mit phd economics requirements

Financial Support

Mit scholarships.

Incoming students who wish to be considered for financial aid from MIT should indicate this when completing the online application form . These awards are made by April 15 and typically cover the first two years of study.

Department funding

For years one and two, all students admitted to our PhD program are offered (either directly by the department, or as a supplement to other funds) fellowship support equivalent to: full tuition for the academic year, twelve-month individual health insurance, and a stipend for the nine-month academic year.

In years three through six, all students are offered full-time teaching or research assistantships that provide full tuition, a nine-month stipend, and health insurance. This support is contingent on satisfactory academic progress.

The department also offers paid summer research assistantships and summer fellowships as a supplement to academic-year stipends.

Institute rules require every holder of a graduate scholarship or fellowship to pursue a full-time program of graduate study.

Dissertation fellowships

The department is currently able to offer a limited number of competitive dissertation fellowships that allow PhD students in years four or five to have a year free from TA and RA duties.

Outside funding

Incoming students are encouraged to apply for external sources of funding, such as NSF graduate fellowships , UniCredit Foundation Scholarships , SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships , and JASSO scholarships .

For years three through six, the department is able in some cases to provide supplementary funding for students with partial outside fellowships, thereby allowing them to reduce their TA and RA work requirements. Such supplements are provided to all students with active NSF fellowships, and supplements to other fellowships are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Health insurance

Your mandatory health insurance fee is covered by your award (and is not taken out of your stipend) and includes accident and hospitalization insurance. You will receive this insurance unless you can demonstrate that you have equivalent coverage through another source and complete a waiver with MIT Medical .

For more detailed information regarding the cost of attendance, including specific costs for tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and food as well as transportation, please  visit MIT's Student Financial Services website .

First-year applicants: Deadlines & requirements

The application.

The first-year application is closed in the MIT application portal .

Please note: You’re only allowed to apply once per entry year.

Early Action (EA)

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Supplemental materials

Our admissions process is designed to be completed online. Creative portfolios in SlideRoom are available for researchers, performing artists, visual artists, and makers to submit supplemental materials.

If you must mail materials to MIT, please use this address:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Office of Undergraduate Admissions 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room E38-200 Cambridge, MA 02139

Other dates & deadlines

• All students who are applying for financial aid should submit materials by February 15 (see Financial aid deadlines )
• Early Action applicants will receive an admissions decision in mid-December
• Regular Action students will receive an admissions decision in mid-March
• Admitted students must inform MIT of their enrollment decision by May 1

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What you need to know

At MIT, graduate degree requirements are determined by the individual departments or programs and approved by the Committee on Graduate Programs (CGP). Each graduate student is officially enrolled in an individual degree program. MIT graduate programs are full-time and work is done chiefly on campus in collaboration with faculty, peers, and the Institute community.

• Read more about Master’s degree requirements .
• Read more about Doctoral degree requirements .

Additional information can be found in the MIT Bulletin:

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Students must complete their primary program’s degree requirements along with the IDPS requirements. Statistics requirements  must not unreasonably impact performance or progress in a student’s primary degree program.

The Economics program allows students to replace required courses in Probability and Statistics with more advanced courses by petition.

Special note about integrating IDPS requirements and Economics requirements:

The Doctoral Program in Economics requires students to complete two majors and two minors. IDPS requires one of these major fields to be Econometrics. The IDPS requirement for Computation & Statistics may be used to satisfy one of the minor field requirements in the Doctoral Program in Economics as long as the student’s other minor field is in Economics, and is not a research or ad-hoc minor.

PhD Earned on Completion: Economics and Statistics

IDPS/Economics Chair :  Victor Chernozhukov

*Advanced Research and Communication – 14.192 – no longer requires a focus on Data Analysis. Students pursuing the IDPS will need to keep this focus on Data Analysis to successfully meet IDPS requirements.  The IDPS/Economics Chair will verify that admitted students submit a paper that satisfies the IDPS requirements.

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Department of Economics

Economics is a broad field that aims to understand why the world works as it does and how government and other interventions might affect well-being. The field is diverse methodologically, encompassing mathematical modeling, data science, and randomized trials as appropriate. It interacts both with other social sciences, as with political science and psychology in the attempt to better understand government and individual behavior, and with the sciences, as with statistics and computer science in developing data analysis techniques.

Economics studies decision-making at the individual level and the aggregate outcomes that result when individuals, firms, institutions and governments interact. It remains concerned with classic topics, such as the causes of business cycles, the effects of industry regulations, and the consequences of tax policies, but also focuses on the diverse social challenges of the developed and developing world: poverty, education, health, the environment, and inequality.  

The Department of Economics offers subjects at multiple levels in the three core areas of the discipline—microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics—and specialized subjects in many applied fields, including development economics, environmental economics, health economics, industrial organization, international trade, labor economics, political economy, and public finance.

The department offers several undergraduate programs that prepare students for careers in business, finance, consulting, law and public policy, and for further study. Its doctoral program is frequently ranked as the best in the world.

Bachelor of Science in Economics (Course 14-1)

Bachelor of science in mathematical economics (course 14-2), bachelor of science in computer science, economics, and data science (course 6-14), minor in economics, undergraduate study.

Course 14-1, leading to the Bachelor of Science in Economics , provides students with a breadth and depth of training in economics that is unusual at the undergraduate level. It combines training in technical economics with in-depth exploration of students’ areas of interest. Students choose from a diverse set of upper-level undergraduate subjects and are encouraged to engage in independent research.

The aims of the SB in Economics degree program are threefold: to give students a firm grounding in economic theory and data analysis, to develop in-depth knowledge of particular economic issues, and to develop students’ capabilities for independent research. These aims correspond roughly to the requirements in the Course 14-1 program of theory, statistics and econometrics, electives, and research.

The requirements allow substantial freedom for students in designing individual programs within economics and in balancing the program with subjects in other disciplines. The ample elective slots let students apply their technical skills to develop a deep understanding of whatever interests them, whether that is poverty in developing countries, international trade, game theory, for example. The department recommends that students interested in graduate work in economics build their technical skills with additional subjects in mathematics and computer science. Students can also complement their studies in the major with subjects in political science, history, and other social sciences.

The major is sufficiently flexible that students can transfer into the major or add it as a second major without having taken courses beyond 14.01 Principles of Microeconomics and 14.02 Principles of Macroeconomics in the first two years.  Students typically complete an intermediate micro subject,  14.05 Intermediate Macroeconomics , 14.30 Introduction to Statistical Methods in Economics , and 14.32 Econometric Data Science by the third year. This satisfies the prerequisites for all subjects (including 14.33 Research and Communication in Economics: Topics, Methods, and Implementation ) and prepares students for research on their thesis and in other elective subjects.

The SB in Mathematical Economics is designed for students who desire a deeper mathematical foundation and allows them to concentrate in a subset of economics topics. This program is well suited to students interested in mathematical microeconomic theory or econometrics.  Students will gain the strong mathematical and theoretical preparation needed for subsequent graduate study in economics.

Students majoring in Mathematical Economics start with the same introductory micro and macro courses as 14-1 majors. They go on to take a program that includes rigorous mathematical training in microeconomic theory and econometrics, and substantial coursework in mathematics, including 18.100x Real Analysis, a choice between 18.06 Linear Algebra or 18.03 Differential Equations , and at least one mathematics seminar.

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Department of Economics offer a joint curriculum leading to a  Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Economics and Data Science (Course 6-14) . The interdisciplinary major provides  students a  portfolio  of  skills in economics,  computing,  and  data  science that are increasingly valued in both the business world and academia.   The economics and computer science disciplines have a substantial overlap both in their reliance on game theory and mathematical modeling techniques and their use of data analytics.   The economics side of the program includes subjects in microeconomic theory and econometrics and electives that expose students to how economists in various fields use mathematical models and statistical evidence to think about problems.   The computer science side includes a number of subjects that develop complementary knowledge, including the study of algorithms, optimization, and machine learning (which is increasingly integrated with econometrics).   The program also includes coursework in several mathematical subjects, including linear algebra, probability, discrete mathematics, and statistics, which can be taken in various departments.  

The Course 6-14 major is also well suited to students whose primary interest is in game theory and mathematical modeling.   It can prepare students for graduate study in either discipline.

The objective of the minor is to extend the understanding of economic issues beyond the level of the concentration. This is done through specialized analytical subjects and elective subjects that provide an extensive treatment of economic issues in particular areas.

The Minor in Economics consists of six subjects arranged into three levels of study:

For more information regarding admissions or financial aid , contact Julia Martyn-Shah, 617-253-8787. For undergraduate admissions and academic programs , contact Gary King, 617-253-0951. For any other information, contact Megan Miller,  617-253-3807.

Master of Science in Economics

Master of applied science in data, economics, and design of policy, master of engineering in computer science, economics, and data science.

Doctor of Philosophy in Economics

Graduate Study

Admission requirements for graduate study.

The Department of Economics specifies the following prerequisites for graduate study in economics: one full year of college mathematics and an appreciable number of professional subjects in economics for those qualified students who have majored in fields other than economics. Applicants for admission who have deficiencies in entrance requirements should consult with the department about programs to remedy such deficits.

In unusual circumstances, admission may be granted to current MIT students seeking the Master of Science degree. The general requirements for the SM are given in the section on Graduate Education.

