phd in applied economics usa

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Applied Economics

Wharton’s highly selective phd program in applied economics offers students many resources not available at other institutions, such as 1:1 faculty to student ratio, five years of funding, and minimal teaching requirements..

Combining the faculties of the departments of Real Estate and Business Economics & Public Policy, Wharton’s Applied Economics program leverages the breadth and depth of its faculty to prepare students for careers doing frontier theoretical and empirical research. Students can focus on a variety of research areas, including Behavioral Economics, Development and International Economics, Energy and Environmental Economics, Health Economics, Industrial Organization and Regulation, Labor Economics, Law and Economics, Market Design, Public Economics, Risk and Insurance, Urban Economics and Real Estate. You can find the list of Applied Economics Faculty here.  Students may also develop an inter-disciplinary focus by taking courses and working with faculty in some of the other departments at Wharton such as Finance, Health Care Management, Management, and Marketing.

For more information on courses, please visit the University Graduate Catalog .

Sample Schedule

The course of study for the Ph.D. in Applied Economics requires the completion of 15 graduate course units. The common core consists of 3 theory courses and 3 statistics/econometrics courses. Students are also expected to master two field areas by passing two courses in each (total of 4 courses units). The remaining course units necessary to achieve 15 are split between the mandatory graduate student research seminars and other electives.

ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID

Students will apply for admission to the Wharton Program in Applied Economics, and may, if they wish, indicate a preferred field of study in their application. All else equal, the admissions committee may consider field choice in determining admission. Fellowship support will be in accordance with usual Wharton and University guidelines.

CORE REQUIREMENTS

Students will be required to master core materials in economic theory covering the topics of household decision-making, production theory, theory of markets and market failure, game theory, decision-making under uncertainty, and resource allocation in dynamic economies. The following courses will satisfy the three-course economic theory requirement:

Microeconomic Theory I: ECON 7010 Microeconomic Theory II: ECON 7110 Macroeconomic Theory: ECON 7200 or 7210 or FNCE 9240

Students will be required to master core materials in applied econometrics covering the topics of statistical inference, linear regression analysis, panel regression analysis, and estimation of models using discrete dependent variables. The following courses will satisfy the three-course econometric/statistics requirement:

Econometrics: ECON 7300, FNCE 9260, ECON 8310 or ECON 7310, BEPP 9110 and BEPP 9310

FIELD REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the core theory and econometrics materials, students will be required to master two applied fields by passing two courses in each field. Students will be free to offer their own field as a substitute with approval of the graduate group chair and (when relevant) an appropriate advisor from another Wharton graduate group.

• Development Economics BEPP 9410: Development Economics • Industrial Economics and Business Regulation: BEPP 9870: Industrial Organization and Competition Policy HCMG 9020: Special Topics of Health Services Research: Industrial Organization of Health Care ECON 8450: Empirical Methods in Industrial Organization • Market Design BEPP 9710: Market Design • Public Economics and Political Economy: BEPP 9330: Public Economics: Social Insurance & Government Expenditures HCMG 9030: Public Policy ECON 8410: Public Economics I ECON 8411: Public Economics II • Urban Economics and Real Estate: REAL 9450: Urban and Real Estate Economics REAL 9460: Advanced Topics in Urban Economics REAL 9470: Advanced Real Estate and Urban Economics • Behavioral Economics: BEPP 9040: Experimental Economics: Methods and Applications OIDD 9000: Foundation of Decision Processes OIDD 9040: Experimental Economics

In addition, all students must take elective courses to achieve the necessary 15 Course Credits to be eligible for Dissertation Status.

During the second and third year of the program students will be required to attend and actively participate in the graduate student research seminar. Students will also be responsible for presenting a paper of original research to the seminar before entering dissertation status. All students will also be required to attend the faculty Applied Economics Workshop during the 2nd and 3rd years.

BEPP 9000: Research Seminar BEPP 9620: Applied Economics Seminar

QUALIFYING EXAM

At the end of first year (usually in last week of May or first week of June), students are expected to take and pass the qualifying exam for Microeconomic Theory and the qualifying exam for Econometrics. These exams are written and graded by the Wharton Applied Economics PhD Committee. If a student fails in one qualifying exam, another opportunity to take that exam will be given at the end of the second year.

Students can also request a waiver for one or both exams if they perform well in the courses associated with each exam. A satisfactory performance for Microeconomic Theory, for example, corresponds to having at least a B- or better in each micro course, and an average of B or better.

FACULTY ADVISORS

Students are required to select or are assigned two faculty advisors in the beginning of the second year in the program. Because the student will not have had all of the major field courses at that time, it is possible that a student will later decide to change advisors; such an eventuality will be considered a normal outcome. In addition, since students will not have had all of the major field course work by June of their first year, they should “read ahead” in their chosen fields to begin identifying a research topic for the Second Year Paper. Students are expected to initiate meetings with faculty members to discuss possible research topics, and these meetings should begin as early as possible after the student enters the program and are part of the process of getting to know the faculty and learning about the field.

CANDIDACY PAPER

The Program in Applied Economics provides students with several opportunities to conduct research. All students are required to write a candidacy paper in their second year to be submitted in the summer of the second year in the program. This paper should demonstrate the student’s ability to conduct PhD quality research. This is often used as the Master’s Thesis submission- and, as the title implies, it is one of the requirements for admission to Doctoral candidacy.

The deadline for submission of the Candidacy Paper is strictly enforced, and failure to complete and submit the paper by the deadline (July 15 of the end of the student’s second year in the program) is grounds for dismissal from the program. The paper must be submitted to the faculty members who are the student’s principal advisors for the project, as well as to the Doctoral Coordinator. A copy of the candidacy paper, together with letters from two faculty members noting approval of it, must be in each student’s file in the Program office prior to the start of the student’s fifth term (typically the start of the third year). Failure to fulfill this requirement may result in the student being dropped from the program.

The main objective of the candidacy paper is to demonstrate the student’s ability to do original research. Often the Candidacy Paper is submitted for publication, and it can also serve as the foundation for PhD research, possibly as a dissertation essay. The Candidacy Paper must be solely authored by the student, not co-authored with the faculty advisor.

Milestones on the road to the candidacy paper are as follows:

September of 2nd year in the program Fall semester, 2nd year Spring semester, 2nd year Faculty advisors selected Candidacy Paper proposal Work on Candidacy paper Submit final version of Candidacy Paper

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY Before admission to candidacy, the student is required to:

• Complete all required coursework, including all core courses, with at least a B + or better in each course and with an average GPA of B+ or better. (For some courses, a passing grade on a qualifying exam can substitute for a grade below B.)
• Pass both qualifying exams or request exam waivers.
• Submit a satisfactory candidacy paper

THE PHD DISSERTATION The best ways to find a dissertation topic is to talk to the program faculty and read the literature. Discussions with faculty can range from “cold calls,” where the student asks the faculty member for topic suggestions, to more proactive visits where the student discusses potential topic ideas that have come up in course work or research seminars. Students should also take a close look at recent dissertations written by students in their major field as well as dissertations written by students from other Wharton departments.

