phd economics eui

Jump to navigation

Search form

Doctoral program.

• Program overview
• Application deadlines
• Admission and financial aids
• ENTER program
• Job Market Candidates

A world-class international doctoral program, training the brightest minds.

The "Doctoral track" ( Master 2 ETE ) allows students to acquire a thorough and advanced general training in economic theory (micro, macro and econometrics) before choosing a specific area of research. During this first year, students are also given training in research techniques and work one-on-one with a faculty advisor to complete a master’s thesis that will be assessed by a board of professors.

Second year

At the end of the first year, students are admitted in the second year Advanced Research degree in Economics (MRes in Economics) on the basis of their results (courses and research work) and embark on a final year of advanced, specialized courses. Students should select 7 course topics among a list of advanced specialized courses and attend an annual research workshop (members meet on a regular basis during the year). This intensive training should provide PhD students with a strong foundation for the writing of their thesis and for their future research career. An advisor and another faculty member assist students in the design of their plan of studies. During the second year, students choose their field(s) of specialization : 

• Behavioral and Experimental Economics
• Econometrics and Empirical Economics
• Economics Theory
• Industrial Organization
• Macroeconomics
• Public Policy and Applied Economics

At the end of this second year, students must present some original research work (a preliminary paper) to a jury of faculty members.

Thesis years

The two or three following years are devoted to full-time research and to writing the dissertation. Students are given the opportunity to mature and develop their economist’s intuition and techniques. PhD students participate in the life of academic groups , including seminars . They also present their research work in junior seminars and international conferences and are encouraged to participate in specialized summer schools.

Our PhD program is designed to prepare our candidates for the International Job Market.   

• Doctoral Program Presentation
• Student handbook 2023-2024
• PhD placement since 2009

To find out about application deadlines please see our Admissions section .

Applications must be made online on the TSE platform eCandidatures. Any application submitted outside of the dates of the recruitment campaigns will not be reviewed.

Our ambition is to keep attracting the best students in the world. Therefore, we offer financial help for our future PhD students.

Some scholarships and grants are available at the Master 2 level: https://www.tse-fr.eu/admissions

Once the students graduate from the Master 2 ETE and continue in the PhD program, the doctoral school makes sure that they receive funding. Some positions of teaching assistant and research assistant are also available.

It usually takes 5 years for students to complete their thesis.

Students testimonies

Some videos are available on the platform  youtube.

Christopher Sandmann, PhD student

Basile Dubois, PhD student  

"TSE is a very good environment for research. Besides the faculty helping students, much administrative hassle is kept away from students to be able to better focus. In any given week there are more research seminars than one can even attend, so one is exposed to many different ideas. Throughout my time at TSE I enjoyed substantial financial support, both for my living expenses as well as for accessing data"

Markus Gebauer, Assistant Professor of Economics (International College of Economics and Finance, National Research University - Higher School of Economics Moscow, Russia)

"TSE is an amazing place for students who want to devote themselves into research. The professors here are very productive and nice. Their love to economics is so contagious. There are so many conferences, seminars, and workshops in diversified areas that could feed your interests and tastes. The quality and quantity of those meetings are fabulous. Overall, our PhD program in terms of its research environment is comparable to the top-ten programs in the US. The life at Toulouse is also very rewarding. You would meet many interesting persons here. International students' background are diversified and they come from five continents. I love here so much and miss the people I met here. You would never regret if you choose to come to TSE."

Nina Yin , Assistant Professor (China Center for Human Capital and Labor Market Research, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China)

"Learning how to become a researcher is not an easy task and TSE's structure in thematic groups played an important part in helping me develop research skills. Every week, we had a macro seminar with external speakers, a macro workshop for PhD students to present their work and a macro reading group where we discussed recently published papers ! When you present your work, comments from professors and fellow students can be tough to hear, but that's how make progress and learn how not to cut corners. Overall, the environment at TSE showed me a passion for intellectual challenges that was contagious. I felt encouraged to play my part and contribute, as an economic researcher, to a better understanding of the forces driving our economic system."