The Master of Applied Science in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy is an intensive program consisting of a series of nine subjects plus a capstone experience (a summer internship and a corresponding project report). Students gain a strong foundation in microeconomics, development economics, probability, and statistics; engage with cutting-edge research; and develop practical skills in data analysis and the evaluation of social programs. Student choose between two tracks: International Development (focused on low- and middle-income contexts) and Public Policy (focused on high-income contexts). Only students who have successfully completed the MITx MicroMasters credential in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy in the corresponding track are eligible to apply to the on-campus master’s program.

Email for more information or visit the website .

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Department of Economics offer a joint curriculum leading to a Master of Engineering in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science . Computer science and data science provide tools for problem solving, and economics applies those tools to domains where there is rapidly growing intellectual, scholarly, and commercial interest, such as online markets, crowdsourcing platforms, spectrum auctions, financial platforms, crypto currencies, and large-scale matching/allocation systems such as kidney donation and public school choice systems. This joint program prepares students for jobs in economics, management consulting, and finance. Students in the program are full members of both departments, with a single advisor chosen from EECS or Economics based on interests of the student as well as the advisor's interest and expertise in the 6-14 area.

The Master's of Engineering in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science (Course 6-14P) builds on the foundation provided by the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science (Course 6-14) to provide both advanced classwork and master's-level thesis work. The student selects (with departmental review and approval) 42 units of advanced graduate subjects, which include two subjects in economics and two subjects in electrical engineering and computer science. A further 24 units of electives are chosen from a restricted departmental list of math electives.

The Master of Engineering degree also requires 24 units of thesis credit. While a student may register for more than this number of thesis units, only 24 units count toward the degree requirement.

Programs leading to the five-year Master of Engineering degree or to the four-year Bachelor of Science degree can be arranged to be identical through the junior year. At the end of the junior year, students with a strong academic record will be offered the opportunity to continue through the five-year master's program. A student in the Master of Engineering program must be registered as a graduate student for at least one regular (non-summer) term. To remain in the program and to receive the Master of Engineering degree, students will be expected to maintain a strong academic record. Admission to the Master of Engineering program is open only to undergraduate students who have completed their junior year in the Course 6-14 Bachelor of Science program.

Financial Support

The fifth year of study toward the Master of Engineering degree can be supported by a combination of personal funds, a fellowship, or a graduate assistantship. Assistantships require participation in research or teaching in the department or in one of the associated laboratories. Full-time assistants may register for no more than two scheduled classroom or laboratory subjects during the term, but may receive academic credit for their participation in the teaching or research program. Support through an assistantship may extend the period required to complete the Master of Engineering program by an additional term or two. Support is granted competitively to graduate students and will not be available for all of those admitted to the Master of Engineering program. If provided, department support for Master of Engineering candidates is normally limited to the first three terms as a graduate student unless the Master of Engineering thesis has been completed, the student has served as a teaching assistant, or the student has been admitted to the doctoral program, in which cases a fourth term of support may be permitted.

For additional information regarding teaching and research programs, contact the EECS Undergraduate Office, Room 38-476, 617-253-4654, or visit the department's website .

Doctor of Philosophy

The Department of Economics offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics . Students in the doctoral program complete a course of study involving a series of required core subjects in microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics; coursework (with a grade of B or better) in two major and two minor fields of study from among those offered by the department; a research paper; and a thesis. The coursework and research paper, completed in the program's first two years, culminate in a general examination. The four fields of study are chosen from advanced economic theory; computation and statistics (minor field only); econometrics; economic development; finance; industrial organization; international economics; labor economics; monetary economics; organizational economics; political economy; and public economics.

Following successful completion of the general examination requirement, the student forms a thesis committee of two or three faculty members. The thesis must meet high professional standards and make a significant original contribution to the student’s chosen research area. The thesis must be approved by the thesis committee and then by an independent faculty member in the department selected by the chair of the Graduate Committee. Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded the PhD in economics.

There is no required minimum number of graduate subjects in the department. Students must be in residence for a minimum of two years. However, candidates ordinarily need two full academic years of study to complete the core and field of study requirements, and the doctoral thesis typically requires three to four years of additional research effort.

Interdisciplinary Program

Economics and statistics.

The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Statistics provides training in statistics, including classical statistics and probability as well as computation and data analysis, to students who wish to integrate these valuable skills into their primary academic program. The program is administered jointly by the departments of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Economics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Political Science, and the Statistics and Data Science Center within the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society. It is open to current doctoral students in participating departments. For more information, including department-specific requirements, see the full program description under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.

Many doctoral students are supported by scholarship and fellowship grants, as well as by teaching and research assistantships.

For more information regarding admissions or financial aid , contact Julia Martyn-Shah, 617-253-8787. For undergraduate admissions and academic programs , contact Gary King, 617-253-0951. For any other information , contact Megan Miller,  617-253-3807.

Faculty and Teaching Staff

Jonathan Gruber, PhD

Ford Professor

Professor of Economics

Head, Department of Economics

David Atkin, PhD

Barton L. Weller (1940) Professor

Associate Head, Department of Economics

Alberto Abadie, PhD

Member, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society

Daron Acemoglu, PhD

Institute Professor

Nikhil Agarwal, PhD

(On leave, fall)

Isaiah Andrews, PhD

Charles E. and Susan T. Harris Professor

Joshua Angrist, PhD

David H. Autor, PhD

Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubenfeld Professor

Abhijit Banerjee, PhD

Ford International Professor

Ricardo J. Caballero, PhD

Victor V. Chernozhukov, PhD

Arnaud Costinot, PhD

David J. Donaldson, PhD

Class of 1949 Professor

Esther Duflo, PhD

Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics

Glenn Ellison, PhD

Gregory K. Palm (1970) Professor

Amy Finkelstein, PhD

John and Jennie S. MacDonald Professor

Drew Fudenberg, PhD

Paul A. Samuelson Professor

Robert S. Gibbons, PhD

Sloan Distinguished Professor of Management

Professor of Applied Economics

Nathaniel Hendren, PhD

Anna Mikusheva, PhD

Edward A. Abdun-Nur (1924) Professor

Stephen Morris, PhD

Peter A. Diamond Professor

Sendhil Mullainathan, PhD

Peter de Florez Professor

Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Whitney K. Newey, PhD

Benjamin A. Olken, PhD

Jane Berkowitz Carlton and Dennis William Carlton Professor

Parag Pathak, PhD

Class of 1922 Professor

James M. Poterba, PhD

Mitsui Professor

Drazen Prelec, PhD

Digital Equipment Corp. Leaders for Global Operations Professor of Management

Professor of Management Science

Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences

Nancy L. Rose, PhD

Charles P. Kindleberger Professor of Applied Economics

Robert Townsend, PhD

Elizabeth and James Killian (1926) Professor

Ivan Werning, PhD

Robert M. Solow Professor

Michael Whinston, PhD

Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management

Alexander Greenberg Wolitzky, PhD

Muhamet Yildiz, PhD

Associate Professors

Martin Beraja, PhD

Pentti Kouri Career Development Professor

Associate Professor of Economics

(On leave, spring)

Simon Jaeger, PhD

Silverman (1968) Family Career Development Professor

Tobias Salz, PhD

Castle Krob Career Development Professor

Frank Schilbach, PhD

Assistant Professors

Ian Ball, PhD

Gary Loveman Career Development Professor

Assistant Professor of Economics

Jacob Moscona, PhD

3M Career Development Assistant Professor of Environmental Economics

Ashesh Rambachan, PhD

Nina Roussille, PhD

Lister Brothers Career Development Professor

Christian Wolf, PhD

Rudi Dornbusch Career Development Professor

Visiting Assistant Professors

Bradley Setzler, PhD

Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics

Senior Lecturers

Sara F. Ellison, PhD

Senior Lecturer in Economics

Professors Emeriti

Olivier Jean Blanchard, PhD

Robert M. Solow Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus of Economics

Peter A. Diamond, PhD

Institute Professor Emeritus

Stanley Fischer, PhD

Jeffrey E. Harris, MD, PhD

Jerry A. Hausman, PhD

John and Jennie S. MacDonald Professor Emeritus

Bengt Holmström, PhD

Paul A. Samuelson Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus of Applied Economics

Paul L. Joskow, PhD

Elizabeth and James Killian Professor Emeritus

Michael J. Piore, PhD

David W. Skinner Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus of Political Economy

Professor Emeritus of Political Science

Richard Schmalensee, PhD

Howard W. Johnson Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus of Management

Peter Temin, PhD

Elisha Gray II Professor Emeritus

William C. Wheaton, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Urban Studies and Planning

General Economics and Theory

14.00 undergraduate internship in economics.

Prereq: Permission of instructor U (IAP, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

For Course 14 students participating in off-campus internship experiences in economics. Before registering for this subject, students must have an employment offer from a company or organization and must identify a Course 14 advisor. Upon completion of the internship, student must submit a letter from the employer describing the work accomplished, along with a substantive final report from the student approved by the MIT advisor. Subject to departmental approval. Consult departmental undergraduate office.