There are two primary models for the organization of dissertations. The “single study” traditional dissertation, and the essay approach. In the latter approach, two or three essays are generally found acceptable by the student’s dissertation committee, depending on length and quality. Dissertation essays are more prevalent for a number of reasons, including most importantly, (a) the Candidacy Paper may be permitted to constitute a substantial part of one essay, (b) an essay can be used as an interview paper (see discussion below), and (c) if properly structured, an essay can often be converted into a paper to be submitted to a journal. Whether two or three essays are appropriate depends on the length and complexity of the research undertaken and is determined by the student’s dissertation committee.

Dissertation essays may be co-authored, although the extent to which this is appropriate will depend on each student’s topic, doctoral committee, and faculty advisor. A circumstance where a co -authored essay might be appropriate could arise from a joint research project with a faculty member. However, the student’s dissertation must include at least one essay that is solely authored by the student. The dissertation process must begin with the selection of a principal advisor or co-advisors. Each student is responsible for this selection, and then the student works with the advisor(s) to select the dissertation topic and begin exploratory research. The student and advisor then work together to select committee members. Committee members can be approached to join the committee by either the student or the principal advisor(s). The student should work with the advisor(s) to arrange a mutually agreeable procedure. The student should review the Wharton Doctoral Programs Policies and Procedures, to be sure that the committee structure satisfies the overall requirements of the Wharton Doctoral Program.

Important: the PhD Dissertation proposal must be defended before the end of the fourth year in the program. Failure to defend can result in dismissal from the program.

GOING ON THE JOB MARKET The ultimate objective of the Wharton Doctoral Program is to prepare our students for a teaching and research career, ideally at a college or university. Because the placement process for academic jobs is lengthy, students should become familiar with it well in advance of the “job market year.” The program provides full support for students going on the job market, and a series of meetings and timelines are provided to the students during the fourth and fifth years in the program.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION The program will be administered by the graduate group in Applied Economics. Primary appointments in the Departments of Business Economics and Public Policy and Real Estate will be automatic members of the graduate group and comprise the initial membership of the graduate group. The graduate group can extend membership to other Wharton and University faculty as they consider appropriate. The graduate group will decide on its preferred administrative structure. Currently, the chairs of the departments of Real Estate and Business Economics and Public Policy are responsible for jointly appointing a PhD Coordinator that will serve a two-year term, with the option to renew it for another two years. The PhD Coordinator is also the representative for the group to the Doctoral Executive Committee.

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT Students are expected to spend full-time on their coursework and research during the first two years of the program. In subsequent years, students are expected to work with faculty, preferably as research assistants or co-authors, thereby gaining the experience required to be successful researchers. Students are also required to TA a core course (any alternatives will need to be approved by the PhD Coordinator) each in their 3rd year and 4th year of the program as a funding requirement. Other activities that further the student’s research careers are encouraged, subject to the approval of the doctoral coordinator (this includes teaching assistant positions). Failure to communicate with the doctoral coordinator about a research assistant or teaching job may result in cancellation of your scholarship.

Get the Details.

Visit the Applied Economics site for details on program requirements and courses. Read faculty and student research and bios to see what you can do with an Applied Economics PhD.

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PhD Program

Wharton’s highly selective Ph.D. program in Applied Economics offers students many resources not available at other institutions, such as a 1:1 faculty to student ratio and an up-front guarantee of five years of funding with minimal teaching requirements. Combining the faculties of the departments of Real Estate and Business Economics & Public Policy, Wharton’s Applied Economics program leverages the breadth and depth of its faculty to prepare students for careers doing frontier theoretical and empirical research. Students can focus on a variety of areas including Behavioral Economics, Development Economics, Energy and Environmental Economics, Industrial Organization, Market Design, Public Economics, Risk Management, and Urban Economics and Real Estate. Students may also develop an inter-disciplinary focus by taking courses and working with faculty in some of the other departments at Wharton such as Finance, Health Care Management, Management, and Marketing.

All admitted students are granted a fellowship, including tuition, fees, and stipend.  Details about the application process, deadlines and requirements are available here

Program Requirements

Prospective students interested in pursuing a degree in Applied Economics  must apply for admission to the Wharton Doctoral Programs in Applied Economics.

Applicants may, if they wish, indicate a preferred field of study in their application. All applicants must provide valid test scores — the Applied Economics program accepts only the GRE. We do not require a minimum GRE score, however math scores among students admitted in the last few years were all above the 90 th percentile. In making our decision, we look at your GRE scores as well as the rest of your application: grades, coursework, work and research experience, essays, and recommendation.

We recommend at least three courses in mathematics, such as calculus, linear algebra, and real analysis, and at least three courses in statistics/econometrics. We prefer an economics undergraduate degree along with the math requirements noted above or a math/statistics degree with several courses in economics (at least up through intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics).

Course Information

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Applied Economics, PhD

Combining the faculties of the departments of Real Estate and Business Economics & Public Policy, Wharton’s Applied Economics program leverages the breadth and depth of its faculty to prepare students for careers doing frontier theoretical and empirical research. Students can focus on a variety of areas including Behavioral Economics, Development Economics, Energy and Environmental Economics, Industrial Organization, Market Design, Public Economics, Risk Management, and Urban Economics and Real Estate. Students may also develop an inter-disciplinary focus by taking courses and working with faculty in some of the other departments at Wharton such as Finance, Health Care Management, Management, and Marketing.

For more information: https://doctoral.wharton.upenn.edu/programs-of-study/applied-economics/

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

Required Courses

The course of study for the Ph.D. in Applied Economics requires the completion of 15 graduate course units. The common core consists of 3 theory courses and 3 statistics/econometrics courses. Students are also expected to master two field areas by passing two courses in each (total of 4 courses units). The remaining course units necessary to achieve 15 are split between the mandatory graduate student research seminars and other electives.

Students may also take STAT 9210 , STAT 5200 , and STAT 5210 .

Taken in the Spring and Fall of years 2 and 3 for 0.5 cu each

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

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Applied Economics PhD

The Applied Economics PhD program provides training valuable for success in academic, analytical, and policy positions. Students focus on quantitative economic analysis of problems and policies in areas primarily related to agriculture, natural resources and the environment, trade, development, energy, marine and coastal resources, and health care. Our graduate program learning outcomes are here .

The program emphasizes rigorous immersion in economic theory, econometrics and other quantitative methods, and in their uses and applications in the student’s concentration areas. The curriculum draws on core courses offered within the Applied Economics graduate program – and on concentration and elective courses from the Applied Economics Department, the Colleges of Forestry, Agricultural Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, and the School of Public Health.

The Applied Economics PhD program prepares students for careers in academia, consulting, and government and in financial services and other industries.

The Graduate Program Director (currently Dr. David Kling ) acts as the temporary advisor for students beginning PhD studies. Students are strongly encouraged to find a permanent advisor/major professor by winter quarter of their second year. Ideally this is the same as the advisor for the empirical paper, but it does not need to be. The Director will provide guidance on the first year 1 courses that will be suitable to the program requirements and to the student’s background and interests.