François de Soyres , Economist (World Bank)

"TSE gave me an outstanding training in econometrics which was crucial for the beginning of my career. I believe that the scientific environment at TSE is comparable to the best economics departments in the world. Just look at the amount and quality of seminars, workshops, and conferences hosted at TSE each year and compare it to any other top economics department. There are more events than you can digest!"

Andrii Babii , Assistant professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"I enjoyed the diversity and academic environment here. Students and researchers are coming from all over the world and doing research in various fields, each contributing in a unique way to the diverse culture here. The research environment is of first grand; each year, top researchers around the world visit and give talks at Toulouse, giving us plenty of opportunities to be exposed to the research frontier. The researchers/advisors are really great economists and patient teachers; discussions on our work are usually deep and focusing on the big picture and economic applications, which I find are the most important part of economics research. Of course, the city is truly beautiful!

Some deals are too good to be true but TSE defies this adage. One gets to live in a great city and have access to one of the best economics departments. TSE has a big PHD program with roughly 20 incoming students each year, which makes you feel like a part of the community. I was part of the Macro group and learned a lot through interactions with the faculty members and other students. And this interaction was not just limited to internal members as the PhD students interact a lot with the visiting seminar speakers (and there are a lot of them at TSE!!).  

In terms of the timeline, one spends the first two years on coursework. The core courses are interesting and give a good foundation for research, both in terms of material covered as well as to develop research agenda. I got good support from my advisor as well as other faculty members to keep my work on track throughout the PhD. For the job market, TSE has a professional team of people, comprising of staff members and faculty, who help you throughout the job market season. The hard work that TSE puts in to prepare its students is amply reflected in the placements!!"

Shekhar Tomar , Research Officer, Reserve bank of India

"I did my Ph.D. at TSE from 2011 until 2016 (plus a strong M1 a year prior). Coming from Peru to Europe for the first time, a lot was new, exciting, and different. Language-wise, for instance, classes were in English, while daily life was in French. To make this harder, coursework at TSE is tough and exams are intense. However, I can say with the benefit of hindsight, that such level of rigor makes TSE alumni well equipped to face the challenges of a dynamic world. At TSE, I learned to always stay curious, and to study seriously and committed to the subject at hand. After the Ph.D. I came to the U.S. to work in consulting. My adviser and other faculty members were always supportive of my choice and were instrumental for me finding a job in Washington, D.C. There, I have confirmed that TSE enjoys an outstanding reputation in economics, especially in IO. All in all, my years in Toulouse were some of the best in my life, I am deeply thankful to the school, the administrative staff, the faculty, and my friends!"

Rodrigo Montes , Senior Economist, Compass Lexecon

The TSE Doctoral School is a member of a European network of doctoral schools, ENTER  (European Network for Training in Economic Research), which includes the following universities:   - Universitat Autonoma Barcelona - Free University of Brussels - University of Mannheim - University of Stockholm - Tilburg University - Toulouse School of Economics - University College London - Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Doctoral students who enrol in the ENTER programme spend between three months to a year in one or two of the network institutions where they benefit from exactly the same status as the other doctoral students. Depending on their situation, they may either attend classes or seminars, or work on their thesis under the supervision of one of the university’s professors. They are thus in contact with a wider teaching body and a more diverse range of research themes. They can also develop productive professional relationships with other students and thus become truly European economists. The network schedules a conference which rotates every year to a different member university and encourages doctoral students to visit and stay at one (or several) of the universities in the network

For more information, go to www.enter-network.org

2023-2024 PhD candidates

Post-docs at tse, tse phd placements.

