students from other departments or academic levels. The next biggest group will be students from the Applied Economics and Management (AEM) department, who are required to pass our microeconomics qualifying exam, and also pass a semester of macro. There will also be small bunches of students from other Ph.D. or masters programs – in Policy Analysis and Management, Business, Finance, certain areas of engineering, etc. There are also students who are re-taking some of the first-year classes for various reasons. And finally, you'll usually see a couple of ambitious undergrads taking the Ph.D.-level courses.

How to Study

You're here, right? So you must know something about how to study. Yet sometimes the techniques that got you here may not necessarily be the ones that will carry you through successfully. Remember, Ph.D. means Doctor of Philosophy – which carries the implication that the holders of such degrees will have acquired knowledge at a level deeper than simple short- term memorization. It means the ability not just to understand material, or even to respond to specific (familiar) questions, but to compare, contrast and criticize various theories and arguments, and to be able to contribute to that knowledge and convey one's insights to others. Acquiring such mastery, especially within the mathematical framework of mainstream economics, requires time, practice and hard work, and you will need to develop a system that works best for you in your first year. Here are some things that have worked well for others:

• Take problem sets (very) seriously. Perhaps the most important skill you need to develop in the first-year is the ability to understand and solve challenging economic problems (usually with mathematical content). Your ability to learn the skill of problem solving and proving mathematical results will help you succeed in your class exams, qualifying exams, and ultimately in your future research. Whenever you are faced with a problem (or something you don't understand in a lecture or in your reading), try to figure it out yourself. Then, try to look it up. Failing that, go to your peers (eg. your study group) or the TA. Then go back to it. If all else fails, see the professor.
• Learn how topics fit together and develop your intuition. Hopefully you will notice throughout the year that some approaches and concepts reappear many times through the eight courses in your first year. The sooner that you find these links the more successful you will be. The Microeconomics qualifying exam is known for introducing material that you haven't seen before – but it is more about applying concepts you have seen to new areas. If you are able to see this link, it will make your life easier through your first year, on qualifying exams, and looking at research projects.
• Form a study group. At Cornell there is no quota on how many students can pass the qualifying exams. This means that students are not in direct (only relative or indirect) competition with each other. This means that you can leverage thetremendous learning benefit of regularly studying with peers. It is difficult to overemphasize the benefit you can derive from being able to discuss problems, see how other people do things, and get hints and help with places where you are stuck. Try to find a good group of people that you can work well with, and plan a regular (eg. weekly, bi-weekly, etc.) meeting time. Some people insist that they learned more in graduate school from their study group and peers than from their lectures.
• Work on your own before meeting your study group. Your study group should be there to leverage the knowledge of your classmates – but not to replace working out problems on your own. There is tremendous value in struggling through material on your own before going to your study group for help. If you don't try problems on your own first, you will be unable to learn from your mistakes and the same mistakes are likely to reappear on your exams. As noted before, struggling through the material to the point of defolicating yourself before you actually understand it is fairly common.
• How much should you read? This is a personal thing. Just be aware that there are (quickly) diminishing returns to underlining and highlighting. Academic economists will tell you that it is best to read (eg. textbooks, articles, etc.) with a pencil in hand and some paper close by, and to try to jump ahead and solve the math yourself whenever possible and practical while you read. Such discipline will benefit you later on. In a similar vein, don't overload yourself with study materials. While some people find it helpful to supplement their primary textbooks with other texts or resources, getting different viewpoints will not replace deeply digesting the material in one book.
• See your TAs. TAs are some of the greatest resources your courses have to offer – students experienced in the courses, and with time available to help you through your difficulties. Try to talk to them regularly, even about things you think you understand, to reinforce your knowledge and understanding. You should read their problem set solutions to learn new ways to solve problems. On the other hand, do not overtax TAs – they are also not private tutors, and as a Ph.D. student you are expected to put in the necessary effort to figure things out yourself. So, don't be surprised if a TA occasionally seems surprised at something you don't understand or says that ‘this should be obvious from …'. If it isn't obvious to you ask for clarification or another text or notes where you could find a more detailed exposition. The main thing to remember here is, don't wait until it's too late to ask for help. Better to ask early than be sorry later. Don't suffer in silence! Also, do not be embarrassed if others in your class seem to be breezing through and you are struggling. If they are it is extremely likely because they have seen this exact material before, for example in a Master's program somewhere and not because they are smart and you are dumb.
• The style of learning in a Ph.D. program is different from undergrad. You will often need multiple encounters with the material to develop mastery. This may come through lecture, TA sections, reading, problem sets, discussion with peers and further examination of the concepts. But effort spent in mastering economic theory will yield tremendous benefits in your future research career no matter what area you specialize in.
• It is important to avoid the big pitfall of looking at others' solutions to old exams (Q or in- semester) before or while trying to solve them yourself. This typically leads to memorization and not understanding. A pitfall being that you can then very easily get stuck in a new problem (in your exam) that follows the same theme as the ones you have solved but has a different twist than the previous one. This also means that you need to be able to learn from your mistakes. You will fall down at some points, but stay positive and learn to analyze what went wrong and how to fix it.
• What difference do grades make? Certainly, you shouldn't take them as seriously as you have been trained to in the past. They are definitely a nice signal of your progress and understanding of the material, and your ability to take exams under pressure (which we must all do on the qualifying exam). However, do not take them too seriously. If you do well, do not get overconfident, because there is always more to learn. If you do not do as well as you would like, know that almost everybody in the program has struggled at certain points or in certain classes. Sometimes, a bad exam is just a fluke and nothing more, which can occur for various reasons. And in the end, grades are a noisy predictor of ultimate success in research.In any case, as long as you are really learning and internalizing the material, you will be fine on the qualifying exams, and having passed those, the first-year will be largely forgotten anyway (although hopefully the material won't…).
• Time management. Of course, this is key. You must find a system that works for you. If you've made it this far, you probably have. If not, try to get advice on this from other students.
• A very good suggestion for digesting material is to review your class notes within a few hours after the lectures. One way to do this is by going through in detail, trying to "fill in the blanks" and construct many simple and complex examples based on the material. You will find that the material you learn successively builds up, so it is good to build on a solid foundation from the start, even if things seem somewhat easy at first. It is amazing how easy it is to think that you have understood something, when you really didn't, so try to work with the material frequently.
• One technique for internalizing knowledge that works well for some students is to write up a "summary" of the material leading up to an exam (or keeping a running summary). The idea is to write up a briefer summary of the material in your own words, highlighting the most important points. This can be both a great way to go over material and force yourself to write and think, and also can provide great "crib sheets" for later review.
• Don't hide under the veil of "not realistic." Many first years complain that this and that model or theory is not real-world based, or they don't make any real-world sense. Good students look to the core, find the objectives of the models, and assess the model on how it addresses such objectives. Bear in mind, there ain't no "General Theory of the Real World." We can only provide snapshots of whatever phenomena we are interested in. If you don't want to believe the theories, fine. But you should know that a lot of these works have great motivations behind them, not only mathematical curiosity.
• A big determinant of your success will be the attitude you take to your studies – try to stay positive as much as possible. Try to see ways in which the material you are learning can be useful later. A wide and deep knowledge of economic theory will benefit you no matter what future research you do (including applied or empirical work) – it will provide you with tools and structures that allow you to communicate and analyze ideas more rigorously, effectively and professionally.

The "Q's"

There are three qualifying exams (or Qs, qualifying exams, quals, etc.), one in econometrics, one in microeconomics, and one in macroeconomics. They are usually given in the second week of June and again in early August. The exams are four hours long, and consist of graduate-level economic problem solving. They will be chosen roughly from the areas of study you have covered in your core micro and macro classes, though you will usually also see stuff you "haven't seen before."

If you want to make normal progress in the program, you need to pass them by the end of your first year, and this is your primary responsibility in the first year. However, most people pass them, and you should not let yourself be overwhelmed by the thought of them.

Here are some brief suggestions on things you can do to prepare throughout the year:

• Learn the material in your classes. This is the best thing you can do. Don't just study hard leading up to prelims and finals – master and internalize material as much as possible (mainly by independently solving problems), because it is hard to review a whole year's material in the two weeks between May finals and the Qs.
• You can ask the Graduate Field Assistant to share with you a Box folder containing the past 10 years of Q exams sometime later on in the fall. One technique is to use Q problems relevant to the exams in your classes as exam-prep materials. Since 10 years of Qs means about 120 micro problems and 80 macro problems (though not all relevant), it can be useful to start early, though don't panic and start too early. Another technique is to use your breaks as time for Q prep (eg. a couple weeks in January, spring break, etc.). Another is to set aside a little time each week in second semester to study for Qs.
• Don't worry about what other people are doing. How you chose to study for the Qs is a personal choice, and everybody has their own study habits that work for them. There is no right or wrong way to study (except, of course, not studying). It is important to decide what will work for you, even if it is different from what your classmates are doing.
• Don't get stressed over the numbers. You will hear various figures about pass rates in previous years' Q exams. Remember, these are meaningless. The exam is not graded on a curve, and the faculty grading the exam does not have a target pass rate. All you can do is study as well as possible throughout the entire academic year, and set yourself up to perform at your best on the exam.
• The last two weeks before June Qs are a good time to go back over your weaknesses and prep. Use them well. One successful strategy is to regularly (eg. daily) take full 4-hour practice Q exams, especially if you are not familiar with the experience and physical challenge of taking longer exams. One part of success in the Q is the ability to deal with the time pressure in the exam and pace yourself, yet solve problems relatively quickly and efficiently. You need to learn this skill, and it takes practice. Plus, doing practice exams gets you to solve more practice problems, and gives you something to go over with your study group.
• The Qs are ultimately about showing the faculty that you're ready to move on in the program and do research. This means, as discussed above, the ability to tackle, solve and analyze original problems (broadly understood). In many cases, the professors care as much about your ability to set up a problem, and "see" the solution, or apply economic intuition, as anything. Therefore, students who get into the Q and sit down and try to simply write whatever comes to mind, as quickly as possible, tend to be less successful.
• You are allowed to take food and water into the exam, and this can also help one stay fresh and energized.
• It's not the end of the world if you don't pass in June. It happens. Don't count on passing the June Qs – i.e. don't pack your summer with plans, because that only puts on extra pressure. Do whatever you can to take the pressure off so you can go in and do your best.
• Get advice from other students and faculty on what and how to study for the Qualifying exams throughout the year if you feel that will help. You will find people very forthcoming with advice (since everyone here has gone through the Q process at some time), but remember that everyone learns differently and you will find a schedule that you are comfortable with.