The Applied Economics PhD program is committed to diversity . 

The overall program consists of five components:

(1) Core courses in microeconomic and quantitative methods

(2) Two concentration areas, each with a minimum three-course requirement

(3) Elective courses

(4) An empirical research paper written during the student's second year, and

(5) Dissertation research

Students must receive a B or higher in all courses meant to fulfill PhD program requirements. PhD program completion time is normally four years.

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Core Courses  ( course catalog )

AEC 512 Microeconomic Theory 

AEC 525 Applied Econometrics 

AEC 611 Advanced Microeconomic Theory I 

AEC 612 Advanced Microeconomic Theory II 

AEC 625 Advanced Econometrics I

AEC 626 Advanced Econometrics II 

AEC 627 Computational Economics 

GRAD 520 Responsible Conduct of Research 

Concentration Courses 

Concentrations available in the Applied Economics Program are: (a) Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, (b) Development Economics, and (c) An open concentration area developed in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. 

Students are required to complete two concentrations.  Each should include at least three courses, two of which must be at the 600 (PhD) level.  Concentration courses in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics and in Development Economics will be offered in alternate years.

The following courses ( course catalog )  are relevant to the two defined concentration areas:

Natural Resource and Environmental Economics 

AEC 550 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

AEC 651 Advanced Natural Resource Economics

AEC 652 Advanced Environmental Economics

AEC 653 Empirical Environmental and Resource Economics

Development Economics 

ECON 555 Economic Development

AEC 640 Sustainable Development

AEC 643 Advanced Topics in Development Economics

Electives and Dissertation

A total minimum of 108 credits (500 or 600 level) are needed to complete the PhD program, of which at least 36 must be PhD dissertation credits.   The minimum number of elective credits needed for the degree will be that required – together with the core, concentration, and dissertation credits – to fulfill the 108-credit total minimum. Some examples of previous student dissertations are here . 

Some example elective classes include (see the Graduate Handbook for more examples): 

Forestry Policy

FOR 531 Economics & Policy of Wildland Fire

FOR 534 Economics of Forest Resource

FE 640 Combinatorial Optimization

MTH 528 Stochastic Elements in Mathematical Biology

Health Economics

H 638 Public & Private Health Insurance

H 659 Health Policy Research Methods II

H 632 Applied Health Economics

Data Science

AEC 555 Program Evaluation

ST 537 Data Visualization

ST 538 Modern Statistical Methods for Large and Complex Datasets

ST 543 Applied Stochastic Models

CS 534 Machine Learning

Program Requirements

To be advanced to candidacy, the student must pass a written preliminary examination (at the end of the first year), write an empirical research paper during the second year, and pass a comprehensive oral qualifying examination (no later than fall of the third year).

Written Preliminary Exam

The written preliminary exam focuses on the microeconomic theory courses taken during the first year, together with applications of the theory covered in the first-year econometrics and quantitative methods courses. Microeconomic Theory III (AEC 613) taken in the second year and Computational Economics (AEC 627), taken in the second year, are not tested on the written preliminary exam.

Second Year Research Paper

All PhD students are expected to complete a research project during their second year in the program. Each student will register for AEC 606 (Special Projects) for each quarter of the second year – 1 credit in the fall and 3 credits in the winter and spring term. The purpose of the empirical project is for PhD students to begin thinking about research and identifying potential advisors and topics early in the program, and to produce a research paper that provides evidence on an original idea. Each student should identify an AEC graduate faculty member to advise the development of the paper. However, ultimately the research paper is the responsibility of the student, though a collaborative effort with the faculty advisor is acceptable. The faculty advisor is the principal source of feedback on the paper and students are strongly encouraged to identify a faculty advisor by the beginning of their second year. This faculty member may, but does not have to, eventually become the student’s permanent dissertation advisor. Similarly, the chosen topic may, but does not have to, develop into (part of) the student’s dissertation topic. The organization of AEC 606 is meant to provide each student with guidance and a set of deadlines to help facilitate completion of the project. There are multiple hard deadlines that will be enforced. The purpose of the deadlines is to ensure steady progress is made throughout the year.

Comprehensive Oral Qualifying Exam

After the student has identified a major professor, assembled a committee, and filed a program of study, he/she must pass the comprehensive oral qualifying examination (no later than fall of the third year). The oral exam has two components: a) A proposal of the student’s intended dissertation research; and b) An oral exam covering all of the student’s core and field course work up to the time of the exam. Once the student passes this exam, he/she is advanced to PhD candidacy.

PhD in Applied Economics

The PhD program is small and focused, with students concentrating in one field of specialization. Fewer than ten students enter the program each year. Students may concentrate in either industrial organization, competition policy, and regulatory economics; or labor economics. Each field is covered in two semester courses at the PhD level. Students who elect the industrial organization, competition policy, and regulatory economics field may further elect a second field in transportation economics. Admission from the Bachelor’s level requires taking the MA core courses and two additional elective courses plus the PhD requirements.

The PhD program is  STEM  certified covering a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. ( The IPEDS classification:   Detail for CIP Code 45.0603    Title: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics)

The field of  Industrial Organization, Competition Policy, and Regulatory Economics  analyzes and evaluates the performance of markets and devises appropriate policy responses when markets are not performing well. By developing techniques for examining the structure, conduct, and performance of markets, it bridges economic theory and the real world. In addition, it helps to develop and implement antitrust and regulatory policies to remedy failures of those markets. Students specializing in industrial organization may further elect a second field in transportation economics.

The field of Labor Economics analyzes the neoclassical labor market, covering such topics as the supply of labor from the perspective of the individual and the family, human capital. The demand for labor, market equilibrium, and the determination and distribution of wages and earnings are analyzed. Theoretical and empirical issues surrounding current topics in labor economics are examined, and may include discrimination, efficiency wage theory, labor legislation, life cycle analysis and the use of microdata (panel studies), search behavior, intergenerational earnings mobility, and employment and training policies.

Silvia Prina

Associate professor of economics.

Silvia Prina is a development economist interested in understanding the behavior of poor households for the purpose of uncovering potential strategies to improve their lives. Her first set of papers investigates how financial access, particularly via…

Contact: Northeastern University 360 Huntington Avenue 301 Lake Hall Boston, MA 02115-5000 phone: 617.373.2871 fax: 617.373.3640

email: [email protected]  

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Type of Program

Get more information about this graduate program., more programs, bachelor of arts (b.a.) in economics, bachelor of science (b.s.) in economics, combined majors, masters of science in economics, plusone accelerated master’s program economics.

PhD Program in Applied Economics and Management

Phd program requirements.

Please note: The following are general requirements for the Applied Economics and Management PhD program. Each student should check with their Special Committee for additional course requirements, and students should also check with the Dyson School’s Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and the Graduate Field Assistant for additional requirements of the Graduate School and the Applied Economics and Management (AEM) Graduate Field.