• Hippolyte Bouche r: Airbus, Marseille
• Tim Ederer : Tepper Business School, Carnegie Mellon University (Economics), preceded by a one-year Post-Doc at the Becker-Friedmann Institute, University of Chicago
• Luise Eisfeld : HEC Lausanne (Finance)
• Hiyu Hou : Renmin University, Beijing
• Dakang Huang : Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFFE), Chengdu, China
• Antoine Jacquet : Post Doc at Science-Po, Paris, France (2 years)
• Max Lesellier : Université de Montréal
• Yaxin Li : Renmin University, Beijing
• Gosia Majewska : ESSEC Business School, Paris (Economics)
• José Munoz : Analysis Group, Brussels
• Peter Neis : Post Doc at CERDI, Clermont Ferrand University (2 years)
• Tuuli Vanhapelto : Adam Smith Business School, Glasgow (Economics)
• Philipp Wangner: Mannheim University, preceded by a one-year Post-Doc at Columbia University
• Li Yu : Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
• Ling Zhou : Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (after a two-years Post-Doc)
• Baha Alae - Oxford University,  Sociology Dep. (Post Doc, 3 years) 
• Carrillo Paloma - International Labor Organization
• Ferreira Alipio - 1 year postdoc at JPAL-LAC (Rio de Janeiro) and then Southern Methodist University (AP)
• Gaillard Alexandre - 1 year post-doc at Princeton and then Brown University (AP)
• Lucke Friedrich - Joint Research Center (JRC), European Commission, Brussels
• Mrowiec Filip - Cornerstone (New York)
• Ruiz Celia - Compass Lexecon
• Shreeti Vatsala - Bank of International Settlments
• Stipanicic Fernando - 1 year postdoc at Berkeley and then Oslo (AP)
• Yan Jun - Xiamen University (AP)
• Zhang Yifei - Peking University, HSBC Business School (AP)
• Bonneton Nicolas - University of Manheim Assistant Professor 
• Bregolin Jacopo - University of Liverpool Assistant Professor
• Bruneel Christophe - KU Leuven Assistant Professor
• De Souza Bueno Matheus - OECD
• Duran-Franch Joana - Postdoc at Columbia 1 year 
• Enrich Moya Jacint - Postdoc at Pompeu Fabra - 3 years 
• Gaillac Christophe - Postdoc Nuffield College – 3 years
• Gonnot Jérôme - Postdoc European University Institute – 2 years
• Khainar Kunal - Bank of England 
• Lefez Willy - Postdoc Berlin School of Economics - 4 years
• Pébereau Charles - Post doc at Stanford - 3 years
• Pollinger Stefan - Sciences Po Paris Assistant Professor
• Remmy Kevin - Postdoc at University of Mannheim - 5 years 
• Yang Yang - Nanjing University Assistant Professor 
• Zerecero Miguel - UC Irvine Assistant Professor
• Zhou Ling - Postdoc University of Padova - 2 years 
• Miren Azkarate-Askasua  - Post-doctorate for one year at European University Institute (EUI), then Assistant Professor (University of Mannheim)
• Hussein Bidawi  -  International Monetary Fund
• Filippo D'Arcangelo  - OECD
• Hugues Dastarac  - Banque de France
• Alberto Grillo  - Post doctorate at Aix-Marseille School of Economics
• Elia Lapenta  - Assistant Professor(CREST)
• Emil Palikot  - Post doctorate at Stanford
• Christopher Sandmann  - Post doctorate for one year at Princeton then Assistant Professor à LSE
• Roberto Sarkisian  - Assistant Professor (University of Rome Tor Vergata)
• Peter Wikman  - Post doctorate at Toulouse School of Economics 
• Yuting Yang  - Assistant Professor (University of New Mexico)
• Jiakun Zheng  - Assistant Professor (Renmin University)
• Vessela  Daskalova  - Assistant Professor  (UC Dublin)

Department of Economics

Phd programme in economics.

The PhD programme in Economics at Stockholm University is broadly considered one of the very best in Europe. The US-style programme is fully international in its orientation, and the vast majority of students enter the global economics job market.

Life as a PhD student at Stockholm University:

The PhD programme in Economics at Stockholm University is organised by the Department of Economics, in cooperation with the Institute for International Economic Studies, and the Swedish Institute for Social Research.