Don't worry too much about Qs right now. The upper-years graduate students in the department will probably provide you with more information and advice on Qs specifically, in the spring.

Life in the Department

Hopefully, you will enjoy life in the department, and find your place. You will find that the grad students and faculty at Cornell are generally a friendly, though socially diverse, group. Quite early on you will hear about the Graduate Student Association For Economics (GSAFE), which is essentially the "student government" inside the department. GSAFE is traditionally made up of second-year students, who take on social and academic responsibilities like organizing departmental parties and grad student gatherings, representing the department on graduate student committees in the university, and acting as a liaison between the grad students and the faculty in the department. Take advantage of the events and other things that GSAFE organizes. The "graduate student union" at Cornell is the Big Red Barn, which is conveniently located within a 1-minute walk from Uris Hall. There are various grad student-oriented events held there, and the Friday afternoon T.G.I.F. ("tell grads it's Friday") is particularly popular with Econ Ph.D. students. Oftentimes upper-year students won't get to know you unless you get involved or introduce yourselves. But they do enjoy the chance to talk, so make use of their presence.

Unlike some programs, economics has quite a structured and focused first-year. Most, if not all, of your first-year courses are explicitly mapped out, and there is a specific target to focus on – passing qualifying exams. For this reason, the interaction between grad students and professors is usually not as extensive in the first year as in other doctoral programs. Sure, you may interact with your professors in regards to the courses, but serious discussions about research and advisement usually happen after the first year. So don't be disappointed about this, but still take the chance to get to know who's doing work in areas you're interested in, and what field courses you might like to take in subsequent years.

If you are empirical, talk to empirical professors once in a while too. They'll provide comforting and great advice for people heading towards that direction (even what you should look to gain from first year classes). Empirical and applied people should also find the Johnson School of Business, AEM, ILR (Industrial and Labor Relations), and PAM (Policy Analysis and Management) comforting as places to meet faculty and students with similar interests, take future classes, and perhaps find a TA-ship.

Finally, one of the department's big gifts to its graduate students is an awesome seminar program. There are weekly presentations from star economists in Micro and Macro Theory, Econometrics, Development, Labor, Applied Micro, Public Economics, Policy Analysis and more. Seminars are scheduled throughout the week, usually at 4:00 pm, and (for the most part) classes are timed so as not to conflict with seminars. Attendance at a weekly seminar is only required as of third year, but you should not view them as a chore. In first year you will not generally have the time to go to a presentation regularly, but you are certainly welcome to attend them and we would encourage you to go to at least one or two presentations in each semester. Remember that there is life after the Qs and you will ultimately be judged on your ability to make the transition from student to researcher – getting a feel for the research done by top-name economists in your area of interest is an integral part of this process.

Being Successful Isn't Just About Studying

Do not take this point too lightly. While some of you may have Herculean visions of prolific studying exploits, in reality you do need to rest, as hard as that may seem at times. First of all, from the standpoint of a simple cost-benefit analysis, you are human, and therefore to perform at your peak you need to have reasonable amounts of sleep and rest. While it is true that you can push yourself for periods of time (and this is certainly necessary at certain times), you also need to listen to your body. Secondly, some of you may come here with families, significant others, etc., and they'll still want to hear from you and spend time with you. You may have a religious affiliation, and it can be nice to stay connected to that community during a trying year. And finally, rest time gives your brain time to subconsciously absorb and digest material. So if you find yourself studying 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, you probably need to think twice about your study habits and how efficiently you are using your time. Making new friends at Cornell is also important. However, while socializing is important, partying is not. Use your Cornell friends for human contact and social support, but make sure that your social life does not take energy away from studying.

Going through a Ph.D. program is not only an academic challenge – it is a mental, emotional and psychological challenge, too. It is perfectly normal if sometime in the next few months you find yourself questioning your abilities, your decision to come here, why in the world anyone would care about the stuff you're learning, or any other common feeling. Know this: you are not alone. Don't let disappointing grades, hard material, frustrating lecturers, or personal stresses get you down too much. Remember, the first year is important for your life as economist, but it is not everything. Seek help if you need it – your fellow grad students can be good sounding boards, and in a more difficult situation you can try to talk to someone at the Counseling Centre in Gannett Health Service. There is no question that this program is hard – it should be. Do what you need to do to be at your best.

Another good habit is to try to exercise regularly. Be realistic about this – some people come here with overly ambitious plans about athletic endeavors, and in many cases you will have to choose studying over the sports or activities you enjoy. But at the same time, try to find time a couple times every week to at least get out, have a walk, go for a jog, go dancing, or play a sport. Talk to other grad students about the activities available in and around Ithaca and Cornell.

To Research Or Not to Research

Some of you will come here with a research background and will be eager to continue that work. Others might have ideas they want to start exploring early on. Ultimately, research is what we are here for – not exams, problems sets, or listening to lectures. But the research frontier in economics has high technical demands, and to reach it we need preparation and study. That is what the first-year is mostly about.

Some professors and grad students will tell you that you should be thinking about research ideas and working on things in your first year. They will say that you should try to attend seminars (see above). These are all good things to try to do, as long as you are fulfilling your primary responsibility in the first-year – preparing to pass the qualifying exam. Some would say that attending seminars and doing your own research provides extra motivation and energy to master the tools thrown at you in the classes, especially if you find places where they can overlap. Others might say that it can be a distraction, and the attitude needed for research is different than that needed to master the large body of material thrown at you in first-year. This is ultimately something you must decide on your own, but it is good to seek multiple opinions and experiment. Usually, one's first attempts at research are rather weak and unsuccessful, and so it can be nice to get such attempts out of the way early, for more successful progress in second and subsequent years. Or as some faculty and students put it, ‘the first paper is crap anyway'. Additionally, being able to get something out of seminars is something that takes time (they generally involve presentations of technical, frontier-level research, and so if you only understand 10% of what is said in your first few seminars, that is quite normal), and so again, starting early can get you ahead of the game later on.

Taking Advantage of Cornell Resources

One of the great things about being at a world-class research university is the great set of resources at your disposal, in terms of people, technology, and other support. Right when you arrive on campus, you will receive information about things like library tours and computing classes. When it comes time to write your paper for Econometrics II, you can look into taking econometric software classes in programs like Stata and SAS through CISER (Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research), and sign up for a CISER computing account that allows you online access to most of the leading econometric software packages from almost anywhere in the world.

One thing that some graduate students do is apply to use a "carrel" at Olin library. Applications for new grad students are in late August, and a carrel is basically a desk that you get first priority over. You can see them if you go to the stacks in Olin library and walk to the sides of the library near the windows. Depending on how you like to study, this can be a convenient place to do most of your work, or at least have a place to stop by and get work done during the day. Unless you are a TA or RA in your first year, you will not have a proper office assignment in the Economics Department, so a carrel can be a useful alternative. The application is free but competitive, so look up the library web page early to find out about the application process.

In future years (or for some students, in first year), you might take advantage of courses offered in other departments like Mathematics, Statistics or Operations Research, or even Regional Planning, Sociology, Psychology, Government, Computing, Information Science or any other, within Cornell's motto of "any person, any study." You might attend lectures and talks in these other departments.

We hope that this document has provided you with a useful head start on the first year. We all know that it is challenging, but you need to know that it is worth it. To achieve excellence in any field, one needs to master the fundamentals, and that is what the first year is all about. Yes, it requires discipline and diligence, but keep the end-goal in mind – the opportunity to pursue the interests and areas that first fascinated you about economics, but now with a whole new set of tools and language with which to do so.

Ph.D. Program

Make an impact: The intellectual rigor from researchers associated with Yale Economics drives innovations in domestic and international policy.

• Requirements

Yale's Department of Economics offers a challenging and rigorous academic program, a distinguished and accessible faculty, and a friendly, supportive environment for study.

Our core teaching faculty of 66 is supported by a diverse group of visiting professors and graduate student teaching assistants, making it one of the largest economics departments in the United States with one of the highest teacher/student ratios for the 130 Ph.D. students in residence.

The Department of Economics also has close ties with professional schools in related fields, such as the Yale School of Management, the Yale School of the Environment, and the Yale School of Public Health, where many of its secondary faculty members teach. It also works with affiliated centers, including the Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, the Economic Growth Center, and the newly created Tobin Center for Economic Policy . 

• The Program
• Prospective Students
• Milestones and Timeline
• Student Resources
• Student Directory

Our Program

Yale's economics faculty embraces a broad range of research and teaching interests. Courses and seminars span a wide spectrum of economics, from dynamic structural models to field experiments. Our students apply econometric and data analytic methods to a variety of subjects in macroeconomics, labor economics and finance. Our courses examine critical economic policy issues, including antitrust and environmental regulation. Our focus is global, spanning the United States and developed economies to the developing nations of Latin America, Asia and Africa. Whatever your interest, our faculty is ready to guide you through a wide offering of more than a hundred regular courses, seminars or workshops, combined with individually tailored reading and research courses to best prepare you for your Ph.D. research and dissertation.