• Special Committee : The Graduate School requires that Applied Economics and Management PhD students must select the chair of their Special Committee by the end of the third week of their first semester. By the end of the 3 rd semester you must have your three member committee consisting of your chair and two minor members. The chair needs to be a member of the graduate field of Applied Economics and Management . A student can ask for an extension if more time is needed (please see the AEM PhD handbook for details).
• Registration units : To earn a Cornell PhD, a student must be registered for a minimum of six full-time academic semesters (which requires a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester). The AEM PhD degree completion usually takes 10 semesters of study, and students are expected to finish all their required courses by end of their fourth semester. Students must also maintain a meaningful engagement with the Cornell academic community (attendance and active participation in various workshops and seminars on campus, as an example).
• A grade of B- or better is required in all of the following mandatory courses during the first year of the PhD economics program: AEM 7010 ,  AEM 7020 , AEM 7021 , AEM 7100 , ECON 6090 , ECON 6170 , and ECON 6190 . During the second year of the PhD program, all students must take one macroeconomics course ( ECON 6130 or AEM 7040 ), one additional econometrics class ( ECON 7200 , ECON 7230 , PAM 6090 , PAM 6091 ), Applied Microeconomics Research ( AEM 7150 and AEM 7151 ) and at least six credits of elective courses in the student’s major area of specialization [Environment, Energy and Resource Economics (EERE), Food and Agricultural Economics (FAE), International and Development Economics (IDE), and Management (MGMT)]. Note: The AEM Graduate Field requires students to receive a minimum grade of B- in each course (required or elective) to be in good academic standing. For continued financial aid, however, the AEM Graduate Field requires that students receive at most one B- per semester.
• Passing grade on the graduate field of Applied Economics and Management qualifying examination (also called the “Q” exam), usually taken at the end of the second semester. The Q-exam is based on material covered in AEM 7010 and AEM 7100 (combined); AEM 7020 and AEM 7021. Students have 2 attempts to pass all the 3 components of the Q-exam.
• Mentored research paper (AEM 7150): The paper should address an applied economics issue and should be of quality to eventually be publishable in a top field journal. Work should begin in the summer following the first year of the qualifying exam. Passing grade is required on the research paper in the summer following the second year of the PhD program.
• Admission to candidacy exam (also called the “A” exam) is taken at the completion of the required coursework, although this does not preclude taking courses after the “A” exam.
• Final oral dissertation examination (also called the “B” exam). Please note: The Graduate School requires two full-time semesters of course study between the “A” exam and the “B” exam.
• Submission of PhD dissertation.

Dyson School/Applied Economics and Policy (AEP) seminars

While not a requirement,  all PhD students are encouraged to attend weekly Applied Economics & Policy Seminars as well as seminars organized by different fields (such as Development Economics, and Sustainable Environmental, Energy and Resource Economics). The schedule for the AEP seminars can be found here .

Applied Economics PhD Coursework Template

Fall semester.

ECON 6090 (Microeconomic Theory I) ECON 6170 (Intermediate Mathematical Economics I) ECON 6190 (Econometrics I) AEM 7010 (Applied Microeconomics I)

Spring Semester

AEM 7020 (Applied Microeconomics II: Game Theory) AEM 7021 (Applied Microeconomics III: Applied General Equilibrium Analysis) AEM 7100 (Applied Econometrics)

AEM 7150 (Applied Microeconomic Research I) Either ECON 6130 (Macroeconomics I) or AEM 7040 Econometrics Elective (ECON 7200, ECON 7230, PAM 6090 or PAM 6091) Major Area Elective(s)

Econometrics Elective (ECON 7200, ECON 7230, PAM 6090 or PAM 6091) Major Area Elective(s)

Please Note

• Students on a teaching or research assistantship should expect three credit hours of time will need to be allocated to the teaching or research assistantship each semester.
• Courses necessary for each major and minor are determined by the student’s Special Committee. Some concentrations (e.g., Finance) require written qualifying examinations.

Three exams are required by the field as benchmarks toward meeting requirements of the Philosophy of Doctor program.

PhD Qualifying Examination ("Q" Exam)

This exam is based on materials that were covered in AEM 7010, AEM 7020, AEM 7021, and AEM 7100. Students will have 2 attempts to pass all four components of the “Q” Exam. This will be a written test where you are expected to answer the question(s) of the professor’s choosing for each component. The professors of these courses will be blindly grading the test (meaning they will not know who’s test they are grading). You will have approximately 2 hours to complete each component of the test.

The test will be administered to all first year PhD students over 2 days at the beginning of June with the make-up test (if needed) administered at the end of July. Students are provided past tests to practice. Results will be provided towards the end of June.

If you are not successful in passing all four components in the first attempt, you need to retake only the component(s) that you failed. Faculty can decide whether to release details about specific answers regarding what or why you received the grade that you received on a component.

In the event you fail both attempts of the “Q” exam you can choose to submit an appeal to the Dyson Graduate Studies Committee to request a reconsideration of the results. If the committee declines your petition you will be removed from the PhD program.

Examination for Admission to Candidacy ("A" Exam)

A student is admitted to doctoral candidacy after passing a comprehensive examination administered by the student’s special committee. This examination is either oral, or written and oral, as determined by the special committee. The passing of this examination certifies that the student is eligible to present a dissertation to the graduate field.

The “A” exam is taken before the beginning of the student’s 7th semester (end of their 3rd year). After completing the exam, the results must be filed with the Graduate School within three business days of the completed exam. Four outcomes are possible:

• Passing . If you pass an exam, all members of the examining committee should report this decision to the Graduate School within three business days. No further action is required.
• Conditional Passing . You may conditionally pass an exam, in which case the examining committee provides you and the Graduate School with the conditions for passing. Once these conditions are met, you pass the exam.
• Failing . If you fail an exam, a reexamination is allowed only with the approval of the special committee. At least three months must pass from the time of the failed exam to the reexamination.
• Unanimously Failing . If you’re unanimously failed, you must petition the General Committee to continue study. If the minor members, but not the chair, oppose allowing a reexamination; or the chair, but not all the minor members oppose a reexamination, you must petition the General Committee to continue study. Graduate faculty members who attend the exam, but are not on the examination committee, may inform the dean in writing if they disagree with the results of the exam.

Final Examination for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree ("B" Exam)

A doctoral candidate takes the Final Examination upon completion of all requirements for the degree but no earlier than one month before completion of the minimum registration requirement. This oral exam covers the general subject of the student’s dissertation. The passing of this examination certifies that the student is eligible to graduate.

A minimum of 2 semesters must be completed between passing the “A” exam and scheduling the “B” exam.

After completing the exam, the results must be filed with the Graduate School within three business days of the completed exam. Four outcomes are possible:

Doctoral Program

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

General requirements

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

University's residency requirement

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

Department degree requirements and student checklist

1. core course requirement.

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

2.  Field Requirements

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

Research fields and field requirements :

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

3.  Distribution

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

4.  Field Seminars/Workshops

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

PhD Program

Year after year, our top-ranked PhD program sets the standard for graduate economics training across the country. Graduate students work closely with our world-class faculty to develop their own research and prepare to make impactful contributions to the field.

Our doctoral program enrolls 20-24 full-time students each year and students complete their degree in five to six years. Students undertake core coursework in microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics, and are expected to complete two major and two minor fields in economics. Beyond the classroom, doctoral students work in close collaboration with faculty to develop their research capabilities, gaining hands-on experience in both theoretical and empirical projects.