Stockholm University and Stockholm School of Economics collaborate by offering common courses for PhD students in economics and finance.

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on Facebook

Programme structure

You will study mathematics, microeconomics, econometrics, and macroeconomics, in total 60 out of 105 credits. All courses in year 1 are compulsory.

Year 2 and 3

You will take the remaining 45 credits during year 2 and 3. In addition to full sequences in development, labour, macroeconomics, and political economics, there are courses in finance, behavioural economics, trade, industrial organisation, etc., along with various methods-oriented courses.

There are also individual courses in public economics and international economics, as well as field-specific courses, where you formulate and carry out entirely new research projects. Historically, these projects have turned into many dissertation chapters, as well as top-tier publications.

Course details PhD programme

Thesis work and defence

The work on the thesis starts during year 2. Usually, you write a thesis consisting of a number of separate articles. The qualitative requirement is that each article should be publishable, but not necessarily published, in a refereed international journal.

The match between a graduate student and an advising team typically occurs sometime during the second or third year; the sooner students start considering possible advisors, the better.

When the thesis is ready and in print, it is publicly discussed and defended. The discussant must be an expert in the relevant field. The thesis defence is given a pass or fail grade. The decision of this grade is made by a committee consisting of three members. The discussant as well as the composition of the committee follows the guidelines of Stockholm University. The main supervisor proposes the discussant and the committee and the decision is made by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University.

Collaborations

Stockholm doctoral course programme in economics, econometrics and finance.

The joint undertaking by Stockholm University and Stockholm School of Economics in offering common courses is called the Stockholm doctoral course programme in Economics, Econometrics and Finance (SDPE). This means that students at Stockholm University and Stockholm School of Economics have access to the same courses. Uppsala University is also part of the broader PhD course programme.

The PhD programme is also a part of ENTER

Center for monetary policy and financial stability

The Center for monetary policy and financial stability (CeMoF) is a collaboration between the Department of Economics, Stockholm Business School, and the Institute for International Economics Studies.

CeMoF's mission is to promote research and learning in the areas of monetary policy and financial stability. Affiliated PhD students are awarded a certificate from CeMoF.

Visit CeMoF for more information

Meet our PhD students

Students starting in 2023.

In September 2023 we had 16 new students. Here you will meet some of them:

Meet our new PhD students

Students starting previous years

Meet Thore Petersen, sharing his experience as a first-year student:

Meet Patrizia Massner, a third-year student:

Meet Ulrika Arhsjö, in her final year of the programme:

The graduate students' council

The official channel of communication between the graduate students and the department as well as other bodies of relevance.

Information and contact

Job placement for prior classes

Our graduates successfully continue to top job placements, in academia, governments, trade and industry, finance and banking. Find more here:

• How to apply

Application opens in October and closes on 31 January every year.

How to apply to the PhD programme in Economics

If you have any questions about the programme, please email:

[email protected]

• Visiting address

Södra huset A, room A763

Last updated: February 8, 2024

Source: Department of Economics

Study at Stockholm University

• Academic Writing Service
• Study and career counselling
• Studying with a disability
• Your rights and responsibilities
• Examination services
• Stockholm Student Health Services
• Study environment
• In an emergency
• Studenthuset and Infocenter
• Student unions
• Sporting activities on campus
• Places to study
• Computer places and printers
• Get access to wifi
• IT safety and security tips
• Software for students
• Digital tools and services
• Career events
• Find jobs and internships
• Tips for finding your career in Sweden
• Business and innovation support
• Visas and residence permits
• Swedish personal identity number
• Living costs
• Learning Swedish
• Step-by-step guide
• Entry requirements
• Costs, fees and scholarships
• Important dates
• Sweden’s higher education system
• FAQ and contact
• Select your courses
• Practicalities
• Our courses and programmes
• First-class education and research
• Discover Stockholm and Sweden
• Meet us online and around the world
• Hear from our alumni
• Students of Stockholm University
• Our researchers. Your teachers
• Study with us – the newsletter
• Pre-departure information
• Checklist for admitted students
• Welcome Activities
• Get access to IT services
• How to register
• Find your way on campus
• Q&A regarding the coronavirus
• Exchange studies
• Calls for application
• Short-term exchange
• Traineeship abroad
• Degree project abroad
• Application for a degree certificate
• Degree requirements
• Digital degree certificates
• Credit transfer
• Qualifications & degrees
• Stay in touch with us
• Alumni Mentorship Programme