Our faculty is eclectic in methodologies and views of economics. There is no Yale dogma or school. You will acquire a critical perspective on the full range of approaches to macroeconomics. You will be well trained in neoclassical theory and in the theory of public choice, externalities and market failures. You will master the skills of sophisticated modern econometrics and understand pitfalls in its applications. You will gain respect for the power of contemporary mathematical models and also for history and for the insights of the great economists of the past.  

Fields of Study

Important dates.

Aug. 19, Mon. GSAS New Student Orientation week begins.

Aug. 26, Mon. Add/drop period opens, 8:00 am.

Aug. 28, Wed. Fall-term classes begin.

Full calendar

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Student blogs and videos
• Why Cambridge
• Qualifications directory
• How to apply
• Fees and funding
• Frequently asked questions
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Visiting the University
• Term dates and calendars
• Video and audio
• Find an expert
• Publications
• International Cambridge
• Public engagement
• Giving to Cambridge
• For current students
• For business
• Colleges & departments
• Libraries & facilities
• Museums & collections
• Email & phone search
• Postgraduate Studies
• Faculty of Economics
• Research overview
• Econometrics Research Group - Papers
• Econometrics Research Group - Cambridge Working Papers in Economics
• Microeconomic Theory Research Group - Papers
• Microeconomic Theory Research Group - Cambridge Working Papers in Economics
• Macroeconomics Research Group - Papers
• Macroeconomics Research Group - Cambridge Working Papers in Economics
• Empirical Microeconomics Research Group
• Empirical Microeconomics Research Group - Cambridge Working Papers in Economics
• History Research Group - Cambridge Working Papers in Economics
• Papers and Publications
• Cambridge Working Papers in Economics (CWPE)
• Research Intranet (Raven Login Required)
• The Janeway Institute
• The Keynes Fund
• Research Contact
• People overview
• Noriko Amano-Patiño
• Debopam Bhattacharya
• Florin Bilbiie
• Peter Bossaerts
• Charles Brendon
• Vasco Carvalho
• Tiago Cavalcanti
• Meredith Crowley
• Matthew Elliott
• Aytek Erdil
• Robert Evans
• Elisa Faraglia
• Leonardo Felli
• Dr Sebastian Graves
• Eric French
• Edoardo Gallo
• Tripos supervisions
• Chryssi Giannitsarou
• Selected Articles
• Working Papers
• Popular Press
• Past PhD Students
• Invited Lectures
• Christopher Harris
• Economics of Religion in India Book
• Demography Book
• Oliver Linton
• An old link to some of my papers
• A poem by Robert Graves
• Christopher Rauh
• Bryony Reich
• Alexander Rodnyansky
• Mikhail Safronov
• Gabriella Santangelo
• Flavio Toxvaerd
• Julius Vainora
• Some Recent Articles
• Research Projects
• Efficiency Assessment
• Supervisions
• Constantine Yannelis
• Weilong Zhang
• Ivano Cardinale
• Giancarlo Corsetti
• William H Janeway
• Pierre Mella-Barral
• Theofanis Papamichalis
• Simona Paravani
• Mark Salmon
• Patrick Allmis
• Nazanin Babolmorad
• Seda Basihos
• Leonard Bocquet
• Daniele Cassese
• George Charlson
• Chuan-Han Cheng
• Megan Haasbroek
• Fergal Hanks
• Joris Hoste
• Konstantinos Ioannidis
• Caroline Liqui Lung
• Antonis Ragkousis
• Jason Schoeters
• Jerome Simons
• Robert Woods
• Michael Ashby
• Victoria Bateman
• Francisco Beltran
• Collin Constantine
• Yujiang River Chen
• Rupert Gatti
• Emanuele Giovannetti
• Pauline Goyal-Rutsaert
• Myungun Kim
• Nigel Knight
• Vasileios Kotsidis
• Domique Lauga
• Kamiar Mohaddes
• Mary Murphy
• Dario Palumbo
• Cristina Peñasco
• Cristiano Ristuccia
• Isabelle Roland
• Julia Shvets
• Oleh Stupak
• Simon Taylor
• Anna Watson
• Publications - Since 2001
• Interviews and Lectures
• Jeremy Edwards
• Refereed Papers
• Other Publications
• Work in Progress
• Selected Publications
• Downloadable Publications
• Economics as Social Theory
• Sir James Mirrlees
• Downloadable Conference Presentations
• Regulation, Privatisation, Energy, Electricity
• Transport: Road and Rail
• Risk, Industrial Organisation, Optimal Growth, Dynamic Inconsistency
• Taxation, Public finance, Cost-benefit analysis
• Transition Economies and Development
• Recent Conference Presentations
• Jose Gabriel Palma
• Published Articles
• Forthcoming Papers
• Newspaper, Magazine and Online Articles
• Forewords/Prefaces
• Book Reviews
• Unpublished Papers
• Lecture Audio, Video and Podcast Recordings
• Archive Working Papers
• Biographical
• Biographical (long version)
• William Peterson
• Bob Rowthorn
• Honours and Awards
• Geoff Whittington
• Selection Committee
• Academic Staff - A to E
• Academic Staff - F to H
• Academic Staff - I to M
• Academic Staff - N to Q
• Academic Staff - R to V
• Academic Staff - W to Z
• Academic Staff - Office Hours
• Past Visitors
• Prospective Academic Visitors Information
• Application Form
• Rules and Categories of Visitors
• Visiting Doctoral Students
• Visiting Students Application Form
• Razan Amine
• Laura Araújo De Freitas
• Marium Ashfaq
• Deniz Atalar
• Kilian Bachmair
• Gerardo Baldo
• Balduin Bippus
• Saru Chaudhary
• Radu Cristea
• Zixuan Deng
• Mar Domenech-Palacios
• Lukas Freund
• Luigi Dante Gaviano
• Guillem Gordo-I-Bach
• Lea Havemeister
• Shengjuan He
• Rebecca Heath
• Christian Höhne
• Darren Hoover
• Benedikt Kagerer
• Kilian Kamkar
• Ganesh Karapakula
• Sean Lavender
• Ana Lleo-Bono
• Fred Seunghyun Maeng
• Shane Mahen
• Fergus McCormack
• Manuel Montesinos
• Mathis Momm
• Jamie Moore
• James Morris
• Shania Mustika
• Cheuk Fai Ng
• Lennart Niermann
• Tianyu Pang
• Charles Parry
• Dmitrii Petrukhin
• Vivek Roy-Chowdhury
• Diogo Salgado Baptista
• Niklas Schmitz
• Kishen Shastry
• Sarah Rose Taylor
• Christian Tien
• Ho-Yung Antonia Tsang
• Carles Vila Martínez
• Yi (Amanda) Wang
• Shu Feng Wei
• Mingmei Xiao
• Yinfeng Zeng
• Mingxi Zhang
• Xiaoxiao Zhang
• Yifan Zhang
• Yiyang Zhang
• Yuting (Tina) Zhang
• Zhaocheng Zhang
• Henning Zschietzschmann
• Professional Services Staff
• Job Market Candidates
• Teaching overview
• University's Blended Learning Site
• Apply overview
• Economics Open Days
• Economics Prospectus
• A Guide for Prospective Students
• Preliminary Part I Reading List
• Why Choose Economics
• Course Description
• Course Structure
• Course Requirements
• How to Apply
• Students Finance
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Entry Requirements
• How and When to Apply
• Finance Overview and Funding
• Core Modules
• Optional Modules
• Applicant Mentoring Programme
• Doctoral Training Partnership
• ESRC Studentships
• Example Course Structure
• Faculty PhD Supervisors
• PhD Modules
• Careers / Placements
• EDGE (European Doctoral Group in Economics)
• Social Events
• Postgraduate Open Day
• Postgraduate Life
• Postgraduate Guide 2023
• Cambridge University Graduate Economics Society
• Economics Postgraduate Fund
• Postgraduate Admissions - Contacts
• The Cambridge Environment
• Introduction to the Faculty
• Student Life
• Alumni overview
• Alumni Newsletter
• Alumni Webinars
• Online Giving
• Faculty Info overview
• Information for Staff (Intranet)
• Find the Faculty
• Provision for Students with Disabilities
• History of the Faculty
• Sheilagh Ogilvie
• Caroline Hoxby
• Joan Robinson
• Women in Economics Events
• Student & Staff Behaviour
• Women in Economics
• Faculty IT Support

PhD in Economics

• Advanced Diploma in Economics
• MPhil in Economics
• MPhil in Economic Research
• MPhil in Finance and Economics
• MPhil in Economics and Data Science

This is the most advanced programme of graduate studies in Economics at Cambridge. Upon its completion, candidates are awarded a PhD degree for producing a thesis of high-quality, original, and publishable research over a period of four years (full-time) and seven years (part-time).

A good number of our PhD students receive full or partial funding for their studies, from a variety of funding bodies, such as the ESRC and the Gates Foundation .

Our PhD students receive high quality training on a variety of research methods and are exposed to cutting edge research conducted by our own Faculty members, as well visitors to the Faculty (via the Cambridge-INET Institute , seminars, PhD workshops, locally organised conferences, etc.). Faculty members can supervise a wide range of topics from six broadly defined research areas: microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, econometrics, applied microeconomics, economic history and alternative approaches to economics.

PhD students in Cambridge benefit from a high faculty-to-student ratio and therefore form close relationships with many Faculty members. They also forge strong links with our post-doctoral researchers, and they actively participate in the Faculty’s vibrant research life. They have access to a wide range of facilities, such as their own desk/office space in the same building as regular Faculty members, computing equipment, a variety of software and access to a wide range of databases.