How to apply

Students are admitted to the program once per year for entry in the fall. The online application opens on September 15 and closes on December 15.

Meet our students

Our PhD graduates go on to teach in leading economics departments, business schools, and schools of public policy, or pursue influential careers with organizations and businesses around the world. 

PhD in Economics

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PhD in Economics At a Glance

• 45 credit hours of course work, completed in as little as 2.5 years.
• Study diverse theoretical perspectives, including post-Keynesian, intuitionalist, evolutionary, and feminist economics.
• Tailor your field coursework to best match your research interests.
• Designated as a STEM degree program 
• Program Director: Professor Nathan Larson .

Tailor Your Degree to Your Research Interests

Offering a combination of rigorous technical training and a focus on policy-relevant research, our PhD in Economics will prepare you for careers in academics, research, and government. Our students master economic theory, statistical methods, and applied field knowledge. Then, through the dissertation-writing process, they develop the ability to formulate and empirically answer economic questions.  

• Diverse Perspectives : In addition to a strong foundation in macro and micro theory and econometrics, students learn a more diverse perspective on economics through required courses in economic thought and economic history, as well as optional courses in heterodox theoretical models of economics, including post-Keynesian, intuitionalist, evolutionary, and feminist economics.
• Flexibility : Students choose four applied field courses that best fit their research interests. The department offers a wide selection of concentrations, including courses in development, gender, international, labor, macro/monetary, and other applied micro topics.
• Preparation : Students must successfully pass one comprehensive exam at the end of their first year and produce a journal-quality research paper by the end of their third year. The third-year paper typically serves as a key component of the dissertation, giving students an advanced start on the dissertation writing process.

See complete Admissions and Program Requirements .

Faculty Dedicated to Your Success

At AU, you will take classes from and work with a diverse group of esteemed economists and highly cited scholars who are engaged with practitioners and policymakers around the world. Their wide-ranging research and publications , along with the variety of methodological approaches they use, create a rich environment for innovations in theory and empirical studies. 

Our research centers, including the Program on Gender Analysis in Economics and Infometrics Institute , host guest scholars and research projects, further enhancing the opportunities for graduate students. By working as research assistants and teaching assistants, PhD students gain valuable experience and mentorship in an academic setting.  

Throughout their third year and into the fourth, students work closely with a faculty member of their choosing on their third-year paper and dissertation proposal, eventually adding other experts to their dissertation committee to gain additional insights and expertise. Through this process, students develop lasting collegial, and productive relationships with faculty, classmates and economists at DC-area institutions, often co-authoring and publishing.  

Launch Your Career Amongst Top Economists 

The Washington metropolitan area employs over one-third of all economists in the country. The array of intellectual and professional opportunities offered by the nation's capital make American University the ideal place to study economics. The department's strategic partnerships and our faculty's relationships with nearby institutions will help you make the best use of those opportunities.

Internship and employment opportunities:

• The World Bank 
• International Monetary Fund
• Research institutes
• Think Tanks and NGOs
• US Treasury, Labor, and Commerce Departments 

Economics PhD graduates are well qualified for careers in academia, government agencies, and international organizations. Our students receive career mentorship and placement services that lead to careers in public policy, academia, and government, both domestically and abroad.

Many of our graduates go on to academic posts at universities such as the Saint Louis University, the University of Vermont, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and Franklin College. Domestically, graduates have served in congress and government agencies, including the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Labor. Our alumni working outside of the US have founded research institutions and consulted for major organizations such as CGIAR-CIP and the United Nations. 

Read more career information about AU economics alumni.

See the 2017-8 list of job market candidates .

News & Notes

See abstracts from the 2024  Third Year Paper Conference .

Research Seminar Series Wednesdays at noon.

• PhD candidate Amy Burnett Cross received an EHA Dissertation Fellowship from the EHA Committee on Research in Economic History
• PhD student Danielle Wilson was awarded an Economic History Association grant for archival research on Mexican Railroads.
• PhD student Aina Puig's short essay, " The Unequal Effect of Interest Rates by Race, Gender, " was published in the San Francisco Fed's Economic Letter.
• Professor Bernhard Gunter and PhD students Bong Sun Seo & Farah Tasneem were awarded the  International Award for Excellence for their article on the change in labor force participation rates during periods of globalization and marginalization. 

Student Spotlights

More about Aina

San Francisco Federal Reserve Board’s essay contest  called for papers studying economic impacts of gender and racial inequalities. As a winner, Aina’s paper will be published in the Federal Reserve Board’s Economic Letter and will have the opportunity to participate in a 6-week summer research program.

Aina’s paper focused on the impact of monetary policy, through interest rates, on spending patterns among types of U.S. households—those with mortgages, those with women versus men as head of household, and those headed by White versus Black people. By building on her interest in macroeconomic inequality topics with direct policy implications, she intended (and continues to intend) to fill a gap in the literature, adding to the income inequality narrative by bringing gender and racial inequalities to the forefront of discussion.

Through this project, she was able to not only establish the impact of monetary policy shocks on consumption patterns, but also inform the Federal Reserve Board of these distributional impacts. When discussing her research, Aina states that “promoting equal opportunity and understanding the different impacts of policies can help policymakers create policies that promote economic growth while benefitting all groups’ well-being in society.”

Her interest in analyzing inequality topics through lens of distributional effects of macroeconomic policies came to life during her research for this paper and “ties directly into [her] plans for [her] dissertation…, a good starting point for [her] future research.”

Vasudeva Ramaswamy

More about Vasudeva

Economics PhD candidate Vasudeva Ramaswamy credits American University with helping him zero in on his area of research interest and for equipping him with the tools to explore and contribute to his field. 

During his time at AU, Vasu spent two summers working with the World Bank, studying the impact of agricultural aggregators in East Africa — specifically, how they provided income and security to farmer communities. 

Vasu’s dissertation considers the effects of the Federal Reserve Bank’s actions on household inequality. Who gains and who loses when the Fed increases (or decreases) interest rates? And how do these effects propagate through the economy? Because business income and profits play a key role in household inequality, Vasu looks at how businesses respond to the actions of the Fed. 

After he earns his PhD, Vasu says he would love to be able to continue researching the importance of economic heterogeneity in monetary policy transmission. “I am particularly grateful for AU’s faculty, who are leading experts in their field and approachable and encouraging as mentors,” he adds. “I am equally grateful for the rest of my PhD cohort, who are a brilliant and motivated group. I am learning from them continually.”

Elissa Cohen

More about Elissa

Economics PhD candidate Elissa Cohen received an NSF grant to pursue her research about assumptions people make about risk and, building off an idea from a previous project, Elissa continues her interest in the Value of Statistical Life in this one to question the validity of how VSL is used and estimated. In doing so, she contributes to development of a more complete theory of how perceptions of risk guide decision making.

Elissa asks three questions: (1) Is the construct validity of the VSL consistent across measurement approaches? (2) Do people value the mitigation of varying types of fatality risk differently across domains? (3) Do people accurately comprehend the probability of death in a given setting?