Consult D. Donaldson

14.000 Graduate Internship in Economics

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (IAP, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

For Course 14 students participating in off-campus internship experiences in economics. Before registering for this subject, students must have an employment offer from a company or organization and must identify a Course 14 advisor. Upon completion of the internship, student must submit a letter from the employer describing the work accomplished, along with a substantive final report from the student approved by the MIT advisor. Subject to departmental approval. Consult departmental graduate office.

Consult I. Andrews

14.001 Data Economics and Development Policy Summer Internship

Prereq: Permission of department G (Fall, Spring, Summer) 0-1-0 units

Provides students in the DEDP Master's program the opportunity to synthesize their coursework and professional experience in development economics and data analysis. In the context of a summer internship, students apply the knowledge gained in the program towards a project with a host organization, typically in the development sector. Students will be supported in finding a suitable opportunity or research project. All internship placements are subject to approval by the program director. Each student must write a capstone project report. Restricted to DEDP MASc students.

14.003 Microeconomic Theory and Public Policy

Subject meets with 14.03 Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring) 4-0-8 units

Students master and apply economic theory, causal inference, and contemporary evidence to analyze policy challenges. These include the effect of minimum wages on employment, the value of healthcare, the power and limitations of free markets, the benefits and costs of international trade, the causes and remedies of externalities, the consequences of adverse selection in insurance markets, the impacts of labor market discrimination, and the application of machine learning to supplement to decision-making. Class attendance and participation are mandatory. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

Consult D. Autor, S. Jaeger

14.009 Economics and Society's Toughest Problems

Prereq: None Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered Acad Year 2025-2026: U (Fall) 1-0-2 units

Should we trade more or less with China? Why are some countries poor, and some countries rich? Why are the 1% getting richer? Should the US have a universal basic income? Why is our society becoming so polarized? What can we do to mitigate climate change? Will robots take all the jobs? Why does racism persist and how can we fight it? What will the world economy look like after the COVID-19 recession? Economics shows you how to think about some of the toughest problems facing society — and how to use data to get answers. Features lectures by MIT's economics faculty, showing how their cutting-edge research can help answer these questions. In lieu of problem sets, quizzes, or other written assignments, students produce materials of their choice (podcasts, TikToks, longer videos) with the view to make a potential audience excited about economics. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.

14.01 Principles of Microeconomics

Prereq: None U (Fall, Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Introduces microeconomic concepts and analysis, supply and demand analysis, theories of the firm and individual behavior, competition and monopoly, and welfare economics. Applications to problems of current economic policy.

Consult N. Agarwal, D. Donaldson, S. Ellison, J. Gruber

14.02 Principles of Macroeconomics

Provides an overview of macroeconomic issues including the determination of national income, economic growth, unemployment, inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates. Introduces basic macroeconomic models and illustrates key principles through applications to the experience of the US and other economies. Explores a range of current policy debates, such as the economic effects of monetary and fiscal policy, the causes and consequences of the 2008 global financial crisis, and the factors that influence long-term growth in living standards. Lectures are recorded and available for students with scheduling conflicts.

M. Beraja, R. Caballero, J. Poterba

14.03 Microeconomic Theory and Public Policy

Subject meets with 14.003 Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor U (Fall, Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

14.04 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 14.01 U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Analysis of consumer and producer decisions including analysis of competitive and monopolistic markets. Price-based partial and general equilibrium analysis. Introduction to game theory as a foundation for the strategic analysis of economic situations. Imperfect competition, dynamic games among firms. Failures of general equilibrium theory and their resolutions: externalities, public goods, incomplete information settings, signaling, screening, insurance, alternative market mechanisms, auctions, design of markets.

14.05 Intermediate Macroeconomics

Prereq: 14.01 and ( 14.02 or permission of instructor) U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Uses the tools of macroeconomics to investigate various macroeconomic issues in depth. Topics range from economic growth and inequality in the long run to economic stability and financial crises in the short run. Surveys many economic models used today. Requires a substantial research paper on the economics of long-run economic growth.

14.06 Advanced Macroeconomics

Prereq: 14.01 and 14.02 U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Blends a thorough study of the theoretical foundations of modern macroeconomics with a review of useful mathematical tools, such as dynamic programming, optimal control, and dynamic systems. Develops comfort with formal macroeconomic reasoning and deepens understanding of key macroeconomic phenomena, such as business cycles. Goes on to study more specific topics, such as unemployment, financial crises, and the role of fiscal and monetary policy. Special attention to reviewing relevant facts and disentangling them from their popular interpretations. Uses insights and tools from game theory. Includes applications to recent and historical events.

Consult Department Headquarters

14.08 Technical Topics in Economics

Prereq: 14.01 U (Fall, Spring) 4-0-8 units Can be repeated for credit.

Considers technical issues of current research interest in economics.

14.09 Reading Seminar in Economics

Prereq: 14.04 and 14.06 U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

Reading and discussion of particular topics in economics. Open to undergraduate students by arrangement with individual faculty members. Consult Department Headquarters.

D. Donaldson

14.10 Reading Seminar in Economics

Prereq: 14.04 and 14.06 U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

14.11 Topics in Economics

Prereq: 14.01 U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units. HASS-S Can be repeated for credit.

Considers issues of current research interest in economics.

14.12 Economic Applications of Game Theory

Prereq: 14.01 and (6.041B, 14.04 , 14.30 , 18.05 , or permission of instructor) U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Analysis of strategic behavior in multi-person economic settings. Introduction to solution concepts, such as rationalizability, backwards induction, Nash equilibrium, subgame-perfect equilibrium, and sequential equilibrium. Strong emphasis on dynamic games, such as repeated games. Introduction to Bayesian games, focusing on Bayesian Nash Equilibrium, Perfect Bayesian Equilibrium, and signaling games. Applications drawn from microeconomics: imperfect competition, implicit cartels, bargaining, and auctions.

14.121 Microeconomic Theory I

Prereq: 14.04 and permission of instructor G (Fall; first half of term) 3-0-3 units

Covers consumer and producer theory, markets and competition, general equilibrium and the welfare theorems; featuring applications, uncertainty, identification and restrictions models place on data. Enrollment limited; preference to PhD students.

14.122 Microeconomic Theory II

Prereq: 14.121 and permission of instructor G (Fall; second half of term) 3-0-3 units

Introduction to game theory. Topics include normal form and extensive form games, and games with incomplete information. Enrollment limited.

14.123 Microeconomic Theory III

Prereq: 14.121 , 14.122 , and permission of instructor G (Spring; first half of term) 3-0-3 units

Models of individual decision-making under certainty and uncertainty. Additional topics in game theory. Enrollment limited.

D. Fudenberg

14.124 Microeconomic Theory IV

Prereq: 14.123 or permission of instructor G (Spring; second half of term) 3-0-3 units

Introduction to statistical decision theory, incentive contracting (moral hazard and adverse selection), mechanism design and incomplete contracting. Enrollment limited.

A. Wolitzky

14.125 Market Design

Prereq: 14.124 G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Theory and practice of market design, building on ideas from microeconomics, game theory and mechanism design. Prominent case studies include auctions, labor markets, school choice, prediction markets, financial markets, and organ exchange clearinghouses.

N. Agarwal, P. Pathak

14.126 Game Theory

Prereq: 14.122 G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Investigates equilibrium and non-equilibrium solution concepts and their foundations as the result of learning or evolution. Studies the equilibria of supermodular games, global games, repeated games, signaling games, and models of bargaining, cheap talk, and reputation.

D. Fudenberg, A. Wolitzky, M. Yildiz

14.127 Advanced Game Theory

Prereq: None G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

For students who plan to do game theory research. Covers the following topics: epistemic foundations of game theory, higher order beliefs, the role and status of common prior assumptions, social networks and social learning, repeated and stochastic games, non-equilibrium learning, stochastic stability and evolutionary dynamics, game theory experiments, and behavioral game theory.

D. Fudenberg, M. Yildiz

14.129 Advanced Contract Theory

Prereq: 14.121 , 14.281 , or permission of instructor G (Spring; first half of term) 3-0-3 units

Presents the contract theory, mechanism design, and general equilibrium theory necessary for an understanding of  a variety of recent innovations: crypto currencies, digital assets; intermediation through digital big techs; central bank digital currency; and decentralized finance (DeFi) versus centralized exchange and contract platforms. Three broad themes: 1) Take stock of new technologies' characteristic features (distributed ledgers and blockchain, e-transfers, smart contacts, and encryption); 2) Translate these features into formal language;  3) Inform normative questions: Should we delegate programmable contacts to the private sector and the role of public authorities. 

Consult R. Townsend

14.13 Psychology and Economics

Subject meets with 14.131 Prereq: 14.01 U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Introduces the theoretical and empirical literature of behavioral economics. Examines important and systematic departures from the standard models in economics by incorporating insights from psychology and other social sciences. Covers theory and evidence on time, risk, and social preferences; beliefs and learning; emotions; limited attention; and frames, defaults, and nudges. Studies applications to many different areas, such as credit card debt, procrastination, retirement savings, addiction, portfolio choice, poverty, labor supply, happiness, and government policy. Students participate in surveys and experiments in class, review evidence from lab experiments, examine how the results can be integrated into models, and test models using field and lab data. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

F. Schilbach

14.130 Reading Economic Theory

Prereq: 14.121 and 14.451 G (Fall) 2-0-10 units Can be repeated for credit.