•   Cadmus Home
• Browsing EUI Theses by Subject

Browsing EUI Theses by Subject "Macroeconomics"

issue date title submit date

ascending descending

5 10 20 40 60 80 100

Now showing items 1-20 of 48

• submit date

Reflections on Spring Semester 2024

As I write, it is graduation weekend, and I am about to head to Mariucci Arena for CLA’s undergraduate commencement. This past Friday evening, as department chair, I had the honor of presiding over the  economics department’s graduation ceremony , celebrating both our undergraduate and PhD students who completed their degrees. (It was more “pomp and circumstance” than anything we have ever tried, so special thanks to our amazing staff for their great job pulling it off.) 

A highlight of the ceremony was hearing the three student speakers articulate how their training in Minnesota Economics—whether it be at the graduate or undergraduate level—will equip them as they go out into the world and aim to make a difference. 

A poignant moment was when one undergraduate speaker noted that she and many of her classmates had graduated from high school in the spring of 2020 and they had missed the traditional graduation experience because of COVID. Our ceremony was the first time these students got to be called up to the stage to recognize and celebrate their achievements. Congratulations indeed to the Minnesota Economics class of 2024!

New BA with Business Economics Emphasis

We have some big news about our undergraduate curriculum. In collaboration with the Carlson School of Management (CSOM), we have added a new economics BA degree that has business-economics emphasis, our first new major since the late 1980s. 

We have always had economics students (including surely some reading this newsletter) pursuing a business-economics track, both by taking business-oriented economics courses such as money and banking  within  our major and taking CSOM classes  outside  of our major. What's new and exciting about the new business economics major is that by bringing CSOM classes  inside  the major, students have more options and flexibility for getting business content in their curriculum. 

We are grateful to our alumnus  Matt Mazzucchi (BA ‘04) for coming to campus this spring to speak to a standing-room-only audience, generating great enthusiasm among our undergraduates for the new major. Matt discussed the crucial impact his business economics curriculum at Minnesota has had on his career at Houlihan Lokey, where he is currently managing director and co-head of its Power & Utilities Group and the Energy Group. 

This new major adds to our already great  line-up of major choices . If you have the chance to talk to high school students applying to college, please spread the word about the exciting things we are doing! 

Undergraduates Travel to Washington DC 

In other news about our undergraduate program, we were delighted this year to partner with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs for the third year in a row in offering a  Washington DC career trip  to ten of our undergraduate economics majors. The selected students are all interested in public policy. Through this program, the students made various on-site visits, such as the World Bank, where they attended panel discussions and participated in networking events and informal interviews. Through this program, our students learn how to use their economics degrees as a pathway to public services careers.

Our Graduate Students

Turning to graduate program news, in the December newsletter we put a link to the list of our new PhDs going on the job market. Now with the spring newsletter we can share  our graduate students’ placement results . They range from major research universities, to liberal arts, to government, to industry.

Through the high value added of our program, we are producing tomorrow's leaders across these various spheres.

To better attract top students to our graduate program, we have been expanding our use of fellowships, including increasing the number of first-year students who receive them. We have also used fellowship funds to supplement our teaching stipends, making our offers more competitive with other top institutions. Our ability to expand fellowships is entirely thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, which is enabling us to make significant strides forward. While there is still more work to do, I am optimistic that we will continue to make progress.

This year, we introduced a new event for our third-year PhD students, The Richard and Ellen Sandor Poster Conference , and we are grateful to the Sandors for funding the event and establishing a prize for the winner. Combining the lure of prize money with competitive peer pressure motivated our students to create impressive work. In fact, the work was so good that we took the show on the road to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, just down the street. 