PhD students are encouraged to attend academic conferences and showcase their research work in a variety of ways. Upon completions of their studies, many of our PhD students become academics, or researchers at international or government research institutions (see recent job market placements here ).

Explore here the profiles of our current PhD students.

To obtain the degree of PhD in Economics, students need to:

1. Obtain the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) . If accepted for the PhD degree, you will be registered initially for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) in Economics. Students registered for the CPGS are required to:

• Attend the 'How to do Economics' lecture course. Other postgraduate courses in research methods are organised by the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Physical Sciences, and are available to all PhD students.  
• Undertake a minimum of four courses from PhD or MPhil Modules from at least two subject areas. You must achieve a pass mark (60%) on each component of the coursework. Students who fail any examinations will be called for a viva on the coursework.

• Write a research proposal (maximum length 10,000 words) that should include a review of the relevant literature, a research question, and outline of a research design and methods. The expectation is that this proposal will be for a piece of research that could form the basis of one chapter of a PhD dissertation. You will be given an oral examination on this piece of work and must perform to a satisfactory standard.  
• Attend (a) one of the three research workshops (on microeconomics, macroeconomics or econometrics) at which research students present both their own work and recent papers in the literature - assessment of workshops will be arranged by course organisers; (b) attend at least one of the Faculty's general seminars in which papers are given both by outside speakers and Faculty members;  
• To be registered for the PhD submit an acceptable piece of research (first year chapter) of not more than 20,000 words. The piece of research submitted must be of a standard that would enable it to form the basis of one-third of your eventual PhD thesis. This means that it must contain research that could be expanded upon to constitute one-third of the PhD thesis.

2. Once upgraded to PhD status, a student concentrates on her or his PhD dissertation. In general the thesis format is either in the form of a book divided into chapters, or of three or more connected articles; in either case, the Faculty has a strict limit of 60,000 words. As research progresses, there will be opportunities to present work in progress at research workshops attended by Faculty members and research students. PhD students will also be required to attend research seminars given by outside speakers and Faculty members. 

Upon completion and submission of the PhD thesis, students do an oral examination (viva) with two examiners, one internal to the University of Cambridge (not the supervisor or research advisor), and one external (from any other University in the UK or the rest of the world).

After a successful thesis defence, the examiners recommend awarding the degree of PhD.

Faculty of Economics Austin Robinson Building Sidgwick Avenue Cambridge CB3 9DD UNITED KINGDOM

Telephone: +44 1223 335200

Fax: +44 1223 335475

Site Privacy & Cookie Policies

Find Us (details and maps)

with University of Cambridge Maps

with Google Maps

Associated Websites

Janeway Institute

COVID-19 Economic Research

Keynes Fund

Application Emails

Undergraduate Admissions: (for enquiries about the BA in Economics) [email protected]

Graduate Admissions: (for enquiries about the Diploma, MPhil and PhD courses) [email protected]

General Emails

Faculty Office: (for all other enquiries) [email protected]

Webmaster: (for enquiries about the website) [email protected]

Marshall Library: [email protected]

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• University A-Z
• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Terms and conditions
• Undergraduate
• Spotlight on...
• About research at Cambridge

About the Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. Program in Economics at UCLA prepares students for careers as economists in academia, business and government. The program combines rigorous work in economic theory and careful study of real-world problems and institutions. Graduates from this program work at major universities around the world, national and international government agencies, banks, research centers and in private businesses. Some of our graduates have achieved great prominence, such as William Sharpe , who earned both his B.A. and Ph.D. degrees at UCLA, and was co-recipient of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on the capital asset pricing model.

The department includes internationally recognized scholars in economic theory, econometrics, and all the major applied fields. These outstanding scholars form one of the foremost departments of economics in the world.

The Economics Department is situated within one of the world’s most youthful and vibrant universities. Founded in 1919, UCLA first developed into a major university in the 1950’s. After so short a history, the university was ranked second in the United States among public research universities by the Conference Board of Associated Research Councils in 1982. Thirty-one of its Ph.D. programs are currently ranked in the top 20 in their field–third best in the nation.

The Ph.D. is the degree objective of the graduate program. This degree is awarded to students who demonstrate professional competence by passing written qualifying exams and by completing a major piece of individual research (the Ph.D. dissertation).

Preparation for the qualifying exams through coursework and independent study occupies most student time for the first two years. Thereafter the focus shifts to independent research and finally to the writing of a Ph.D. dissertation. Research in progress by our graduate students as well as our faculty is presented at workshops that meet weekly throughout the academic year. Currently, the Dept. has workshops in Theory and Mathematical Economics, International and Development Economics, Labor and Population Economics, Business Organization and Regulation Economics, Economic History, Econometrics, and Monetary Theory. In addition, many graduate students work as research or teaching assistants for faculty members. The normal time to degree is six years.

This degree program classifies as STEM (CIP Code 45.0603: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics).

UCLA Department of Economics

8283 Bunche Hall Mail Stop: 147703 Los Angeles, CA 90095

Campus Resources

• Academic Calendar
• Maps, Directions, Parking
• University of California
• Terms of Use
• Injury & Illness Prevention Program

Internal Resources Manager’s Manual Admin Login Webmail (O365 Server) Contact Webmaster

• About the Department
• Administration
• Board of Visitors
• Department Newsletters
• Ladder Faculty
• Courtesy Faculty
• In Memoriam
• Recent Publications
• Research Spotlight
• Overview of Majors
• Declare our Majors
• Degree Planning
• Benjamin Graham Value Investing Program
• Enrollment Procedures
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Student Wellness & Community
• Department of Economics Commencement 2024
• Course Descriptions
• Economics Class Schedule
• Learning Objectives
• Common Syllabus
• Non-UCLA Course Credit
• Econ Summer Courses for 2024
• Departmental Honors
• Departmental Scholar
• Departmental Scholarships
• Career Pathways
• Fellowships
• Career Center
• Internships
• Research Opportunities
• Preparing for a Ph.D. in Economics
• EDI Courses in Economics
• EDI Research
• EDI Resources for Students
• Incoming Undergraduates
• Why Study Economics?
• Freshmen Information
• Transfers Information
• Economics Courses
• Graduate Handbook
• Graduate Student Awards
• Standards and Procedures
• Second Year
• Thesis Writing
• TA Resources
• Job Market Prep
• Grad Econ Association
• Computing Resources
• Placement History
• Job Market Candidates
• Graduate Counseling Office
• Commencement videos
• Alumni Career Engagement
• UCLA Alumni Affairs
• Update Your Information
• Alumni Interviews
• Women in Business
• Proseminars

Curriculum and Thesis

In their first and second years, PhD students are required to complete a series of core classes, coursework in their major and minor fields of study, and an advanced research methods course before proceeding to the thesis-writing stage.

Core courses

Students must satisfy the requirements in at least 10 of 12 half-semester first-year core courses (14.384 and 14.385 are considered second-year courses). The requirements can be met by earning a grade of B or better in the class or by passing a waiver exam.

Waiver exams are offered at the start of the semester in which the course is offered and graded on a pass-fail basis. Students who receive a grade of B- or below in a class can consult the course faculty to determine whether to take the waiver exam or re-take the course the following year. These requirements must all be satisfied before the end of the second year.

Course list

• 14.121: Microeconomic Theory I
• 14.122: Microeconomic Theory II
• 14.123: Microeconomic Theory III
• 14.124: Microeconomic Theory IV
• 14.380: Statistical Methods in Economics
• 14.381: Estimation and Inference for Linear Causal and Structural Models
• 14.382*: Econometrics
• 14.384*: Time Series Analysis (2nd year course)
• 14.385*: Nonlinear Econometric Analysis (2nd year course)
• 14.451: Dynamic Optimization Methods with Applications
• 14.452: Economic Growth
• 14.453: Economic Fluctuations
• 14.454: Economic Crises

*Courses 14.382, 14.384, and 14.385 are each counted as two half-semester courses.

Most students will also take one or more field courses (depending on whether they are waiving core courses) during their first year. Feel free to ask your graduate research officer, field faculty, and advanced students for advice on how you structure your first-year coursework.

Second year students must also successfully complete the two-semester course 14.192: Advanced Research Methods and Communication. The course, which is graded on a pass-fail basis, guides students through the process of writing and presenting the required second-year research paper.

Major field requirement

By the end of year two, PhD students must complete the requirements for two major fields in economics. This entails earning a B or better in two designated courses for each field. Some fields recommend additional coursework or papers for students intending to pursue research in the field.

Major fields must be declared by the Monday following the spring break of your second year. Your graduate registration officer must approve your field selections.

Minor field requirement

PhD students are also required to complete two minor fields, taking two courses in each field and earning a grade of B or better. Your graduate registration officer must approve your field selections.

Minor coursework is normally completed by the end of year two, but in some cases students can defer the completion of one field until after general exams. Students must consult with their graduate registration officer before making a deferment.

Options for minor fields include the eleven economics major fields, plus computation and statistics (from the interdisciplinary PhD in Economics and Statistics).

Students who wish to satisfy one of the minor field requirements by combining two courses from different fields–for example, environmental economics and industrial organization II–can petition the second-year graduate registration officer for permission.

At least one minor field should be from the department’s standard field list.

The fields in which the Department offers specialization and the subjects that will satisfy their designation as a minor field are given in the chart below. Some fields overlap so substantially that both cannot be taken by a student. In any event, the same subject cannot be counted towards more than a single minor field. Students must receive the approval of their Graduate Registration Officer for their designated major and minor fields.

List of fields

Behavioral economics.

• Development
• Econometrics
• Industrial organization
• International
• Macroeconomics
• Organizational
• Political economy
• Public finance
• Computation and statistics (minor only)

Subjects satisfying major and minor requirements

Advanced economic theory.