Class will read and discuss current research in economic theory with a focus on game theory, decision theory, and behavioral economics. Students will be expected to make one presentation and to read and post comments on every paper by the day before the paper is presented. Permission of the instructor required, and auditors are not allowed.

14.131 Psychology and Economics

Subject meets with 14.13 Prereq: 14.01 G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Introduces the theoretical and empirical literature of behavioral economics. Examines important and systematic departures from the standard models in economics by incorporating insights from psychology and other social sciences. Covers theory and evidence on time, risk, and social preferences; beliefs and learning; emotions; limited attention; and frames, defaults, and nudges. Studies applications to many different areas, such as credit card debt, procrastination, retirement savings, addiction, portfolio choice, poverty, labor supply, happiness, and government policy. Students participate in surveys and experiments in class, review evidence from lab experiments, examine how the results can be integrated into models, and test models using field and lab data.  Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.137[J] Psychology and Economics

Same subject as 9.822[J] Prereq: None G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Examines "psychology appreciation" for economics students. Aims to enhance knowledge and intuition about psychological processes in areas relevant to economics. Increases understanding of psychology as an experimental discipline, with its own distinct rules and style of argument. Topics include self-knowledge, cognitive dissonance, self-deception, emotions, social norms, self-control, learning, mental accounting, memory, individual and group behavior, and some personality and psycho-analytic models. Within each of these topics, we showcase effective and central experiments and discuss their role in the development of psychological theory. Term paper required.

14.147 Topics in Game Theory

Prereq: 14.126 Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered Acad Year 2025-2026: G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

Advanced subject on topics of current research interest.

14.15[J] Networks

Same subject as 6.3260[J] Subject meets with 14.150 Prereq: 6.3700 or 14.30 U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Highlights common principles that permeate the functioning of diverse technological, economic and social networks. Utilizes three sets of tools for analyzing networks -- random graph models, optimization, and game theory -- to study informational and learning cascades; economic and financial networks; social influence networks; formation of social groups; communication networks and the Internet; consensus and gossiping; spread and control of epidemics; control and use of energy networks; and biological networks. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.150 Networks

Subject meets with 6.3260[J] , 14.15[J] Prereq: 6.3700 or 14.300 G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

14.16 Strategy and Information

Subject meets with 14.161 Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Covers modern applications of game theory where incomplete information plays an important role. Applications include bargaining, auctions, global games, market design, information design, and network economics. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.160 Behavioral Economics

Prereq: 14.122 G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Covers recent theory and empirical evidence in behavioral economics. Topics include deviations from the neoclassical model in terms of (i) preferences (present bias, reference dependence, social preferences), (ii) beliefs (overconfidence, projection bias), and (iii) decision-making (cognition, attention, framing, persuasion), as well as (iv) market reactions to such deviations. Applications will cover a large range of fields, including labor and public economics, industrial organization, health economics, finance, and development economics.

A. Banerjee,  F. Schilbach

14.161 Strategy and Information

Subject meets with 14.16 Prereq: 14.01 or permission of instructor G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

14.163 Algorithms and Behavioral Science

Prereq: ( 14.122 and 14.381 ) or permission of instructor G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Examines algorithms and their interaction with human cognition.  Provides an overview of supervised learning as it relates to econometrics and economic applications. Discusses using algorithms to better understand people, using algorithms to improve human judgment, and using understanding of humans to better design algorithms.  Prepares economics PhD students to conduct research in the field.

S. Mullainathan, A. Rambachan

14.18 Mathematical Economic Modeling

Prereq: 14.04 , 14.12 , 14.15[J] , or 14.19 U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Guides students through the process of developing and analyzing formal economic models and effectively communicating their results. Topics include decision theory, game theory, voting, and matching. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Prior coursework in microeconomic theory and/or proof-based mathematics required. Limited to 18 students.

14.19 Market Design

Prereq: 14.01 U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Covers the design and operation of organized markets, building on ideas from microeconomic and game theory. Topics may include mechanism design, auctions, matching markets, and other resource allocation problems.

14.191 Independent Research Paper

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) 0-12-0 units Can be repeated for credit.

Under guidance from a faculty member approved by Graduate Registration Officer, student writes a substantial, probably publishable research paper. Must be completed by the end of a student's second year to satisfy the departmental minor requirement.

14.192 Advanced Research and Communication

Prereq: 14.124 , 14.382 , and 14.454 G (Fall, IAP, Spring) 2-4-6 units Can be repeated for credit.

Guides second-year Economics PhD students through the process of conducting and communicating economic research. Students choose topics for research projects, develop research strategies, carry out analyses, and write and present research papers. Limited to second year Economics PhD students.

14.193 Advanced Seminar in Economics

Prereq: 14.121 and 14.451 G (Fall, Spring, Summer; first half of term) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Reading and discussion of current topics in economics. Open to advanced graduate students by arrangement with individual members of the staff.

Consult Department headquarters

14.195 Reading Seminar in Economics

Prereq: 14.121 G (Fall, Spring, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

14.197 Independent Research

Prereq: None G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

Under guidance from a faculty member approved by Graduate Registration Officer, student conducts independent research.

14.198, 14.199 Teaching Introductory Economics

Prereq: None G (Fall, Spring) 2-0-2 units Can be repeated for credit.

Required of teaching assistants in introductory economics ( 14.01 and 14.02 ), under guidance from the faculty member in charge of the subject.

14.198: N. Agarwal, D. Donaldson 14.199: M. Beraja, R. Caballero

14.281 Contract Economics

Prereq: 14.124 or permission of instructor G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

Covers theoretical research on contracts in static as well as dynamic settings. Topics include agency theory, mechanism design, incomplete contracting, information design and costly information acquisition. 

I. Ball, S. Morris

Industrial Organization

14.20 industrial organization: competitive strategy and public policy.

Subject meets with 14.200 Prereq: 14.01 U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Analyzes the current debate over the rise of monopolies, the strategic behavior and performance of firms in imperfectly competitive markets, and the role of competition policy. Topics include monopoly power; pricing, product choice, and innovation decisions by firms in oligopoly markets; static and dynamic measurement of market performance; and incentives in organizations. Requires regular participation in class discussion and teamwork in a competitive strategy game. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.200 Industrial Organization: Competitive Strategy and Public Policy

Subject meets with 14.20 Prereq: 14.01 G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

14.27 Economics and E-Commerce

Subject meets with 14.270 Prereq: 14.01 and ( 6.3700 or 14.30 ) U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Uses theoretical economic models and empirical evidence to help understand the growth and future of e-commerce. Economic models help frame class discussions of, among other topics, content provision, privacy, piracy, sales taxation, group purchasing, price search, and advertising on the internet. Empirical project and paper required. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.270 Economics and E-Commerce

Subject meets with 14.27 Prereq: 14.01 and ( 6.3700 or 14.30 ) G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

14.271 Industrial Organization I

Prereq: None. Coreq: 14.122 and 14.381 G (Fall) 5-0-7 units

Covers theoretical and empirical work dealing with the structure, behavior, and performance of firms and markets and core issues in antitrust. Topics include: the organization of the firm, monopoly, price discrimination, oligopoly, and auctions. Theoretical and empirical work are integrated in each area.

14.272 Industrial Organization II

Prereq: 14.271 G (Spring) 5-0-7 units

Continuation of 14.271 . Focuses on government interventions in monopoly and oligopoly markets, and addresses both competition and regulatory policy. Topics include horizontal merger policy and demand estimation, vertical integration and vertical restraints, and the theory and practice of economic regulation. Applications include the political economy of regulation; the performance of economic regulation; deregulation in sectors including electric power, transportation, and financial services; and pharmaceutical and environmental regulation in imperfectly competitive product markets.

N. Rose, M. Whinston

14.273 Advanced Topics in Industrial Organization

Empirical analysis of theoretically derived models of market behavior. Varied topics include demand estimation, differentiated products, production functions, analysis of market power, entry and exit, vertical relationships, auctions, matching markets, network externalities, dynamic oligopoly, moral hazard and adverse selection. Discussion will focus on methodological issues, including identification, estimation, counter-factual analysis and simulation techniques.

N. Agarwal, T. Salz

Organizational Economics

14.26[j] organizational economics.

Same subject as 15.039[J] Subject meets with 14.260 Prereq: 14.01 Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered Acad Year 2025-2026: U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Provides a rigorous, but not overly technical introduction to the economic theory of organization together with a varying set of applications. Addresses incentives, control, relationships, decision processes, and organizational culture and performance. Introduces selected fundamentals of game theory. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 60.

C. Angelucci

14.260 Organizational Economics

Subject meets with 14.26[J] , 15.039[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered Acad Year 2025-2026: G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

14.282 Introduction to Organizational Economics

Prereq: 14.124 G (Fall) 5-0-7 units

Begins with survey of contract theory for organizational economists, then introduces the main areas of the field, including the boundary of the firm; decision-making, employment, structures and processes in organizations; and organizations other than firms.

C. Angelucci, R. Gibbons, N. Kala

14.283 Advanced Topics in Organizational Economics I

Prereq: 14.282 G (Spring; first half of term) 2-0-4 units

Builds on the work done in 14.282 to develop more in-depth analysis of topics in the field.

14.284 Advanced Topics in Organizational Economics II

Prereq: 14.282 G (Spring; second half of term) 2-0-4 units

Statistics and Econometrics

14.30 introduction to statistical methods in economics.