A second new initiative was to ask all our PhD students going on the market next fall to produce early but complete versions of their job market papers this spring. Based on these completed early drafts, the department awarded three dissertation fellowships. Furthermore, every student meeting the deadline received additional support to help with their extra liquidity needs during the job market year. Incentives matter! All the students submitted complete drafts by the deadline. The faculty will be working with the students all summer to polish and improve on these complete drafts to get them in even better condition for the market next fall. 

Again, I want to pause and highlight that all of these new initiatives have only been possible because of the generosity of our alumni and friends. This generosity is making a big difference!

Economics Alum to Receive UMN Outstanding Achievement Award

In June we will have a special event to honor our alumnus Andreu Mas-Colell (PhD ‘72) with the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award, an honor reserved for the University’s most distinguished graduates. 

My colleague Tim Kehoe wrote a wonderful  article about Andreu’s extraordinary contributions , which includes a discussion of Andreu’s pioneering research in economics. Andreu’s work building academic institutions is also being recognized by the award and it is therefore fitting that the award ceremony will be in Barcelona on the site of the Barcelona School of Economics which he built.

Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute Update

The Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute (HHEI) continues to be a driving force of excellence for the Department of Economics, both in the way that it supports the rigorous research that we do here and in the way that it serves as a bridge for this research to impact public policy. 

To learn about the many exciting things that HHEI is doing, I encourage you to check the latest  HHEI Annual Report . In April, we kicked off our second season of the  Heller-Hurwicz Office Hours podcast , with topics ranging from mergers and acquisitions, to tax policy, climate, and more. Be sure to catch up on the latest episodes!

Faculty & Staff Awards

Finally, we wish to congratulate Senior Lecturer Fahima Aziz for her Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award and Chief of Staff Kara Kersteter for her Outstanding Service Award!

Thank you for your continued interest and support of both the Department of Economics and the Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute. If you'd like to make an unrestricted gift this year, you can give to the Economics Annual Fund or the Heller-Hurwicz Program Fund. Or you can search for your favorite named fund. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, we continuously strive to be one of the best economics programs in the world.

Wishing you a wonderful summer from Minnesota Economics! I love hearing from all of you and you can always drop me a line at  [email protected] .

Thomas J. Holmes Professor and Chair, Department of Economics [email protected]

Related News

Economics Celebrates its 2024 Graduates

The Department of Economics celebrated its 2024 graduates with a combined ceremony honoring both baccalaureate graduates and doctoral graduates. 

Fahima Aziz Wins the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award

Students, alumni, and faculty celebrate Dr. Fahima Aziz, who has been applauded in the economics department for her unwavering commitment to students

Senior Spotlight: Gavin Johnson on Economics and the Transfer Experience

Gavin transferred to the U with a love for economics. He graduates with a burgeoning interest in development and consulting work and making the world a better place.

More Economics News

Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics

• Degree Programs

6.0. Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

The doctoral program in Agricultural and Applied Economics is designed to develop a broad based competence in economic theory and in techniques of quantitative analysis. Dissertation research of students in our department usually addresses applied problems using contemporary economic theory and analytical methods. Students completing our program have demonstrated a high degree of success in academics, business, and government.

Two options are offered for the Doctor of Philosophy in the Agricultural and Applied Economics program. The first option does not require a minor. The second option includes a minor in Family Financial Planning—a joint Ph.D. program between the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and the College of Human Sciences. Completion of the Doctoral program in Agricultural and Applied Economics with a minor in Family Financial Planning qualifies graduates to take an exam administered by the Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards to become Certified Financial Planners.

6.1. Prerequisites

Most students will have completed the requirements for an M.S. degree or its equivalent before admission to the doctoral program. If the Master's degree does not meet the prerequisite requirements for entering our Master of Science program (see Section 5.1) then those requirements must be met in order to enter the Ph.D. program. Some exceptional students will be offered the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. directly from a Bachelor's program. In this case, see the Graduate Coordinator for course and program requirements.