Major: At least two of 14.125, 14.126, 14.281, and Harvard Ec 2059. Recommended for major: 14.126, 14.281, and at least one of 14.125, 14.127, 14.130, 14.147, and Harvard Ec 2059.

Minor: Any subset adding up to two full semesters from 14.125, 14.126, 14.127, 14.130, 14.137, 14.147, 14.160, 14.281 and Harvard Ec 2059. 

*Effective academic year 2025-26, students may also complete a minor in economic theory by completing all four micro core courses 121-124 plus one of 125, 126, 281

Major and minor: 14.160 and 14.163

Econometrics and Statistics

Major: Any one of 14.386, 14.387, 14.388 in addition to one of 14.384 or 14.385. Recommended for major: 14.384 and 14.385. 

Minor: 14.382 in addition to one of 14.384 or 14.385. 

*Dual PhD in Economics and Statistics has an additional requirement of 14.386.

Economic Development

Major and minor: 14.771 and 14.772 or 14.773

Major: 14.416J and 14.441J

Minor: Any two of 14.416J, 14.440J, 14.441J, 14.442J, 14.448. 

Industrial Organization

Major: 14.271 and 14.272 or 14.273. Recommended for major: 14.271, 14.272, and 14.273.

Minor: 14.271 and 14.272 or 14.273. 

International Economics

Major and minor: 14.581 and 14.582

Labor Economics

Major: 14.661 and 14.662A. 

Minor: Two subjects chosen from 14.193, 14.661, and 14.662

Monetary Economics

Major and minor: Two subjects chosen from 14.461, 14.462, and 14.463

* Effective academic year 2025-26, students may also complete a minor in macroeconomics by completing all four macro core courses 451-454 plus either 461 or 462

Organizational Economics

Major and minor: 14.282 and one of 14.283-284, 14.441J, or an approved substitute

Political Economy

Major and minor: 14.770 and 14.773

Public Economics

Major and minor: 14.471 and 14.472

Minimum class requirement

Effective for students entering the program in 2025 or later, students must complete a total of 13 semester long classes plus 14.192 during their time in the PhD program. Subjects that are waived will not count towards this requirement.  Classes counting towards this requirement include classes in Course 14, classes that count for any major or minor field or interdisciplinary program requirement, and classes approved by the 2nd-year GRO.

General exams

MIT requires doctoral candidates to complete an advanced course of study that includes general exams at its completion. Beginning in 2019-20, the Economics Department will operationalize this requirement to include successful completion of: the core and other required courses; course exams and other requirements of courses in each of a student’s two major and two minor fields; the written research paper and oral presentation components of 14.192. Students may present for the general exams while having one remaining minor field to complete. The faculty will review these components together with the candidate’s overall course record to determine whether students have passed the general exam requirement and can proceed to the thesis writing stage.

Typical course schedule

Math Camp begins on the second Monday in August.

Fall Semester

14.121/14.122 (Micro Theory I/II) 14.451/14.452 (Macro Theory I/II) 14.380/14.381 (Statistical Method in Economics & Applied Econometrics) Field Course (major or minor)

Spring Semester

14.123/14.124 (Micro Theory III/IV) 14.453/14.454 (Macro Theory III/IV) 14.382 (Econometrics) Field Course (major or minor)

2-3 Field Courses 14.192 (Advanced Research and Communication) 14.384  or  14.385 (Advanced Econometrics)

3 Field Courses 14.192 (Advanced Research and Communication)

Years 3 and up

Field workshop Field lunch Thesis writing

Upon satisfying the core and field requirements, PhD candidates embark on original research culminating in a completed dissertation. A PhD thesis normally consists of three research papers of publishable quality. The thesis must be approved by a student’s primary and secondary thesis advisors, and by an anonymous third reader. These three faculty members will be the candidate's thesis committee and are responsible for its acceptance. Collaborative work is acceptable and encouraged, but there must be at least one paper in the dissertation without a co-author who was a faculty member when the research started.

Criteria for satisfactory progress

Third-year students.

• Meet regularly with their advisor
• Participate consistently in their primary field advising lunch, their primary field workshop, and the third-year student research lunch
• Participate in third-year meetings organized by the thesis graduate research officer

Students should present on their research in progress at least once in both the third-year student research lunches and their field advising lunch. Presentations provide opportunities for early and broad feedback on research ideas and the chance to develop oral presentation skills. Research ideas or early stage work in progress is encouraged and expected.

Fourth-year and later students

• Participate consistently in their primary field advising lunch and their primary field workshop
• Present at least once per year in their field advising lunch or field workshop. A presentation each semester in the field advising lunch is strongly recommended by most fields; consult your advisors for more information

Satisfactory progress toward a dissertation will be evaluated based on progress assessments by the student’s primary advisor, regular participation in the lunches and workshops, and field lunch or workshop presentations that show continued progress.

• Departments and Units
• Majors and Minors
• LSA Course Guide
• LSA Gateway

Search: {{$root.lsaSearchQuery.q}}, Page {{$root.page}}

• News and Events
• Commencement
• Undergraduates
• Doctoral Program
• Master of Applied Economics
• Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics
• Economics Subfields at Michigan
• Alumni and Friends

• Masters Program
• Academic Resources & Policies
• Commencement & Graduation
• Events for Economics Majors
• Undergraduate Student Groups
• Requirements for the Major and Minor
• Awards & Scholarships
• Email Group
• Featured Alumni
• Transfer Students, Credits, & Study Abroad
• Awards & Fellowships
• Graduate Student Research
• Past Job Market Placements
• Links for Current PhD Students
• PhD Application Process
• Graduate Student Groups
• Joint Programs
• Job Market Candidates
• PhD Application FAQs
• Core Coursework
• MAE Application Process
• MAE Student Advising
• Graduate Economics Society
• Program Requirements
• MAE Student Spotlights
• Visiting Scholars
• Faculty Research
• Economic Impact Analyses
• Economic Outlook Conference
• Related Links
• Subscriptions
• Demographics and Long-Term Forecasts
• Economics Research in the Department
• Field Research Seminars
• U-M Community of Economists
• Economics Research at U-M
• Foster Library
• Economics Resource Links
• Microeconomic Theory
• International Economics
• Industrial Organization
• Health Economics
• Behavioral and Experimental Economics
• Macroeconomics
• Public Finance
• Development Economics
• Economics of Education
• Law and Economics
• Econometrics
• Labor Economics
• Economic History
• Economics of Crime and Punishment
• Gift Giving
• The W.S. Woytinsky Lecture
• Econ Mentoring (Formerly EARN)
• Opportunities to Engage
• U-M Resource Links
• Celebrating Jim Adams
• Economics Leadership Council (ELC)
• In Memoriam

Why Michigan?

The discipline of economics has become increasingly technical, focused on arcane abstractions, often failing to connect with the messiness of economics as it works in the “real” world. Michigan stands apart as a department which champions the view that the cutting-edge theoretical and empirical methods of economics can and should be used for understanding and improving the world in which we live. The faculty of the Department of Economics is committed to pursuing economic knowledge that contributes to solving significant social problems. The commitment to applied, relevant economics does not shun the development of new theoretical or statistical methods. Rather, rigorous analysis of problems requires fresh insights from theory and econometrics.

Michigan is a full-service department, offering fields in virtually all specializations of modern economics including microeconomic theory, econometrics, macroeconomics, finance, history, international economics, development, public finance, industrial organization, labor, and natural resources. Many faculty, and the students who work with them, collaborate with other programs on campus including the Ford School of Public Policy, the School of Public Health, the Institute for Social Research, the Ross School of Business, and the School of Information. With over 50 faculty actively engaged in research in the department, and an equal number in other programs on campus, graduate students can pursue a wide variety of specializations.

Career development

Michigan is rightfully proud of its placement record. For decades, every doctoral student that has graduated from the Department of Economics has obtained a position working as a professional economist. Many have gone on to careers in academic institutions. Others have pursued careers in public policy or at premier liberal arts colleges. What explains our success in placement? First, our students are well trained. Michigan students leave the program with expertise in economics as it is practiced in the top research and teaching institutions in the world. Second, we run a comprehensive placement service that prepares students for interviews, seminars, and campus visits. Third, preparation for the job market is a multi-year process that begins the day students enter our program.

Ann Arbor is a great place to live (Don’t believe us? Check out the variety of rankings of our city! ), and the department is a great place to work. Faculty and graduate students are actively present in Lorch Hall. The department runs more weekly departmental seminars and student brown bags than it is possible to attend. The Graduate Economic Society is an active student organization that participates in setting policies for the graduate program and sponsors various activities designed to broaden the outlook and perspective of students as prospective Ph.D. economists.

The University of Michigan is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse faculty and student body that reflect a wide range of cultures, ethnicities, perspectives and experiences. We believe that a wealth of knowledge comes from our students’ backgrounds, their educational history, their gender, their prior work/research experience and a variety of experiences. Graduates of the doctoral program have come from countries across the globe and from all regions of the United States.

Want to join us?

Admission is limited to students whose record shows a capacity for advanced work in the field of economics. An economics major is not a prerequisite, but some previous training in economics is essential. Training in calculus, linear algebra, differential equations and probability and statistics is also essential. Grades received in these courses are important factors in the admission decision. When appraising an applicant's scholarly promise, the faculty considers the academic record as well as letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, the results of the Graduate Record Examination and other experience.

Please see further information on our   Application Process   and   FAQs  on how to best prepare an application to the University of Michigan’s Economics PhD program!

Office Hours: M-F 8 am - 4:30pm

• Information For
• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Faculty and Staff
• More about LSA
• How Do I Apply?
• LSA Magazine
• Student Resources
• Academic Advising
• Global Studies
• LSA Opportunity Hub
• Social Media
• Update Contact Info
• Privacy Statement
• Report Feedback

• Harvard Business School →
• Doctoral Programs →
• PhD Programs
• Accounting & Management

Business Economics

• Health Policy (Management)
• Organizational Behavior
• Technology & Operations Management
• Program Requirements

Curriculum & Coursework

Research dissertation, areas of specialization.