Subject meets with 14.300 Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. REST

Self-contained introduction to probability and statistics with applications in economics and the social sciences.  Covers elements of probability theory, statistical estimation and inference, regression analysis, causal inference, and program evaluation. Couples methods with applications and with assignments involving data analysis. Uses basic calculus and matrix algebra.  Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. May not count toward HASS requirement.

14.300 Introduction to Statistical Methods in Economics

Subject meets with 14.30 Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

Self-contained introduction to probability and statistics with applications in economics and the social sciences. Covers elements of probability theory, statistical estimation and inference, regression analysis, causal inference, and program evaluation. Couples methods with applications and with assignments involving data analysis. Uses basic calculus and matrix algebra. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.310 Data Analysis for Social Scientists

Prereq: None G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units

Introduces methods for harnessing data to answer questions of cultural, social, economic, and policy interest. Presents essential notions of probability and statistics. Covers techniques in modern data analysis: regression and econometrics, prediction, design of experiment, randomized control trials (and A/B testing), machine learning, data visualization, analysis of network data, and geographic information systems. Projects include analysis of data with a written description and interpretation of results; may involve gathering of original data or use of existing data sets. Applications drawn from real world examples and frontier research. Instruction in use of the statistical package R. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

Consult E. Duflo

14.32 Econometric Data Science

Subject meets with 14.320 Prereq: 14.30 or 18.650[J] U (Fall, Spring) 4-4-4 units. Institute LAB

Introduces regression and other tools for causal inference and descriptive analysis in empirical economics. Topics include analysis of randomized experiments, instrumental variables methods and regression discontinuity designs, differences-in-differences estimation, and regression with time series data. Develops the skills needed to conduct — and critique — empirical studies in economics and related fields. Empirical applications are drawn from published examples and frontier research. Familiarity with statistical programming languages is helpful. Students taking graduate version complete an empirical project leading to a short paper. No listeners. Limited to 70 total for versions meeting together.

A. Mikusheva, J. Angrist

14.320 Econometric Data Science

Subject meets with 14.32 Prereq: 14.300 or 18.650[J] G (Fall, Spring) 4-4-4 units

Introduces regression and other tools for causal inference and descriptive analysis in empirical economics. Topics include analysis of randomized experiments, instrumental variables methods and regression discontinuity designs, differences-in-differences estimation, and regress with time series data. Develops the skills needed to conduct — and critique — empirical studies in economics and related fields. Empirical applications are drawn from published examples and frontier research. Familiarity with statistical programming languages is helpful. Students taking graduate version complete an empirical project leading to a short paper. No listeners. Limited to 70 total for versions meeting together.

14.33 Research and Communication in Economics: Topics, Methods, and Implementation

Prereq: 14.32 and ( 14.01 or 14.02 ) U (Fall, Spring) 3-4-5 units. HASS-S

Exposes students to the process of conducting independent research in empirical economics and effectively communicating the results of the research. Emphasizes econometric analysis of an assigned economic question and culminates in each student choosing an original topic, performing appropriate analysis, and delivering oral and written project reports. Limited to 20 per section.

14.35 Why Markets Fail

Prereq: 14.04 , 14.12 , 14.15[J] , or 14.19 U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Guides students through the process of developing and communicating economic and data analysis. Discusses topics in which markets fail to provide efficient outcomes or economic opportunity. Topics include health insurance, intergenerational mobility, discrimination, climate change, and more. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Key course activities include the writing of a term paper conducting original economic analysis and an in-class slide presentation of the work. Limited to 18.

14.36 Advanced Econometrics

Subject meets with 14.387 Prereq: 14.32 or permission of instructor U (Fall) 4-0-8 units

Advanced treatment of the core empirical strategies used to answer causal questions in applied microeconometric research. Covers extensions and innovations relating to econometric applications of regression, machine learning, instrumental variables, differences-in-differences and event-study models, regression discontinuity designs, synthetic controls, and statistical inference.  Students taking graduate version complete an additional assignment.  

14.38 Inference on Causal and Structural Parameters Using ML and AI

Subject meets with 14.388 Prereq: 14.32 U (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Provides an applied treatment of modern causal inference with high-dimensional data, focusing on empirical economic problems encountered in academic research and the tech industry. Formulates problems in the languages of structural equation modeling and potential outcomes. Presents state-of-the-art approaches for inference on causal and structural parameters, including de-biased machine learning, synthetic control methods, and reinforcement learning. Introduces tools from machine learning and deep learning developed for prediction purposes, and discusses how to adapt them to learn causal parameters. Emphasizes the applied and practical perspectives. Requires knowledge of mathematical statistics and regression analysis and programming experience in R or Python.

V. Chernozhukov

14.380 Statistical Method in Economics

Prereq: 14.32 or permission of instructor G (Fall; first half of term) 3-0-3 units

Introduction to probability and statistics as background for advanced econometrics. Covers elements of probability theory, sampling theory, asymptotic approximations, hypothesis testing, and maximum-likelihood methods. Illustrations from economics and application of these concepts to economic problems. Limited to 40 PhD students.

A. Mikusheva, A. Rambachan

14.381 Estimation and Inference for Linear Causal and Structural Models

Prereq: 14.380 and 18.06 G (Fall; second half of term) 3-0-3 units

Explains basic econometric ideas and methods, illustrating with empirical applications. Causal inference is emphasized and examples of economic structural models are given. Topics include randomized trials, regression, including discontinuity designs and diffs-in-diffs, and instrumental variables, including local average treatment effects. Basic asymptotic theory for regression is covered and robust standard errors and statistical inference methods are given. Restricted to PhD students from Courses 14 and 15. Instructor approval required for all others.

14.382 Econometrics

Prereq: 14.381 or permission of instructor G (Spring) 3-0-3 units

Covers key models as well as identification and estimation methods used in modern econometrics. Presents modern ways to set up problems and do better estimation and inference than the current empirical practice. Introduces generalized method of moments and the method of M-estimators in addition to more modern versions of these methods dealing with important issues, such as weak identification. Also discusses the bootstrap. Students gain practical experience by applying the methods to real data sets. Enrollment limited.

14.383 High-Dimensional Econometrics (New)

Prereq: 14.382 or permission of instructor G (Spring; second half of term) 3-0-3 units

Continuation of topics in 14.382 , with specific focus on large dimensional models. Students gain practical experience by applying the methods to real data sets. Enrollment limited.

14.384 Time Series Analysis

Prereq: 14.382 or permission of instructor G (Fall) 5-0-7 units

Studies theory and application of time series methods in econometrics, including spectral analysis, estimation with stationary and non-stationary processes, VARs, factor models, unit roots, cointegration, and Bayesian methods. Enrollment limited.

A. Mikusheva

14.385 Nonlinear Econometric Analysis

Develops a full understanding of and ability to apply micro-econometric models and methods. Topics include extremum estimators, including minimum distance and simulated moments, identification, partial identification, sensitivity analysis, many weak instruments, nonlinear panel data, de-biased machine learning, discrete choice models, nonparametric estimation, quantile regression, and treatment effects. Methods are illustrated with economic applications. Enrollment limited.

A. Abadie, W. Newey

14.386 New Econometric Methods

Prereq: 14.382 G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Exposes students to the frontier of econometric research. Includes fundamental topics such as empirical processes, semiparametric estimation, nonparametric instrumental variables, inference under partial identification, large-scale inference, empirical Bayes, and machine learning methods. Other topics vary from year to year, but can include empirical likelihood, weak identification, and networks.

14.387 Applied Econometrics

Subject meets with 14.36 Prereq: 14.381 or permission of instructor G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

Advanced treatment of the core empirical strategies used to answer causal questions in applied microeconometric research. Covers extensions and innovations relating to econometric applications of regression, machine learning, instrumental variables, differences-in-differences and event-study models, regression discontinuity designs, synthetic controls, and statistical inference.  Students taking the graduate version complete an additional assignment.  

14.388 Inference on Causal and Structural Parameters Using ML and AI

Subject meets with 14.38 Prereq: 14.381 G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Provides an applied treatment of modern causal inference with high-dimensional data, focusing on empirical economic problems encountered in academic research and the tech industry. Formulates problems in the languages of structural equation modeling and potential outcomes. Presents state-of-the-art approaches for inference on causal and structural parameters, including de-biased machine learning, synthetic control methods, and reinforcement learning. Introduces tools from machine learning and deep learning developed for prediction purposes, and discusses how to adapt them to learn causal parameters. Emphasizes the applied and practical perspectives. Requires knowledge of mathematical statistics and regression analysis and programming experience in R or Python.

14.39 Large-Scale Decision-Making and Inference (New)

Subject meets with 14.390 Prereq: 14.32 U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Covers the use of data to guide decision-making, with a focus on data-rich and high-dimensional environments as are now commonly encountered in both academic and industry applications. Begins with an introduction to statistical decision theory, including Bayesian perspectives. Covers empirical Bayes methods, including related concepts such as false discovery rates, illustrated with economic applications. Requires knowledge of mathematical statistics and regression analysis, as well as programming experience in R or Python. Students taking the graduate version submit additional assignments.

14.390 Large-Scale Decision-Making and Inference (New)

Subject meets with 14.39 Prereq: 14.320 G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

14.391 Workshop in Economic Research

Prereq: 14.124 and 14.454 G (Fall) 2-0-10 units Can be repeated for credit.