Background in algebra, partial and total differentiation, integration and basic matrix or linear algebra operations are very useful to perform well in coursework and research work.

6.2. Credit Hour Requirements

The doctoral program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree and at least 12 credit hours of dissertation research (AAEC 8000).

6.3. Transfer of Credit

Transfer of graduate credit from other academic institutions may be allowed. The request for transfer must be initiated by the student and supported by the student's committee chair. Transfer decisions are made by the department Graduate Coordinator and must be approved by the Graduate School . Information required in support of transfer requests includes academic transcripts and course catalogue descriptions of each course proposed for transfer. Course syllabi may also be requested to support transfer decisions.

6.4. Substitution for Core Courses

Substitutions for core courses are allowed only under unusual circumstances. Requests for substitutions for core courses must be initiated by the student and his or her committee chair, to the department Graduate Coordinator and must be approved by the Graduate School . Final decisions on substitutions for core courses taught outside our department are made by the department Graduate Coordinator . Decisions on core courses taught in the department are made by the current instructor of the core course being replaced.

6.5. Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination

The purpose of the Ph.D. comprehensive examination is to test the student's ability to integrate knowledge from various subject matter areas and apply appropriate concepts and tools to issues and problems relevant to the discipline. The comprehensive exam is administered by a departmental committee twice each year (usually in May and August) and is normally taken at the end of the first full year of coursework. The exam has two parts which are taken separately. Part 1 of the exam focuses econometric methods and Part 2 covers microeconomic theory. Students have two opportunities to pass both parts of the exam. If both parts of the exam are passed on the first attempt then the student has successfully completed this degree requirement. If one or both parts of the exam are failed on the first attempt (usually in May), the student must retake the failed part(s) at the next offering (in the following August). A second failure of either part of the comprehensive exam will result in dismissal from the student's Ph.D. program.

6.6. Qualifying Examination and Admission to Candidacy

Graduate school rules require that all doctoral students successfully complete a Qualifying Examination for admission to candidacy for the doctor's degree. In the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics the Dissertation Proposal Defense serves as the Qualifying Exam. Students are allowed two attempts to satisfactorily complete this examination. Failure to satisfactorily complete the examination on a second attempt will result in dismissal from the Ph.D. program. Further information on the Dissertation Proposal and Proposal Defense is provided in Section 9.0 of this Handbook.

6.7. Final Examination

All doctoral candidates are required to pass a public final oral examination which is usually over the general field of the dissertation. Candidates should consult the Graduate School for details regarding scheduling of the final examination. After the final examination, the professor conducting comprehensive exams will send a written notification of the results to the Graduate Secretary for the student's graduate file.

Doctoral candidates, with their major advisor, are required to find their own Dean's Representative for the Graduate School for their defense, preferably someone outside of the department.

Public announcement of exams will be done through the department Graduate Secretary. Exams must be announced at least four weeks prior to the exam date, without exception.

6.9. Degree Program Course Requirements

Listed below are the course requirements for the Ph.D. program options. Courses listed specifically by number are core courses. Note that the option II course requirements have been revised in consultation with the Department of Personal Financial Planning.

Ph.D in Agricultural and Applied Economics - No Minor Required (option1) 1

Course number / course title / credit hours.

• AAEC 5303 / Advanced Production Economics / 3
• AAEC 5307 / Applied Econometrics I / 3
• AAEC 6316 / Advanced International Trade and Policy / 3
• AAEC 5321 / Research Methodology in Economics/ 3
• AAEC 6302 / Food, Ag., and Nat. Resource Policy Analysis / 3
• AAEC 6305 / Economic Optimization / 3
• AAEC 6308 / Advanced Natural Resource Economics / 3
• AAEC 6310 / Demand and Price Analysis / 3
• AAEC 6311 / Applied Econometrics II / 3
• AAEC 6301 / Microeconomic Theory II / 3
• AAEC 6315 / Applied Microeconomics I / 3
• ECO 5311 / Macroeconomic Theory and Policy / 3
• Committee Approved Field Courses / / 24
• AAEC 8000 / Doctor's Dissertation / 12