To answer these questions, Elissa uses discrete choice experimental (DCE) designs, self-report surveys, and machine learning techniques to evaluate the validity of the VSL as an assessment how people’s risk assessment shapes behavior.

This research improves the understanding of how people perceive fatality risk across domains and how perceptions impact choices about risk exposure. With this research comes the potential to reshape how regulatory agencies construct their aggregated VSL estimates for future cost-benefit analyses, influencing policy decisions and allocation of scarce federal resources.

As she thinks about impact and the research space she can contribute to and develop, Elissa comments, “AU has definitely helped me refine the types of questions I am interested in answering…. I see myself continuing to explore and test feedback loops between emergent human behaviors and macro-level policy decision-making.”

Amy Burnett Cross

More about Amy

Amy Burnett Cross has been selected as one of the three NBER Pre-Doctoral Fellows in the Gender in the Economy program to support her dissertation research on the influence of military policy on the sorting of women into occupations. Through this research, she is able to include her knowledge from AU’s Program on Gender Analysis in Economics as well as her understanding that by bringing more insight from conservative institutions into her research realm, she could enhance the policy space of gender equity.

As she continues her career, Amy desires to conduct research that is directly applicable to policymakers, and through her research on this project, Amy has the chance to do this in addition to engaging with economic history and begin to invest more time in the historical arc of military policy and gender dynamics.

She has three focuses for her dissertation project: (1) evaluate the impact of lifting the ban on women in combat (in 2013) on civilian occupational desegregation; (2) measure the extent to which gender desegregation of the Army (in 1977) signaled a shift in the appropriate role of civilian women at work; and (3) assess whether the structure of the U.S. draft in WWI (in 1917) contributed to the development of the male breadwinner norm.

Amy’s work aims to provide evidence that policy changes can influence social norms constraining women’s work and occupational segregation, particularly in discovering how policies regarding women’s participation in the military go on to influence gender gaps in civilian labor market outcomes. In doing so, Amy also seeks to contribute to the research of information asymmetry as a cause for occupational segregation—does military gender desegregation function as a reduction of information asymmetry?

With the support and accommodation of her peers, professors, and advisor, Mary E. Hansen, Amy has been able to focus on her academic excellence and develop close friendships and bonds during her journey at AU. In discussing her work in gender economics and the community at American University, Amy offered, “AU attracts women economists and I have found some truly excellent ones here.”

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• Programs Overview
• Joint Finance PhD Program

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

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

Welcome incoming Ph.D. students! (alphabetical listing): Pedro Adami Oliboni; Bruno Aravena Maguida; Iris Arbogast; Dylan Baker; Rachel Coroseo Rojas; Amedeus Dsouza; Jacob Hartwig; Xun Huang; Ragini Jain; Tanvi Jindal; Sreyas Mahadevan; Saptarshi Majumdar; Ken Miyahara Coello; Meera Mody; Luke Motley; Shivani Pandey; Tyler Patterson; Santiago Perez Cardona; Henrique Rodrigues da Mota; Berkay Sagin; Stan Xie; Gianluca Yong Gonzalez; Samuel Zhao

  _______________________________________________________________________

Congratulations 2022-2023 Ph.D. Graduates! 2022-2023 PhD graduates (alphabetical listing): Oguz Bayraktar • Sergei Bazylik • Andrew Choi • Neil Cholli • Levi Crews • Yusheng Fei • Agustin Gutierrez • Takuma Habu • Eyo Herstad • Sota Ichiba • Esperanza Johnson Urrutia • Joshua Ka • Daniel Kashner • Jonas Lieber • Jack Light • Jiarui Liu • Andrea Mattia • Hyejin Park • Harshil Sahai • Chun Shea • Younghun Shim • Myungkou Shin • Mateusz Stalinski • Mehrdad Tahvilian

_____________________________________________________________________________

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

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

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

Divisional Graduate Resources

Find divisional Graduate Resources here.

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

PhD Admissions Application

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Economics Ph.D. Programs

The Iowa State University Ph.D. program has majors in economics and agricultural economics . Students receive a solid foundation in economic theory and statistical methods with the flexibility to pursue broad areas of study. The rigorous training in theoretical and applied economics prepares graduates to compete for research and teaching positions in leading academic institutions, government, and industry.

• Ph.D. Coursework
• Costs and Funding
• Admission Guidelines

Classes are taught by engaged faculty who are leading experts in their fields. You can see some of the latest projects that faculty and students are working on, including upcoming seminars on the department home page . Students take core coursework during their first year of the program before becoming more specialized and selecting a major professor. The student and their major professor will work together closely with the rest of the student’s faculty committee and will collaborate on research and paper publications.

Application and Admission

Admission to the Ph.D. program and financial assistance are based on a combination of factors: prior coursework and performance, GRE and TOEFL (international students) results, letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose. Applications are evaluated both individually and in relation to other applicants to the program.

Assistantships and Scholarships

The Department of Economics offers a competitive compensation package for Ph.D. students who are on assistantship. Students receive a monthly stipend and in most cases, the cost of tuition is fully covered. Other benefits include health insurance, travel to conferences, and potential for summer employment. All applicants are automatically considered for assistantship funding. You do not have to be affiliated with a specific faculty member prior to admission in order to secure an assistantship.

Career Opportunities

Our goal is that students earning their Ph.D. at Iowa State University are equipped with the research experience, tools and professional network necessary to succeed in their desired careers and contribute meaningfully to society.

Over the past years, we've provided strong support to our graduating Ph.D. candidates, who have achieved placement in a vast array of academic jobs in the U.S. and abroad at universities, such as Auburn University, The Ohio State University, Virginia Tech, Kansas State University, Ripon College, and Central University of Finance and Economics (Beijing). Other graduates place at top federal government agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Labor Statistics and Federal Housing Finance Agency. And many are employed at research organizations and corporations like Freddie Mac, Citigroup, Lyft, Discover and the Lewin Group.

Don’t see the answers you’re looking for here? Check out these frequently asked questions .

Ready to join the Department of Economics?

Apply now or review our application process.

• How to apply

Search Utah State University:

Economics (applied economics department) - phd.

About This Degree

The PhD in economics gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in research. The program emphasizes applied economic theory and quantitative analysis, and students can focus their studies in environmental and natural resource economics, agricultural economics, or regional economic development.

What You Will Learn

PhD graduates have had opportunities to work on research projects funded by organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Education, among others. Many graduates have published refereed journal articles that stem from their graduate work in scholarly journals.

Specialization:

Climate adaptation science (economics phd):.

The Climate Adaptation Science specialization provides students with experiences in actionable science through internship and research experiences. Program includes interdisciplinary research to identify adaptive responses to changing climate extremes and two-part internships with agency, NGO, and industry partners. In a first internship, students contribute to projects and learn the workplace cultures and science needs of the host. The internship experiences inform interdisciplinary climate adaptation research by student teams. In a second internship, students share science results and tools with the host organization and help put that science into action.