Develops research ability of students through intensive discussion of dissertation research as it proceeds, individual or group research projects, and critical appraisal of current reported research. Workshops divided into various fields, depending on interest and size.

14.392 Workshop in Economic Research

Prereq: 14.124 and 14.454 G (Spring) 2-0-10 units Can be repeated for credit.

14.399 Seminar in Data Economics and Development Policy

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) 2-0-10 units

Group study of current topics in development policy and research. Includes student presentations and invited speakers. Restricted to DEDP MASc students.

National Income and Finance

14.41 public finance and public policy.

Subject meets with 14.410 Prereq: 14.01 U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Explores the role of government in the economy, applying tools of basic microeconomics to answer important policy questions such as government response to global warming, school choice by K-12 students, Social Security versus private retirement savings accounts, government versus private health insurance, setting income tax rates for individuals and corporations. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.410 Public Finance and Public Policy

Subject meets with 14.41 Prereq: 14.01 G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

14.416[J] Asset Pricing

Same subject as 15.470[J] Prereq: None G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

See description under subject 15.470[J] .

L. Schmidt, L. Mota

14.42 Environmental Policy and Economics

Subject meets with 14.420 Prereq: 14.01 U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Introduces key concepts and recent advances in environmental economics, and explores their application to environmental policy questions. Topics include market efficiency and market failure, methods for valuing the benefits of environmental quality, the proper role of government in the regulation of the environment, environmental policy design, and implementation challenges. Considers international aspects of environmental policy as well, including the economics of climate change, trade and the environment, and environmental challenges in developing countries. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.420 Environmental Policy and Economics

Subject meets with 14.42 Prereq: 14.01 G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units

Introduces students to key concepts and recent advances in environmental economics, and explores their application to environmental policy questions. Topics include market efficiency and market failure, methods for valuing the benefits of environmental quality, the proper role of government in the regulation of the environment, environmental policy design and implementation challenges. Also considers international aspects of environmental policy including the economics of climate change, trade and the environment and environmental challenges in developing countries. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.43[J] Economics of Energy, Innovation, and Sustainability

Same subject as 15.0201[J] Prereq: 14.01 or 15.0111 U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S Credit cannot also be received for 15.020

See description under subject 15.0201[J] .

14.44[J] Energy Economics and Policy

Same subject as 15.037[J] Prereq: 14.01 or 15.0111 U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S Credit cannot also be received for 14.444[J] , 15.038[J]

Analyzes business and public policy issues in energy markets and in the environmental markets to which they are closely tied. Examines the economic determinants of industry structure and evolution of competition among firms in these industries. Investigates successful and unsuccessful strategies for entering new markets and competing in existing markets. Industries studied include oil, natural gas, coal, electricity, and transportation. Topics include climate change and environmental policy, the role of speculation in energy markets, the political economy of energy policies, and market power and antitrust. Two team-based simulation games, representing the world oil market and a deregulated electricity market, act to cement the concepts covered in lecture. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 60.

14.440[J] Advanced Corporate Finance

Same subject as 15.473[J] Prereq: None G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 15.473[J] . Primarily for doctoral students in finance, economics, and accounting.

14.441[J] Corporate Finance

Same subject as 15.471[J] Prereq: None G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 15.471[J] .

A. Schoar, D. Thesmar

14.442[J] Advanced Asset Pricing

Same subject as 15.472[J] Prereq: None G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 15.472[J] . Primarily for doctoral students in finance, economics, and accounting.

14.444[J] Energy Economics and Policy

Same subject as 15.038[J] Prereq: 14.01 or 15.0111 G (Spring) 4-0-8 units Credit cannot also be received for 14.44[J] , 15.037[J]

14.448[J] Current Topics in Finance

Same subject as 15.474[J] Prereq: None G (Spring) 3-0-9 units Can be repeated for credit.

See description under subject 15.474[J] . Primarily for doctoral students in accounting, economics, and finance.

Consult J. Alton

14.449[J] Current Research in Financial Economics

Same subject as 15.475[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) 3-0-3 units Can be repeated for credit.

See description under subject 15.475[J] . Restricted to doctoral students.

14.451 Dynamic Optimization Methods with Applications

Prereq: 14.06 and permission of instructor G (Fall; first half of term) 3-0-3 units

Provides an introduction to dynamic optimization methods, including discrete-time dynamic programming in non-stochastic and stochastic environments, and continuous time methods including the Pontryagin maximum principle. Applications may include the Ramsey model, irreversible investment models, and consumption choices under uncertainty. Enrollment limited.

14.452 Economic Growth

Prereq: 14.451 and permission of instructor G (Fall; second half of term) 3-0-3 units

Introduces the sources and modeling of economic growth and income differences across nations. Topics include an introduction to dynamic general equilibrium theory, the neoclassical growth model, overlapping generations, determinants of technological progress, endogenous growth models, measurement of technological progress, the role of human capital in economic growth, and growth in a global economy. Enrollment limited.

D. Acemoglu

14.453 Economic Fluctuations

Prereq: 14.452 and permission of instructor G (Spring; first half of term) 3-0-3 units

Investigation of why aggregate economic activity fluctuates, and the role of policy in affecting fluctuations. Topics include the link between monetary policy and output, the economic cost of aggregate fluctuations, the costs and benefits of price stability, and the role of central banks. Introduction to real business cycle and new Keynesian models. Enrollment limited.

14.454 Economic Crises

Prereq: 14.453 and permission of instructor G (Spring; second half of term) 3-0-3 units

Provides an overview of models of the business cycle caused by financial markets' frictions and shocks. Topics include credit crunch, collateral shocks, bank runs, contagion, speculative bubbles, credit booms, leverage, safe asset shortages, capital flows and sudden stops. Enrollment limited.

R. Caballero

14.461 Advanced Macroeconomics I

Prereq: 14.122 and 14.452 G (Fall) 5-0-7 units

Advanced subject in macroeconomics that seeks to bring students to the research frontier. Topics vary from year to year, covering a wide spectrum of classical and recent research. Topics may include business cycles, optimal monetary and tax policy, monetary economics, banking, and financial constraints on investment and incomplete markets.

M. Beraja, I. Werning

14.462 Advanced Macroeconomics II

Prereq: 14.461 G (Spring) 5-0-7 units

Topics vary from year to year. Often includes coordination failures; frictions in beliefs, such as rational inattention, higher-order uncertainty, certain forms of bounded rationality, heterogeneous beliefs, and ambiguity; implications for business cycles, asset markets, and policy; financial frictions and obstacles to trade; intermediation; liquidity; safe assets; global imbalances; financial crises; and speculation.

14.47[J] Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy

Same subject as 11.167[J] , 15.2191[J] , 17.399[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S Credit cannot also be received for 11.267[J] , 15.219[J]

See description under subject 15.2191[J] . Preference to juniors, seniors, and Energy Minors.

14.471 Public Economics I

Prereq: 14.04 G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Theory and evidence on government taxation policy. Topics include tax incidence; optimal tax theory; the effect of taxation on labor supply and savings; taxation and corporate behavior; and tax expenditure policy.

N. Hendren, J. Poterba, I. Werning

14.472 Public Economics II

Prereq: 14.471 G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Focuses on government expenditures and policies designed to correct market failures and/or redistribute resources. Key topics include theoretical and empirical analysis of insurance market failures, the optimal design of social insurance programs, and the design of redistributive programs.

A. Finkelstein, N. Hendren

14.475 Environmental Economics

Prereq: None G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Theory and evidence on environmental externalities and regulatory, tax and other government responses to problems of market failure. Topics include cost-benefit analysis; measurement of the benefits of non-market goods; evaluation of the impacts of regulation; and international environmental issues including the economics of climate change and trade and the environment.

International, Interregional, and Urban Economics

14.54 international trade.

Subject meets with 14.540 Prereq: 14.01 U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Provides an introduction to theoretical and empirical topics in international trade. Offers a brief history of globalization. Introduces the theory of comparative advantage and discusses its implications for international specialization and wage inequality. Studies the determinants and consequences of trade policy, and analyzes the consequences of immigration and foreign direct investment. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

A. Costinot

14.540 International Trade

Subject meets with 14.54 Prereq: 14.01 G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

14.581 International Economics I

Prereq: 14.04 G (Fall) 5-0-7 units

Covers a variety of topics, both theoretical and empirical, in international trade, international macroeconomics, and economic geography. Focuses on general equilibrium analysis in neoclassical economies. Considers why countries and regions trade, and what goods they trade; impediments to trade, and why some countries deliberately erect policy to impede; and implications of openness for growth. Also tackles normative issues, such as whether trade openness is beneficial, whether there are winners and losers from trade and, if so, how they can possibly be identified.

D. Atkin, A. Costinot, D. Donaldson

14.582 International Economics II

Prereq: 14.06 G (Spring) 5-0-7 units

Building on topics covered in 14.581 , revisits a number of core questions in international trade, international macroeconomics, and economic geography in the presence of increasing returns, imperfect competition, and other distortions. Stresses their connection to both macro and micro (firm-level) data for questions related to trade policy, inequality, industrial policy, growth, and the location of economic activities. Focuses on both theoretical models, empirical findings, and the challenging task of putting those two together.