• Behavioral Economics
• Development
• Econometrics
• Economic History
• Economic Theory
• Economics of Organization
• Entrepreneurship
• Industrial Organization
• International Economics
• Labor Economics
• Macroeconomics
• Political Economy
• Public Economics
• Organizational Economics

Fanele Mashwama

Sagar Saxena

“ HBS is the ideal environment because I get to think about the world like an economist, but I have the freedom and resources to draw on methods from other disciplines as I study market design and industrial organization. ”

Current Harvard Economics Faculty

• Pol Antràs
• Robert Barro
• Emily Breza
• John Y. Campbell
• Raj Chetty
• Gabriel Chodorow-Reich
• Richard Cooper
• David M. Cutler
• Melissa Dell
• Karen Dynan
• Benjamin Enke
• Richard B. Freeman
• Benjamin M. Friedman
• Roland G. Fryer, Jr.
• Xavier Gabaix
• Edward Glaeser
• Claudia Goldin
• Benjamin Golub
• Gita Gopinath
• Oliver Hart
• Elhanan Helpman
• Dale Jorgenson
• Myrto Kalouptsidi
• Maximilian Kasy
• Lawrence Katz
• Gabriel Kreindler
• David Laibson
• Robin S. Lee
• N. Gregory Mankiw
• Stephen Marglin
• Eric S. Maskin
• Marc Melitz
• Jeffrey Miron
• Ariel Pakes
• Amanda Pallais
• Matthew Rabin
• Gautam Rao
• Kenneth Rogoff
• Amartya Sen
• Neil Shephard
• Andrei Shleifer
• Stefanie Stantcheva
• Jeremy Stein
• James Stock
• Ludwig Straub
• Tomasz Strzalecki
• Lawrence H. Summers
• Elie Tamer
• Winnie Van Dijk
• David Yang

Current HBS Faculty

• Laura Alfaro
• Samuel B. Antill
• Brian K. Baik
• Malcolm P. Baker
• John Beshears
• Alberto F. Cavallo
• Katherine B. Coffman
• Lauren H. Cohen
• Shawn A. Cole
• Joshua D. Coval
• Mihir A. Desai
• Mark L. Egan
• Benjamin C. Esty
• C. Fritz Foley
• Stuart C. Gilson
• Paul A. Gompers
• Jerry R. Green
• Shane M. Greenstein
• Robin Greenwood
• Brian J. Hall
• Samuel G. Hanson
• Victoria Ivashina
• Ebehi Iyoha
• Robert S. Kaplan
• William R. Kerr
• Tarun Khanna
• Raymond P. Kluender
• Jacqueline Ng Lane
• Josh Lerner
• Edward McFowland III
• David A. Moss
• Joseph Pacelli
• Matthew Rabin
• Sophus A. Reinert
• Forest L. Reinhardt
• Meg Rithmire
• Clayton S. Rose
• Benjamin N. Roth
• Raffaella Sadun
• David S. Scharfstein
• Joshua R. Schwartzstein
• Arthur I Segel
• Emil N. Siriwardane
• Adi Sunderam
• Boris Vallee
• Luis M. Viceira
• Matthew C. Weinzierl
• Dennis A. Yao

Current Business Economics Students

• Maxim Alekseev
• Sage Belz
• Fiona Chen
• Cameron Cohen
• Jorge Colmenares
• Terry Culpepper
• Cameron Deal
• Songyuan Ding
• Jo Ellery
• Aristotle Epanomeritakis
• Simon Essig Aberg
• Toren Fronsdal
• Jacob Furst
• Jay Garg
• Jeffrey Gortmaker
• Shlok Goyal
• Helene Hall
• Ruru (Juan Ru) Hoong
• Catherine Huang
• Baiyun Jing
• Nathan Kaplan
• Justin Katz
• Lev Klarnet
• Shira Li
• Iris Li
• Alex Magnuson
• Fanele Mashwama
• Marcela Mello
• Laura Nicolae
• Saketh Prazad
• Lauren Rice
• Maya Roy
• Dominic Russel
• Leo Saenger
• Claire Shi
• Wilbur Townsend
• Jennifer Walsh
• Andi Wang
• Cashua Wang
• Katherine Wang
• Alex Wu
• Jeffrey Yang
• Jennifer Zou

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

Recent placement, martin aragoneses, 2024, angela ma, 2024, john conlon, 2023, erica moszkowski, 2023, ran zhuo, 2023, matthew lilley, 2022, david zhang, 2022, karen shen, 2021, ravi jagadeesan, 2020, vitaly bord, 2019, weiling liu, 2019, michael blank, 2024, kunal sangani, 2024, spencer yongwook kwon, 2023, daniel ramos, 2023, francesca bastianello, 2022, frank pinter, 2022, andreas schaab, 2021, edoardo maria acabbi, 2020, michael thaler, 2020, oren danieli, 2019, janelle schlossberger, 2019, jiafeng (kevin) chen, 2024, hanbin yang, 2024, robert minton, 2023, sagar saxena, 2023, talia b. gillis, 2022, ron yang, 2022, gregor schubert, 2021, xiang ding, 2020, christopher anderson, 2019, yizhou jin, 2019.

• University of Kentucky

• Main Menu / Search

PhD in Economics

As a student in our PhD in economics program, you will study with faculty who are experts in their fields, work with bright and capable students, and obtain a vast amount of knowledge of your field. Our PhD program is designed so that the motivated student can make steady progress toward the PhD degree. Professor Carlos Lamarche , Director of Graduate Studies

Quick Links

Economics Department Economics Faculty Current Economics PhD Students Job Market Candidates Initial Placements Selected Alumni Profiles PhD in Economics FAQs

View 2021–2022 Economics PhD Handbook

Admission Guidelines

Admissions are competitive. To be considered for the PhD in Economics program, the applicant must meet the admission guidelines of the Graduate School and Gatton College of Business and Economics.

Degree Requirements

Economic Theory - The student must show competence in economic theory by passing departmental written examinations in Microeconomic Theory and Macroeconomic Theory. These examinations are given twice a year, in January and June, and students must pass both exams at the PhD level. Students failing either exam are allowed a second attempt; those failing on the second attempt are not permitted to continue in the program. The student should take the theory examination at the end of two semesters after entering the program. The theory examination should be taken after completing:

ECO601 - Advanced Microeconomic Theory ECO602 - Macroeconomic Theory ECO701 - Neoclassical Microeconomic Theory ECO702 - Advanced Macroeconomic Theory

OR equivalent courses.

Statistics/Econometrics - Students must demonstrate competence in the area of statistics and econometrics. This competence may be demonstrated by satisfactory performance in the following courses:

ECO603 - Research Methods and Procedures ECO703 - Introduction to Econometrics I ECO706 - Introduction to Econometrics II

ECO707 - Research Seminar in Economics or ECO 790 - Time Series Analysis 

OR by passing a special examination.

Elective Areas -All PhD students must choose two fields of study approved by the student's Advisory Committee. The two fields may be chosen from the following:

• Environmental and Health Economics
• Industrial Organization
• International Economics
• Labor Economics
• Macroeconomics
• Public Economics

Minimum course preparation for each field shall consist of at least two courses as determined by the student's Advisory Committee. In addition to the chosen fields, the student is encouraged to take elective courses in other areas of economics, such as econometrics or economic theory, or in other disciplines such as Agricultural Economics, Finance, Marketing, Mathematics, or Public Administration. Courses in other disciplines must be approved by the DGS of Economics in order for them to count toward the economics elective requirements.

Supporting Work - At least nine hours of supporting course work must be selected. These courses must be approved by the student's Advisory Committee. The supporting work will allow the student to pursue more intensive study of one or both of the two chosen fields, or to pursue courses in other fields of economics. The supporting work cannot consist of 400 or 500 level courses, ECO610 or ECO611, ECO652, or any of the core courses in economic theory (ECO601, ECO602, ECO701, ECO702, ECO704) or econometrics (ECO703, ECO706). Only three of the nine elective hours can be satisfied by taking ECO797.

Grades - A minimum average of grade "B" must be attained in all courses attempted for graduate credit after being admitted to the Graduate School . Students obtaining six quality points below a "B" average will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Qualifying Examination

Written Examination - The written examination must be taken in one of the student's elective fields as part of the requirements for candidacy for the PhD degree. This examination is given twice a year following the year in which the field is offered, in June and, if necessary, in January. The written examination is prepared and graded by specialists in the respective fields. In the event that the student fails the examination, the student's Advisory Committee determines the conditions which must be met before another examination is given. Two failures to pass the written examination constitute failure of the qualifying examination. Students typically take the field exam in June after completing their second year in the program.

Oral examination - After the student has passed the written qualifying examination, the Director of Graduate Studies will, on the advice of the Advisory Committee, schedule an oral examination through the Graduate School which will be administered by the Advisory Committee. The examination will ordinarily consist of the presentation and defense of a dissertation proposal. The student should complete the oral examination prior to the end of the 7th semester in the program.

PhD Dissertation -The dissertation will be based on original research on a significant topic. The dissertation will be defended in an oral examination.

Typical PhD Course Schedule

First Year:

Micro & Macro Prelims are taken in June at the end of the 1st year of coursework.

Second Year:

Written field exams are usually taken in June at the end of 2nd year of coursework.

Third Year:

Dissertation Research and Workshops

Fourth Year:

Frequently Asked Questions

Obtaining your PhD involves a tremendous amount of preparation and hard work. Click the link below for some answers to frequently asked questions about achieving your PhD in Economics.