At a Glance

College: College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department: Applied Economics Department

USU Locations:

• Logan campus

Faculty: View profiles of faculty members on the department directory .

Program Requirements

• Update this page

Career And Outcomes

Career opportunities.

While graduates primarily pursue careers in research and academia, this degree also prepares students for positions in:

• Private consulting firms
• Regional and national policy-making agencies
• Private, not-for-profit organizations
• Community/regional economic planning and development agencies

Job Outlook

Request for information and advising, man-keun kim.

Professor, Director of Graduate Studies Email: [email protected] Office: AGRS 220A Phone: (435) 797-2359

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USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

Admission Requirements

Prerequisite course work for the phd in economics:.

M.S. in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Economics, Environmental/Natural Resource Economics, or a closely related degree.

Or at a minimum evidence of the following coursework:

• Microeconomic Principles
• Intermediate Microeconomics
• Basic Econometrics

Application Requirements:

• Complete the online application
• Pay the $55 application fee
• Score at or above the 40th percentile on the GRE
• Have a 3.0 or higher GPA on your last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
• Provide transcripts of all college/university credits
• Provide three contacts for letters of recommendation

International students have additional admissions requirements .

The department has the following application deadline for students wishing to receive funding:

• Fall semester –January 31

The deadline for admission without funding is:

• Fall semester – June 30

PhD candidates are accepted in odd years only.

Students must take a qualifying examination at the end of their first year. It is composed of two, four-hour exams covering 1) microeconomics and 2) econometrics and quantitative methods.

Both exams must be passed before moving on to the second year of study.

Financial Aid

The department offers a limited amount of competitive research assistantships and tuition awards . As the availability of these assistantships varies from year to year, students should check with the department for more information.

A variety of funding opportunities are available on the graduate school website .

Take The Next Step

How to apply.

View our step-by-step guide on how to become an Aggie.

Request Information

Contact the School of Graduate Studies to ask questions or receive more information.

Cost and Funding

Calculate the cost of graduate school and learn about funding opportunities.

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Economic Analysis & Policy

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

Low Student-to-Faculty Ratio

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

Flexible and Innovative Program

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

A Top-Ranked School

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

Preparation and Qualifications

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

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

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

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

Economic Analysis & Policy Faculty

Mohammad akbarpour, claudia allende santa cruz, susan athey, lanier benkard, jeremy i. bulow, modibo khane camara, sebastian di tella, rebecca diamond, yossi feinberg, guido w. imbens, charles i. jones, michael ostrovsky, garth saloner, yuliy sannikov, kathryn shaw, andrzej skrzypacz, paulo somaini, juan carlos suárez serrato, takuo sugaya, christopher tonetti, shoshana vasserman, ali yurukoglu, weijie zhong, emeriti faculty, alain c. enthoven, robert j. flanagan, david m. kreps, peter c. reiss, john roberts, a. michael spence, robert wilson, recent publications in economic analysis & policy, battling the coronavirus ‘infodemic’ among social media users in kenya and nigeria, using wasserstein generative adversarial networks for the design of monte carlo simulations, adaptive novelty detection with false discovery rate guarantee, recent insights by stanford business, nine stories to get you through tax season, a.i. can help “personalize” policies to reach the right people, stanford gsb faculty share their holiday reading lists, placement director.

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Ph.D. in Applied Economics

Attention prospective students.

As of June 2023, Applied Economics Ph.D. now has a STEM CIP code ( 45.0603   replaces 45.0602).

Building better businesses

The doctoral program in applied economics focuses on the applications of economic theory and econometrics to resolve problems concerning agricultural endeavors.

The  Ph.D. graduate degree program includes faculty from  the   Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology  as well as the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts’ Department of Economics . 

Our doctoral program prepares students for leadership careers in government, private industry and education.  The program also offers a minor in statistics . 

Areas of Specialization

• Applied Market Analysis
• Applied Production Economics
• International Economics
• Natural Resource & Environmental Economics
• Statistics Minor

Doctoral PROGRam

The information below is a brief description of the  Doctoral program in Applied Economics (Agriculture)  offered by our department.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PH.D.)

The Ph.D. in applied economics leaves graduates well-versed in subjects including  applied production economics, demand analysis, international economics, resource and environmental economics,   to name a few . 

There is an oral exam in the field of specialization and proposed dissertation topic plus final oral dissertation defense.

CURRICULUM & REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for a Ph.D. include a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the baccalaureate.  In the first year, students take two semesters of microeconomics and econometrics, one semester of macroeconomics, mathematical economics, and research methods, and a special topics course on writing for scholarly journals that serves as the basis for the Ph.D. research paper that is due at the beginning of the second year of coursework.   

In the second year, students take two semesters of advanced micro-econometrics along with other core courses and complete their Ph.D. research paper. Upon completion of the  p aper, the student schedules an  o ral  p reliminary  e xamination, which lays the groundwork for the dissertation.   

The third year is devoted to completing required core courses and the dissertation. The dissertation typically consists of the Ph.D. research paper and two essays. The dissertation is defended at the final oral examination, which constitutes the final requirement for the Ph.D.  

CLICK HERE FOR THE COURSE CURRICULUM  

Ph.D. Research Paper

The writing of a publishable paper is required during the first two years of the Ph.D. program. The paper must be sole-authored and worthy of submission to an economics or related journal with a Google Scholar h-index of 25 or above.

Journals meeting this standard can be found on the bibliometric search engine “Harzing’s Publish or Perish” available as a free download on Harzing’s website. Students are encouraged to begin developing research ideas immediately upon entering the graduate program. Initial ideas for the paper (consisting of a concise research question, a sketch of a framework for investigation, and verification of available data) must be submitted to the Paper Committee by January 15 of the first year as part of the Research Paper course (described later).

Based on the paper idea and student nominations, the Paper Committee assigns a Paper Advisor to each student. Thereafter, students report to and interact frequently with their Paper Advisor. Students are also encouraged to seek advice or reactions to drafts from faculty throughout the development of their paper, just as a faculty member might seek advice from a colleague. However, the paper must be solely the student’s work, which excludes work done jointly with faculty here or elsewhere (such as a professor in prior undergraduate/graduate work). Plagiarism standards of the journals apply, and violations could result in expulsion from the university (see Student Academic Honesty Code and discussion below).

The student’s progress is evaluated by the Paper Committee together with the Paper Advisor. To assist the student in meeting the paper requirement, the Paper Committee will teach a 3-hour course on the basics of writing for journals. In this course, which is offered Spring Semester, students make an oral presentation on the development of their paper ideas and submit a formal Paper Prospectus on or about April 30 (end of Spring semester). Attendance is required.

The student’s paper must be submitted to the Paper Committee by September 30 following the first year of coursework.

After soliciting a thorough review of the paper by the Paper Advisor and two independent reviewers selected from the faculty, the Paper Committee classifies the paper into one of three categories:

• (i) the paper meets the standard as is,
• (ii) the paper could meet the standard with minor revision, or
• (iii) the paper needs substantial work.

Students with papers in the first category are finished with the paper requirement. Students with papers in the second and third categories are given careful advice on how to bring their papers up to journal quality and continue to work with their Paper Advisors (which subsequently include the independent faculty reviewers).