Labor Economics and Industrial Relations

14.64 labor economics and public policy.

Subject meets with 14.640 Prereq: 14.30 or permission of instructor Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered Acad Year 2025-2026: U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Provides an introduction to the labor market, how it functions, and the important role it plays in people's lives. Topics include supply and demand, minimum wages, labor market effects of social insurance and welfare programs, the collective bargaining relationship, discrimination, human capital, and unemployment. Completion of or concurrent enrollment in 14.03 or 14.04 ,  and 14.32 recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.640 Labor Economics and Public Policy

Subject meets with 14.64 Prereq: 14.300 or permission of instructor Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered Acad Year 2025-2026: G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Provides an introduction to the labor market, how it functions, and the important role it plays in people's lives. Topics include supply and demand, minimum wages, labor market effects of social insurance and welfare programs, the collective bargaining relationship, discrimination, human capital, and unemployment. Completion of or concurrent enrollment in 14.03 or 14.04 , and 14.32 recommended. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.661 Labor Economics I

Subject meets with 14.661A Prereq: 14.32 and ( 14.03 or 14.04 ) G (Fall) 5-0-7 units

A systematic development of the theory of labor supply, labor demand, and human capital. Topics include wage and employment determination, turnover, search, immigration, unemployment, equalizing differences, and institutions in the labor market. Particular emphasis on the interaction between theoretical and empirical modeling. No listeners.

D. Acemoglu, J. Angrist, P. Pathak

14.661A Labor Economics I

Subject meets with 14.661 Prereq: 14.32 and ( 14.03 or 14.04 ) G (Fall) 5-0-7 units

Covers the same material as 14.661 but in greater depth. Additional assignments required. Limited to economics PhD students who wish to declare a major field in labor economics.

14.662 Labor Economics II

Subject meets with 14.662A Prereq: 14.32 and ( 14.03 or 14.04 ) G (Spring) 5-0-7 units

Theory and evidence on the determinants of earnings levels, inequality, intergenerational mobility, skill demands, and employment structure. Particular focus on the determinants of worker- and firm-level productivity; and the roles played by supply, demand, institutions, technology and trade in the evolving distribution of income.

D. Autor, S. Jaeger

14.662A Labor Economics II

Subject meets with 14.662 Prereq: 14.32 and ( 14.03 or 14.04 ) G (Spring) 5-0-7 units

Covers the same material as 14.662 but in greater depth. Additional assignments required. Limited to economics PhD students who wish to declare a major field in labor economics.

Economic History

14.70[j] medieval economic history in comparative perspective.

Same subject as 21H.134[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S; CI-H

See description under subject 21H.134[J] .

Economic Development

14.73 the challenge of world poverty.

Prereq: None U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S; CI-H

Designed for students who are interested in the challenge posed by massive and persistent world poverty. Examines extreme poverty over time to see if it is no longer a threat, why some countries grow fast and others fall further behind, if growth or foreign aid help the poor, what we can do about corruption, if markets or NGOs should be left to deal with poverty, where to intervene, and how to deal with the disease burden and improve schools.

E. Duflo, F. Schilbach

14.74 Foundations of Development Policy

Subject meets with 14.740 Prereq: 14.01 U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Explores the foundations of policy making in developing countries, with the goal of spelling out various policy options and quantifying the trade-offs between them. Topics include education, health, fertility, adoption of technological innovations, financial markets (credit, savings, and insurance), markets for land and labor, political factors, and international considerations (aid, trade, and multinational firms). Some basic familiarity with probability and/or statistics is useful for this class. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.740 Foundations of Development Policy

Subject meets with 14.74 Prereq: 14.01 G (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units

14.75 Political Economy and Economic Development

Subject meets with 14.750 Prereq: 14.01 U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Explores the relationship between political institutions and economic development, covering key theoretical issues as well as recent empirical evidence. Topics include corruption, voting, vote buying, the media, and war. Discusses not just what we know on these topics, but how we know it, covering how to craft a good empirical study or field experiment and how to discriminate between reliable and unreliable evidence.  Some basic familiarity with probability and/or statistics is useful for this class.  Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

A. Banerjee, B. Olken

14.750 Political Economy and Economic Development

Subject meets with 14.75 Prereq: 14.01 G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Explores the relationship between political institutions and economic development, covering key theoretical issues as well as recent empirical evidence. Topics include corruption, voting, vote buying, the media, and war. Discusses not just what we know on these topics, but how we know it, covering how to craft a good empirical study or field experiment and how to discriminate between reliable and unreliable evidence. Some basic familiarity with probability and/or statistics is useful for this class.  Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

14.76 Firms, Markets, Trade and Growth

Subject meets with 14.760 Prereq: 14.01 and ( 14.30 or permission of instructor) U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Examines how industrial development and international trade have brought about rapid growth and large-scale reductions in poverty for some developing countries, while globalization has simply increased inequality and brought little growth for others. Also considers why, in yet other developing countries, firms remain small-scale and have not integrated with global supply chains. Draws on both theoretical models and empirical evidence to better understand the reasons for these very different experiences and implications for policy. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

D. Atkin, D. Donaldson

14.760 Firms, Markets, Trade and Growth

Subject meets with 14.76 Prereq: 14.01 and ( 14.30 or permission of instructor) G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

14.770 Introduction to Collective Choice and Political Economy

Broad introduction to political economy. Covers topics from social choice theory to political agency models, including theories of voter turnout and comparison of political institutions.

A. Banerjee, B. Olken, A. Wolitzky

14.771 Development Economics: Microeconomic Issues

Prereq: 14.121 and 14.122 G (Fall) 5-0-7 units

A rigorous introduction to core micro-economic issues in economic development, focusing on both key theoretical contributions and empirical applications to understand both why some countries are poor and on how markets function differently in poor economies. Topics include human capital (education and health); labor markets; credit markets; land markets; firms; and the role of the public sector.

E. Duflo, B. Olken

14.772 Development Economics: Macroeconomics

Prereq: 14.121 and 14.451 G (Spring) 5-0-7 units

Emphasizes dynamic models of growth and development. Topics include migration, modernization, and technological change; static and dynamic models of political economy; the dynamics of income distribution and institutional change; firm structure in developing countries; development, transparency, and functioning of financial markets; privatization; and banks and credit market institutions in emerging markets. Examines innovative yet disruptive digital technologies, including blockchain, digital assets, crypto currency, distributed ledgers, and smart contracts.

D. Atkins, A. Banerjee, R. Townsend

14.773 Political Economy: Institutions and Development

Economists and policymakers increasingly realize the importance of political institutions in shaping economic performance, especially in the context of understanding economic development. Work on the determinants of economic policies and institutions is in its infancy, but is growing rapidly. Subject provides an introduction to this area. Topics covered: the economic role of institutions; the effects of social conflict and class conflict on economic development; political economic determinants of macro policies; political development; theories of income distribution and distributional conflict; the efficiency effects of distributional conflict; the causes and consequences of corruption; the role of colonial history; and others. Both theoretical and empirical approaches discussed. Subject can be taken either as part of the Development Economics or the Positive Political Economy fields.

D. Acemoglu, A. Banerjee, J. Moscona

14.775 Comparing Societies (New)

Studies the cultural, social, and institutional foundations of societies around the world, emphasizing fundamentals and mechanisms that are outside the scope of traditional models in economics. Topics include social organization, perceptions of reality (e.g., the spiritual and meta-human world), drivers of innovation and technology diffusion, conflict, determinants of fertility and population growth, moral frameworks (e.g., views about right/wrong, fairness, equality, and community membership), religion, objectives and definitions of success, and societal equilibria. Emphasizes how research ranging from economic theory to development and policy design can benefit from an understanding of these vast differences that exist around the world. Also considers how these differences affect and are affected by culture, formal institutions, and development. Open to PhD students.

J. Moscona, N. Nunn, J. Robinson

14.78[J] Shaping the Future of Technology: From Early Agriculture to Artificial Intelligence

Same subject as 15.238[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered Acad Year 2025-2026: U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S; CI-H

Provides a framework for thinking about major technological transitions over the past 12,000 years as a means to explore paths to a better future. Discusses who gains or loses from innovation and who can shape the future of artificial intelligence, biotech, and other breakthroughs. Introduces major questions tackled by researchers and relevant to economic policy through faculty lectures, interactive events with prominent guests, and group work. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided.

D. Acemoglu, S. Johnson

14.THG Graduate Thesis

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Program of research and writing of thesis; to be arranged by the student with advising committee.

14.THU Thesis

Prereq: 14.33 U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Program of research and writing of thesis.

14.UR Undergraduate Research

Prereq: 14.02 U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

Participation in research with an individual faculty member or research group, independent research or study under the guidance of a faculty member. Admission by arrangement with individual faculty member.

14.URG Undergraduate Research

Prereq: 14.02 U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

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The following are general requirements you should meet to apply to the MIT Sloan PhD Program. Complete instructions concerning application requirements are available in the online application.

General Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• A strong quantitative background (the Accounting group requires calculus)
• Exposure to microeconomics and macroeconomics (the Accounting group requires microeconomics)

A Guide to Business PhD Applications by Abhishek Nagaraj (PhD 2016) may be of interest.

Application Components

Statement of purpose.