Gatton College of Business and Economics

550 South Limestone Lexington, KY 40506-0034 United States (859) 257-8936

Doctoral Program

The doctoral program in economics offers a firm grounding in the theory and tools of economics as well as in a variety of fields of specialization. Facilities within the department include faculty and student offices, a library of core materials, and a computer center. The size of the department, the breadth of specialties represented among the  faculty , the abundance of research workshops, research facilities, and the related programs of other university departments combine to provide an unusually supportive atmosphere for study and research. Students are encouraged to work together; study groups for course work and preliminary examinations are standard. All students are assigned desk space. The department and students sponsor social events throughout the year. A graduate advisor is on staff to help students with problems and questions.

The goal of the Economics Ph.D. program at the University of Wisconsin is fundamental and simple: To train top notch economists. Graduates of our program are fully prepared to undertake advanced research in economic theory, econometrics, and applied branches of economics. Our graduates successively apply the knowledge and skills gained in our program to a wide range of economic problems in a broad array of institutional settings. Our success in this is evidenced by our strong national reputation and our  placement record. We accomplish this by maintaining a comprehensive and challenging program combining coursework, examinations, seminars, and independent research, which all culminates in the completion and defense of a doctoral dissertation.

We want students from all backgrounds to succeed in our economics program. We also recognize that students from historically underrepresented groups face unique challenges. A committee of faculty and students, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee , and the department-funded student group, Wisconsinites for Inclusion and Diversity in Economics , are helping the department address these challenges and provide our students with a supportive and inclusive environment.

• Admissions More
• Program Guidelines More
• Job Market Placement More
• PhD Courses More
• PhD Student Directory More
• Current Student Resources More

This website uses cookies.

By clicking the "Accept" button or continuing to browse our site, you agree to first-party and session-only cookies being stored on your device to enhance site navigation and analyze site performance and traffic. For more information on our use of cookies, please see our Privacy Policy .

• Resources for Students
• Preparing for graduate school

Considerations for prospective graduate students in economics

Students from a wide variety of backgrounds earn graduate degrees in economics. This includes economics and non-economics majors, those with and without prior graduate training, and those with and without prior economics employment experience.

To decide which program is the best fit, potential students should examine their own qualifications (including their GRE scores, their GPA, and their mathematical preparation) as well as the methodological approach, fields of specialization, predominant ideology, size of program, program culture (cooperative, competitive, etc.), typical time-to-degree, required examinations, financial aid, emphasis on mathematics, job prospects, and location of the programs to which they apply.

For those who wish to pursue academic careers, the availability of training in teaching methods during graduate school may also be a consideration.

Some applicants find it useful to contact students at their target programs to find out about current students' perceptions and experiences. Keep in mind that faculty tend to be fairly mobile throughout their careers, so it may be risky to choose a program out of a desire to work with one specific faculty member.

Further reading for students considering graduate study in economics

• Dr. Ajay Shenjoy at UC-Santa Cruz has a YouTube video describing applying to an Economics PhD program in the U.S.
• The Fed has a two-year Research Assistants program that can provide training and experience for those who want to pursue a graduate degree in economics.
• Professor Sita Slavov has a page of tips for applying to PhD Programs in economics .
• The Occidental College Department of Economics has posted a guide called Becoming an Economist .
• Ceyhun Elgin and Mario Solis-Garcia, former PhD students at the University of Minnesota have written: So, you want to go to grad school in Economics? A practical guide of the first years (for outsiders) from insiders.
• The Summer 2014 CSWEP newsletter includes a guide for Getting Into and Finishing a PhD Program .
• The Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession (CSWEP) has a list of its newsletter articles for specific audiences , including those focused on undergraduate and graduate students.
• Professor William D. Craighead has a webpage with advice for students interesting in pursuing graduate studies in economics.
• Professor Greg Mankiw at Harvard University has a blog with advice for grad students on various topics.
• Professor David Colander's " The Making of an Economist Redux " reports the findings of surveys and interviews with graduate students at top-ranking economics graduate programs.
• Professors Wendy Stock and John Siegfried published a paper that reports on 15 Years of Research on Graduate Education in Economics: What Have We Learned?
• Professor Marie desJardins has a paper on " How to Succeed in Graduate School: A Guide for Students and Advisors ."
• Professor Dick Startz offers " A Guide for UCSB Undergraduates Considering a PhD in Economics ."

• Campus Maps
• Campus Tours
• People Directory
• New Students
• Current Students
• Faculty and Staff
• Brightspace
• Get help with your login
• Faculty & Staff

Economics (PhD)

Gain a strong foundation in economic theory and quantitative methods in applied fields of economics.

Why choose this program?

The Department of Economics has wide-ranging research strengths with specialties of labour, health and social policy, development, and macroeconomics.

Dal economics graduates work with universities, government agencies and the private sector.

Possible careers include:

Economic Analyst

Policymaker

Admission requirements

You'll need to meet the  Faculty of Graduate Studies minimum requirements  as well as any program-specific admissions requirements before you can apply.

Financial information

At Dalhousie, we want our students to focus on their studies, rather than worry about their personal finances. We offer competitive tuition rates and funding programs to support graduate students in almost all of our degree programs.

Program options

Thesis : Pursue independent and original research guided by a supervisor to develop and defend your thesis. 

Standard program duration:

5 years or longer

Enrolment options:

Delivery format:.

All graduate programs at Dalhousie are collaboratively delivered by a home Faculty and the  Faculty of Graduate Studies .

Contact an admissions advisor

Questions about admissions or the application process get in touch with the program..

Email:  [email protected]

Phone: 902-494-2026

I'm ready to apply!

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this page, in the event of a discrepancy,  Dalhousie's Academic Calendars  are the official reference.

This site requires JavaScript to work properly.

How do i activate javascript in this web browser.

Faculty of Business and Economics

• Executive Education
• Graduate School
• Other Degree Programs (in German)
• Summer School
• Examinations
• Evaluation of Teaching (in German)
• Dean of Studies' Office
• Management and Organization
• Organigramm
• Awards and distinctions

For students interested in pursuing advanced studies and conducting original research

Present your research at the Economics Lunch

The graduate school of business and economics.

The Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE) provides a strong foundation and a stimulating environment for doctoral and postdoctoral students. The GSBE is where knowledge is created, and where scholars emerge. It's PhD program is designed for students interested in pursuing advanced studies and conducting original research.

PhD Program

Courses and Seminars

24 Apr 2024

Johann-jakob speiser-scholarship of the speiser-bär foundation 2024.

04 Jul 2023

Véra zabrodina wins the 2023 young swiss economist award of the swiss society of economics and statistics for her paper «timing moral hazard under deductibles in health insurance».

All GSBE News

• Executive Board
• Important GSBE Contacts
• Open Positions

Dr. Juliana Roost Coordinator GSBE

gsbe-wwz@ clutter unibas.ch

Quick Links

• UB Wirtschaft | SWA
• Alumni WWZ Basel
• Alumni Basel
• Fachgruppe WiWi
• WWZnewsletter

Social Media

• WWZFaculty Blog
• © University of Basel
• Privacy Policy

Suggestions or feedback?

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Machine learning
• Sustainability
• 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

Making a measurable economic impact

Press contact :.

Previous image Next image

How do you measure the value of an economic policy? Of an aid organization’s programming? For Saeed Miganeh, who completed an  MITx MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Development Policy and is now enrolled in MIT’s master’s program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP), these are key questions he is determined to answer.

“Enrolling at MIT fed my interest in investigating the political economy questions surrounding the development of African countries,” he says. “It boils down to promoting pro-poor, evidence-based policymaking in the developing world.”

Miganeh earned a bachelor of business administration from the  University of Hargeisa and completed coursework in  Open University Malaysia’s master of business administration program. Before enrolling at MIT full time, he spent 14 years as an accountant with the United Nations’  International Organization for Migration . His work with the IOM fed his curiosity about intent and impact, particularly how political agendas can affect policy adoption, how safeguarding human rights strengthens peace and prevents conflict, how climate change adaptation policies affect the poor, and how promoting intra-African trade spurs economic growth in the continent.

“My journey to DEDP began when I earned a certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation offered by the International Training Center of the  International Labour Organization ,” he recalls. “Our course coach recommended taking MITx courses, which led me to the MicroMasters program.”

Saeed grew up and completed his early education in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland during the reconstruction period after a decade-long civil war with Somalia. He was inspired by his country’s development of a functioning democracy and economy after conflict. Miganeh’s work is all the more impressive for someone who has lived almost exclusively there — with the exception of four years as a child spent in Ethiopia due to the civil war in Somalia — and whose studies have taken place entirely in the republic.

“Africa is the new battleground for fighting global poverty in the 21st century,” he says.

Practices and progress toward measurable improvement

Before pursuing graduate study at MIT, Miganeh worked in youth development programs with the  Somaliland National Youth Organization . “I was the coordinator for one of their youth networks that worked on health,” he says. “After completing my undergraduate study, I assumed the position of finance officer for the organization.”

Later during his tenure with IOM, Miganeh learned that, while the organization has a central evaluation function that evaluates projects and programs, Somaliland’s governmental institutions lacked the capacity to effectively evaluate public policies and programs effectively. His work with the IOM helped him discover the practice areas where he might benefit from partnering with others possessing expertise he’d need to make a difference. “During my work with IOM, I was involved in development projects’ administrative and accounting functions,” he remembers. “I was interested in knowing how projects were impacting beneficiaries’ lives.

Miganeh wants to dig deeper into understanding and answering developing African countries’ political economy questions, noting that “development projects can consume lots of resources from design through implementation.” Ensuring these programs’ effectiveness is crucial to maximizing their impact and societal benefit. “Every country needs to have the necessary human capital to undertake evidence-based policy design to avoid wasting resources,” he says.