Total Credit Hours 72

Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics - Minor in Family Financial Planning (option 2) 1,2

• AAEC 8000 / Doctor's Dissertation / 21
• PFP 5371 / Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning / 3
• PFP 5372 / Asset Management II / 3
• PFP 5373 / Personal Financial Planning Cpstn. / 3
• PFP 5394 / Retirement Planning / 3
• PFP 5497 / Risk Management and Insurance Planning / 4
• PFP 5398 / Estate Planning / 3
• PFP 5362 / Asset Management I / 3
• PFP 5377 / Client Communication and Counseling / 3
• ACCT 5311 / Individual Study in Accounting / 3

total credit hours 85

1 Numbered courses are core courses. 2 Draft revisions pending review and approval of AAEC faculty.

<<< top >>>

Contact TTU

• Like Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics on Facebook Like Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics on Facebook

Suggestions or feedback?

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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

Departments

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

Centers, Labs, & Programs

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

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

Press contact :.

Previous image Next image

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Share this news article on:

Related links.

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

Related Topics

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

Related Articles

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

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

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

Turning an economics education into solutions with impact

Previous item Next item

More MIT News

Researchers develop a detector for continuously monitoring toxic gases

Read full story →

The beauty of biology

Navigating longevity with industry leaders at MIT AgeLab PLAN Forum

Jeong Min Park earns 2024 Schmidt Science Fellowship

New tool empowers users to fight online misinformation

Elaine Liu: Charging ahead

• More news on MIT News homepage →

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

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

UCLA Graduate Student Huihuang Zhu is the 2024 recipient of the Treiman Fellowship

UCLA Department of Economics

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

Campus Resources

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

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

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

ABC News: Starbucks sees sales slump

Uc economist says it would be more concerning if other companies also reported revenue declines.

Sales at Starbucks are slumping, ABC News reported , which has some people worried about broader consumer spending.

Michael Jones, PhD, assistant professor of economics

In an earnings report, the coffee chain reported an approximately 2% decline in revenue over the first three months of the year. Many economic analysts view Starbucks as a bellwether for consumer spending, leading to questions about whether the reduced consumer spending is a problem specific to the company or to the economy as a whole.

Michael Jones , PhD, assistant professor of economics in the University of Cincinnati's Carl H. Lindner College of Business, told ABC News there should be concern if more companies start reporting similar declines to revenue.

“When you see it happening at companies outside of Starbucks, that’s when it becomes a broader worry that you’re concerned about,” Jones said.

See more from ABC News.

Featured image at top: Starbucks logo and coffee beans. Photo/engin akyurt via Unsplash

Impact Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.

• Lindner College of Business
• In The News

Related Stories

Wcpo: uc economist says wages can’t keep up with inflation.

March 22, 2022

Multiple disruptions to the U.S. economy are posing problems for consumers, according to Michael Jones, PhD, associate professor of economics at the University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business.

Spectrum News 1: Inflation reaches 40-year high

April 13, 2022

A number of factors have caused inflation to reach a 40-year high, but it won’t be a permanent problem, University of Cincinnati economics professor Asawari Deshmukh told Spectrum News 1.

WCPO: Small businesses face challenges

April 19, 2022

As businesses are squeezed by inflation, staffing shortages and supply chain issues, companies are having to adjust, a University of Cincinnati economics professor told WCPO.

Congratulations to the 2024 recipient of the Robert M. Solow Prize

MIT Economics alumni and faculty established the Robert M. Solow Prize for Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching and Research to celebrate graduate students who reflect one of the department's core values, as embodied by Robert Solow: the interdependence of innovative research and excellence in teaching.

Congratulations to recent PhD graduate  Viola Corradini  who has been awarded the 2024 Solow Prize for their remarkable contributions to the educational and research missions of MIT Economics.