Your written statement is your chance to convince the admissions committee that you will do excellent doctoral work and that you have the promise to have a successful career as an academic researcher. 

GMAT/GRE Scores

We require either a valid GMAT or valid GRE score. At-home testing is allowed. Your unofficial score report from the testing institution is sufficient for application. If you are admitted to the program, you will be required to submit your official test score for verification.    

We do not have a minimum score requirement. We do not offer test waivers. Registration information for the GMAT (code X5X-QS-21) and GRE (code 3510) may be obtained at www.mba.com and www.ets.org respectively.

TOEFL/IELTS Scores

We require either a valid TOEFL (minimum score 577 PBT/90 IBT ) or valid IELTS (minimum score 7) for all non-native English speakers. Your unofficial score report from the testing institution is sufficient for application. If you are admitted to the program, you will be required to submit your official test score for verification.    Registration information for TOEFL (code 3510) and IELTS may be obtained at www.toefl.org and www.ielts.org respectively.

The TOEFL/IELTS test requirement is waived only if you meet one of the following criteria:

Please do not contact the PhD Program regarding waivers, as none will be discussed. If, upon review, the faculty are interested in your application with a missing required TOEFL or IELTS score, we may contact you at that time to request a score.

Transcripts

We require unofficial copies of transcripts for each college or university you have attended, even if no degree was awarded. If these transcripts are in a language other than English, we also require a copy of a certified translation. In addition, you will be asked to list the five most relevant courses you have taken.

Letters of Recommendation

We require three letters of recommendation. Academic letters are preferred, especially those providing evidence of research potential. We allow for an optional  fourth recommendation, but no more than four recommendations are allowed.

Your resume should be no more than two pages. You may chose to include teaching, professional experience, research experience, publications, and other accomplishments in outside activities.

Writing Sample(s)

Applicants are encouraged to submit a writing sample. For applicants to the Finance group, a writing sample is required. There are no specific guidelines for your writing sample. Possible options include (but are not limited to) essays, masters’ theses, capstone projects, or research papers.

Video Essay

A video essay is required for the Accounting research group and optional for the Marketing and System Dynamics research groups. The essay is a short and informal video answering why you selected this research group and a time where you creatively solved a problem. The video can be recorded with your phone or computer, and should range from 2 to 5 minutes in length. There is no attention — zero emphasis! — on the production value of your video.  

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Making a measurable economic impact

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.”

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Master’s Degrees

The master’s degree generally requires a minimum of one academic year of study..

Admission to MIT for the master’s degree does not necessarily imply an automatic commitment by MIT beyond that level of study.

In the School of Engineering, students may be awarded the engineer’s degree. This degree program requires two years of study and provides a higher level of professional competence than is required by a master’s degree program, but less emphasis is placed on creative research than in the doctoral program.

Below is a list of programs and departments that offer master-level degrees.

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Program requirements.

Applicants seeking admission to the doctoral program are normally expected to have significantly more advanced training, particularly in the areas of mathematics and statistics. The USC PhD in Economics program requires students to complete a total of 60 units of graduate-level course work. Please see below for a breakdown of program requirements.

PhD HANDBOOK

USC CATALOGUE

24 units of coursework via the following required 4-unit courses:

ECON 601 – Microeconomic Theory I (Fall)

ECON 602 – Macroeconomic Theory I (Fall)

ECON 611 – Probability and Statistics for Economists (Fall)

ECON 603 – Microeconomic Theory II (Spring)

ECON 605 – Macroeconomic Theory II (Spring)

ECON 609 – Econometric Methods (Spring)

A minimum of 6 units selected from the following 2-unit seminar courses:

ECON 690 – Seminar in Economic Theory

ECON 691 – Seminar in Econometrics

ECON 692 – Seminar in Economic Development

ECON 693 – Seminar in Applied Economics and Public Policy

ECON 694 – Seminar in Dynamic Economics

ECON 696 – Empirical Microeconomics Seminar

The same seminar may be taken more than once. Each student must present at least one original research paper in a seminar of the student’s choice.

A minimum of 6 units of the 2-unit reading courses:

ECON 700 – Research on Frontier Economics

Students will enroll in this course three different times. Each semester, multiples sections of this course are offered. Each section focuses on specific a sub-field.

A minimum of 4 units from the following 2-unit dissertation courses:

ECON 794a – Doctoral Dissertation

ECON 794b – Doctoral Dissertation

ECON 794c – Doctoral Dissertation

ECON 794d – Doctoral Dissertation

A minimum of 20 units of elective courses:

The Director of Doctoral Studies (DDS) must approve all elective courses. ECON and non-ECON courses may count toward the elective requirement. Elective and seminar courses contribute to students’ advanced fields of study.

Each student should complete two advanced fields of study with the approval of the DDS. The requirements for completing each advanced field of study consists of (1) at least two courses numbered 600 or higher in that field with a minimum grade of A- in each, (2) satisfactory completion of one of the seminars related to the field, and (3) presentation of a research paper in a class or seminar. The signing of a student’s Appointment or Change of Qualifying Exam form signifies satisfactory completion of the field requirements.

The remainder of the courses to total at least 60 units must be preapproved by the DDS. However, not more than four units of ECON 590 and/or ECON 790 can be taken in a semester. Courses taken outside the Department or USC may not count toward the completion of a field. Waivers to the course requirements based on equivalent work at another university may be made upon petition to the DDS, up to a maximum of 12 units. Waivers for any other reason require the approval of the Department leadership.

In addition to Graduate School requirements, a minimum GPA of 3.0 on all course work taken toward the 60-unit requirement must be achieved.

Before beginning the third semester of graduate study, each PhD student must pass a written examination in general economic theory including applications. A maximum of two attempts is allowed. Not taking the examination at a given due time is considered as failing the examination once. The Core Exam is offered twice every year during the summer session. Any exceptions are subject to approval of the Director of Doctoral Studies.

Each PhD student must pass both Micro and Macro sections of the exam to pass the Core Theory Examination. If a student fails one of the two sections, the student is only required to retake the section of the exam he or she did not pass. Students who fail a section of the first examination in June are required to re-take the examination in August in the same year.

The first round of the Core Theory Examination is given during the second week of June:

• Micro: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Monday
• Macro: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Wednesday

The second round of the Core Theory Examination is given during the second week of August:

Each student will be assigned an examination ID number in order to be anonymous to the faculty who are grading. Each faculty on the Core Examination Committee grades independently and discuss the results afterwards. Students remain anonymous to the committee members until after the results are announced.

During the summer after the fourth semester of study, each student must submit a single-authored empirical paper using quantitative methods to the examination committee. The paper may use field, experimental or simulated data. In this paper, the student should demonstrate competence in using a computer programming language and software.

The paper is due on the first day of fall semester. Each student will be asked to submit their paper electronically to the PhD Program Advisor.

During the summer after the sixth semester of study, each student must submit a single-authored research paper to a committee of faculty. The paper must be of publishable quality.

The paper is due on the first day of fall semester. Each student will be asked to submit their paper electronically to the PhD Program Advisor. Each student is required to present the paper to the Third-Year Paper Committee members, other faculty, and graduate students at a scheduled time at the beginning of fall semester.

Upon successful completion of course and grade requirements, the paper requirement, and the Core Theory Examination, each student takes an examination that focuses on the presentation and defense of the written dissertation proposal. After passing this examination, each student is admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree. This examination must be taken no later than the end of the eighth semester of study.

The Qualifying Exam (Q-Exam/QE) is an oral exam to be taken after students have completed all of their required coursework and have begun pursuing their own research. The purpose of The QE is to ensure that students are working on suitable topics and making good progress toward a dissertation. First, students must form a QE Committee according to the USC Graduate School Guidelines and Forms (see https://graduateschool.usc.edu/current-students/guidelines-and-forms/ for required forms). Five members are required. Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences requires one to be an outside member (a USC professor who is not with the Department). The QE form contains more details about the committee requirements.

Students should talk to their QE Committee Chair about what is expected from them for the QE as these expectations vary slightly across faculty members. Typically, students present work from at least one chapter that is already in draft form and one or two chapters that are more preliminary (a dissertation requires three chapters). Often, one or two chapters are still in the proposal stage and students will obtain feedback during their exam. Some Committee Chairs require that students also submit written documents prior to the date of the oral exam for the committee to review. During the exam, students will present the motivation for their research, theory and/or empirical strategy, data sources if relevant, and results (depending on what stage they have reached in the research process). A substantial portion of time will be devoted to answering questions and defending their work.

After admission to candidacy, each student forms a Dissertation Committee composed of three faculty members, one of whom must be from an outside department. The Chair of a student’s Dissertation Committee is usually the student’s Primary Faculty Advisor (PFA). Each student must register in sequence for ECON 794a, ECON 794b, ECON 794c, ECON 794d, ECON 794z  each semester, excluding summer sessions, until the dissertation and all other degree requirements are completed.

The dissertation is defended in an oral examination administered by the dissertation committee. This happens once the committee agrees that a student has completed the research and a satisfactory final draft of the dissertation has been written. If the committee agrees to pass a student but suggests extensions, modifications, and/or corrections, the student may incorporate changes into the manuscript and resubmit the manuscript to the committee for their approval.

It is every student’s responsibility to see that the proper paperwork is submitted to the Graduate School upon completion of each requirement for the doctoral dissertation.