He returned to Somaliland to complete a capstone project that will allow him to put his newly acquired skills and knowledge to work. The project is an important part of his master’s program. “I’m [working] with the  Somaliland Ministry of Education & Science , assisting in institutionalizing evidence-based policymaking in the education sector,”  he says.

A unique vision to drive effective change

Miganeh is already planning to use the skills he’s acquiring at MIT to facilitate change at home. “I must discover and produce policy insights using my research and, with the guidance of the top academics and professionals at MIT and other institutions, translate them into effective policies that can make a demonstrable impact,” he says.

Miganeh reports that MITx’s MicroMasters and DEDP master’s programs help students develop the unique blend of skills — including the ability to leverage data-driven insights to design, implement, and evaluate public policies that improve societal outcomes — that can help them become effective agents of social change.

“My early enthusiasm for mathematics in high school and my later work in development organizations gave me the right combination to excel in the rigorous developmental economics coursework at MIT,” he says. “Once I’ve completed the program, I will establish a consultancy to advise government agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector’s corporate social responsibility departments on designing, implementing, and evaluating policies and programs.”

Miganeh lauded the faculty and students he encountered while continuing his studies. “I have developed professionally and personally,” he reports. He saved his highest praise for the Institute, however.

“Pursuing this master’s degree at MIT, where modern economics education has been reinvented and is home to faculty including Nobel laureates and other distinguished professors and scholars, was an enriching lifetime experience, personally and professionally,” he says. 

“Looking back on discussions of how to tackle the world’s development challenges is a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Share this news article on:

Related links.

• MIT MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Development Policy
• Master's in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy
• Department of Economics

Related Topics

• Graduate, postdoctoral
• Online learning
• Developing countries
• Office of Open Learning
• Development
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E)
• School of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences

Related Articles

How a quantum scientist, a nurse, and an economist are joining the fight against global poverty

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

How free online courses from MIT can “transform the future of the world”

Previous item Next item

More MIT News

For developing designers, there’s magic in 2.737 (Mechatronics)

Read full story →

Study: Transparency is often lacking in datasets used to train large language models

How MIT’s online resources provide a “highly motivating, even transformative experience”

Students learn theater design through the power of play

A framework for solving parabolic partial differential equations

Designing better delivery for medical therapies

• 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

Duke Graduate Students Union continues to demand better pay, benefits in bargaining sessions with Duke

Since officially being recognized by the National Labor Relations Board in August 2023, the Duke Graduate Students Union has engaged in multiple bargaining sessions with University administration to negotiate their demands, yet members continue to express an overall dissatisfaction with Duke’s response.

With NLRB recognition, Duke is required by law to accept DGSU as the exclusive bargaining body for the University’s doctoral students. Students on the DGSU bargaining committee act as union representatives in meetings, “negotiating on the conditions of [their] work,” which range from housing to workplace safety and payroll .

DGSU was the first recognized graduate student union at a private university in the South, and is the largest union at Duke and one of the largest in North Carolina.

Since 2018, Duke has consistently been named the largest employer in Durham County and the second-largest private employer in N.C. It was named by Newsweek as among America’s Greatest Workplaces for 2024 and Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for New Grads in 2024.

However, DGSU maintains that University administration “is stuck offering [them] the status quo” and continues to call on Duke to continue to bargain with them in “good faith.”

University administration did not respond to The Chronicle’s request for comment explaining its position in the ongoing negotiations and responses to the union’s demands.

The union’s top priority is a cost-of-living-adjusted stipend. The University responded to many of DGSU’s economic proposals at a July 11 bargaining session, addressing the rest on July 31 and Aug. 14.

In March, DGSU proposed a minimum stipend of $54,484.10 — accounting for a “living wage plus 10% for savings” — for the 2024-25 academic year to increase annually by a minimum of 3.5% until the 2027-28 school year. The University countered with a $40,000 stipend with a 3% yearly increase. The current academic year minimum stipend for first-year matriculants is $30,000, while that for those in their second year and on is $40,000.

According to an Aug. 24 email to The Chronicle from Clay Capra, a graduate student in the history department, DGSU was “disappointed” by Duke’s response to its stipend demand, especially given that the University reportedly pre-committed to a $40,000 stipend floor before bargaining began.

“[$40,000] is around [$10,000] below the living wage for Durham according to the MIT calculator ,” Capra wrote in an Aug. 24 email to The Chronicle. “Graduate workers know that we need a fair wage to live and work here in Durham, and it’s an issue our membership is consistently activated on and excited to organize around.”

Capra emphasized the importance of raising the stipend’s amount amid inflation and a rising cost of living .

“Inflation and cost of living are growing constantly, and our wages simply aren’t keeping up. Perhaps more than anything else, stipend affects every single graduate worker here at Duke,” he wrote. “It’s a reminder of how high the stakes are for our union: we’re bargaining to be able to afford to live and work in Durham.”

Capra said that DSGU representatives do not take for granted the opportunity to speak with University administration to tell them “face-to-face how much we struggle to make ends meet getting paid less than a living wage.”

In its health insurance proposal, DGSU demanded that Duke cover 100% of health insurance premiums for individual coverage and 75% of the total premium cost for dependent coverage under the Duke Student Medical Insurance Plan. The University did not respond with changes to the current health insurance policies. 

For graduate students with dependents, DGSU outlined a childcare subsidy of up to $10,000 for a single child. It further demands “clarity and transparency about the use of this fund” and proposes income thresholds for differing benefit levels. The University did agree to expand funds to a maximum of $7,000 per person with “no change of policy on transparency.”

Students requested that bargaining unit members have the same access to parking-related services as full-time University staff. The union’s proposed contract also included a pre-tax program to aid in parking fees and a cap on the annual parking pass to 0.3% of the yearly salaries of bargaining unit members. Duke did not agree to integrate the new proposals. 

To assist graduate students with medical expenses, the University currently has a Medical Assistance and Financial Hardship Support Fund , which aids those who “incur medical expenses that are not eligible for reimbursement and create a significant hardship.”

Union members called for an expansion of the support fund, asking the University to designate $100,000 to this fund each fiscal year with each member being allowed to request up to $12,000 per fiscal year. They also requested that the limit fluctuate based on “utilization of the fund.” 

Duke countered with $5,000 per student each fiscal year and denied limit flexibility based on yearly spending.

Aside from the monetary demands, a significant portion of DGSU’s proposals center on international graduate students. 

Duke researchers discover property of proteins in plants that could resist climate change

Duke cross country 2024 season preview, the chronicle’s guide to voting while studying abroad.

DGSU requested greater financial and logistical support for graduate workers who are in the process of obtaining their visas. The union advocated for greater compensation for visa-related fees, full coverage of legal fees related to work authorization and a $60,000 fund for miscellaneous international student legal fees. This would include any out-of-pocket legal expenses except for immigration issues that directly affect a member’s ability to work at Duke. 

Duke tentatively agreed to discuss a potential immigration costs fund internally, still reserving the right to make a counterproposal in a future bargaining session. However, it rejected all compensation demands for legal fees and work documents. 

Most international graduate students who are not native English speakers are required to take oral and written placement exams upon matriculation. However, frustrated by a perceived lack of transparency in the English language proficiency process, members demanded that bargaining unit members who do not pass these courses be given an “adequate explanation of their results,” and those “who wish to appeal their results shall be provided with clear, relevant avenues to do so.” 

Duke accepted the latter demand and has agreed to uphold transparency and clarity, have seats available in all English language proficiency classes and to offer multiple class time slots per semester. 

Capra noted that DGSU was “disappointed, but not surprised to hear that many of [Duke’s] proposals were status quo or minor adjustments to their current policy.”

“It really galvanized us to keep fighting for the working conditions we know that we deserve, and that graduate unions have already won for their workers at other universities,” Capra wrote. “We're going to keep organizing around these issues as we go into the year, and I'm personally very excited to keep fighting with my fellow union members to have our issues recognized.”

As far as the union’s priorities for future bargaining sessions, economic proposals and grievance procedures are at the forefront. Capra emphasized the importance of legal protection for unions, especially since most private sector workers are covered solely by the NLRA. 

“We want to make sure that the protections that we win at the table are as robust as possible,” Capra wrote. “Especially because 40% of graduate workers at Duke are international students, whose visa status could be put under threat if they try to leave a hostile work environment, having a clear and fair grievance process seems particularly necessary to protect them.”

During the academic year, DGSU’s strategy will stay the same — expanding membership and spreading the word — except that pressure will be stronger due to students being on campus. The organization will be hosting a Sept. 3 rally, the day after Labor Day, during which they will continue to pressure University administration to “keep bargaining with [DGSU] in good faith and listen to graduate worker concerns and the issues that matter most to [the union].”

According to Capra, DGSU saw an uptick in membership after Duke’s first counterproposals, and hopes to keep up the momentum into the upcoming year. 

“Members are really fired up about bargaining,” Capra wrote. “It’s a great show of our power as a union that Duke met us at the table quickly after our landslide election victory, and it’s such a clear demonstration of union power to be able to negotiate on the conditions of our work.”

For more information on negotiation updates, visit DGSU’s bargaining tracker and its official website .

Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox

Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.

Andrew Bae is a Trinity junior and an editor-at-large of The Chronicle's 120th volume.

Share and discuss “Duke Graduate Students Union continues to demand better pay, benefits in bargaining sessions with Duke” on social media.

 facebook  twitter

5 observations and more from Duke football's first half against Elon

Duke football opens manny diaz era with dominant defensive showing against elon, listening to flat-earthers, duke football showcased its identity with aggressive defense, preparedness against elon, extra point: new-look duke football puts on strong showing in season opener, duke field hockey 2024 season preview.