The revised paper must be submitted by January 15 of the second year, when a similar evaluation process occurs. If the revised paper fails to meet the standard, a second revision will be due on April 30 .

If the paper at that point does not meet the standard, or could not do so with straightforward revisions, the student will not be allowed to continue in the Ph.D. program. These students have the option of changing to a terminal MS program or leaving the Ph.D. program. The chair of the Paper Committee conveys the committee’s final evaluation of each student in writing to the Graduate Program Officer, who, in turn, provides written notification of the final decision to the student and the Department Chair.

Read the complete AERS PhD Research Paper Requirements (PDF)

3 Tips to Produce a Successful Paper

• Select a topic that contributes to the AERS Department’s research program. Most faculty have research projects funded by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station , or outside contracts and grants. Familiarize yourself with these research projects, with the aim of developing a researchable idea that contributes to the research objectives. This will align your interest with faculty expertise, and thus result in higher quality feedback as the writing process unfolds.
• Do a thorough review of the literature with the aim of identifying gaps, problems, or puzzles that your work could address. Focus on work published in the better journals, i.e., those with a GS h-index higher than 25. Avoid unpublished work, and work published in “popular” outlets, i.e., those intended for a non-scientific audience. And be sure that the review is up to date, i.e., includes the most recent work on the topic. A good place to find relevant articles is EconLit, the electronic data base maintained by the American Economics Association. Harzing’s Publish or Perish is also a good source, as it allows you to re-arrange articles on any given topic by date of publication, journal, and citation rate.
• Assemble a data base early in the research process, ideally by the end of the first semester of classes. This will give you an opportunity to explore alternative hypotheses, apply econometric techniques learned in class, and develop a realistic understanding of what can be accomplished given data limitations and time constraints.

Writing Help

Poorly written papers are apt to be rejected by faculty reviewers. With this in mind, international students whose first language is not English in particular are strongly encouraged to take advantage of writing help offered by the university.

Two places where help can be found are the International Student/Scholar English Center (ISEC) and the Miller Writing Center located in RBD Library. ISEC offers free tutoring services as well as specialized courses (INTL 1800 and INTL 1830) designed to improve proficiency in oral and written English. The Miller Writing Center has a program called “WriteFest” that is designed specifically to support graduate student writing.

Students (domestic and international) who turn in poorly written papers and who have not taken advantage of these services are apt not to get much sympathy in the appeals process. So it is smart to work these services/programs into your schedule early in your Ph.D. studies, preferably in the first year.

Graduate Degree Documents

For more information in detail please reference these graudate degree documents regarding our Ph.D. in Applied Economics.

Applied Economics Ph.D. Program Description (PDF)

Aers phd research paper requirement (pdf), aers graduate handbook (pdf), graduate degrees & programs, aers placement, research office, financial aid & scholarships, career discovery, student services.

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Economics

Please note that we are not accepting applicants for the Fall 2024 cohort.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in applied economics in the Department of Economics at Western Michigan University is designed to meet the needs of future high-level practicing economists in non-academic and academia settings . The Ph.D. program is intended to be completed within four years.

NOTE:  Our Ph.D. in Applied Economics has the following CIP Code: 45.0603

The Department of Economics has faculty demonstrating a wide range of research interests with a common theme of applied research. The faculty uses state-of-the-art economic theory and empirical methods to address a myriad of applied economic problems.

Program requirements

Components of the doctoral program

The WMU Ph.D. program in applied economics develops skills required for applied research and prepares doctorates for their first job in academia.

Workshops and internships

WMU's program retains a core curriculum as is required by traditional Ph.D. programs in economics, but also requires participation in applied economics workshops and allows the completion of an internship in a non-academic organization.

During an internship, students report to an employee of the organization and a Department of Economics faculty member. The internship gives students the incentive and opportunity to apply knowledge of economic theory and empirical methods to the actual problems faced by an organization. The internship may provide the subject of the dissertation and therefore send graduates into the job market with a somewhat different orientation than that of graduates from traditional programs.

For admission to the Ph.D. program in applied economics, students must satisfy all the criteria identified in the graduate catalog . In addition, the Department of Economics requires:

• GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical). Note: Students in our most recently admitted Ph.D. class had an average verbal GRE of 146, an average quantitative GRE of 158, and an average analytical GRE of 3.2.  We do not have a minimum required GRE.
• Intermediate level microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory.
• One year of calculus.
• A personal statement discussing career plans.
• Three letters of reference from persons in a position to assess your qualifications for doctoral-level study and likelihood of successful completion of the Ph.D. degree.

Meet our students

The Department of Economics has a diverse student body with students from all over the world. Our doctoral students have opportunities to teach undergraduate classes, attend conferences and conduct research both independently and in collaboration with faculty.

Our Ph.D. alumni have established successful careers and lives. Check out current job positions of some of our Ph.D. alumni .

Contact Dr. Christine Moser , director of graduate programs, for additional information.

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PHD, Agricultural & Applied Economics

Rigorous curriculum and cutting-edge research programs in a wide range of economic fields. Work closely with nationally recognized, experienced faculty to break new ground in our understanding of human decision making and economic institutions.

Degree Type: Doctoral

Degree Program Code: PHD_AGAE

Degree Program Summary:

Graduate study in agricultural and applied economics leading to a Master of Science degree in agricultural and applied economics or environmental economics and Doctor of Philosophy degree provides a wide range of educational opportunities in addressing the issues of production and distribution of food and fiber, natural resource and environmental management, and the quality of rural life. These programs prepare students for careers of leadership through development of a high degree of economic comprehension and decision making. Applications of economic theory and econometrics to resolve economic problems are the major areas of focus for courses in the department. The department has offered graduate degree programs for over 55 years. Its graduates hold key positions in both the private and public sectors in the state, the nation, and throughout the world. Graduates are employed in a wide range of positions, with robust demand in private industry from health care to food and fiber wholesale firms. Graduates are employed in domestic and international academic positions.

Graduate study is offered at both the masters and doctoral levels. The Master of Science (MS) in agricultural and applied economics and the Master of Science (MS) in environmental economics degrees require 27 hours minimum of course work and three hours of thesis. A Master of Agribusiness (MAB) degree consists of a minimum of 36 hours of course work including a technical report in lieu of a formal thesis. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree consists of a minimum of 63 hours of course work beyond the bachelor’s degree, satisfactory performance on written and oral examinations, and a formal dissertation.

Graduate instruction and research may be undertaken in the following areas of specialization: agricultural marketing and consumer demand, agricultural business management, production economics, natural resources and environmental economics, and international trade and development.

Graduate research is coordinated with the department’s overall research program. Students may select a research topic related to the department’s current research projects or an approved area of sponsored research. Exceptional computer facilities, software, and support are available for departmental research.

Financial assistance is available to graduate students on a competitive basis in the form of departmental research assistantships. Paid internships are also available from regional and national agribusiness firms.

Locations Offered:

Athens (Main Campus)

College / School:

College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

147 Cedar Street Athens, GA 30602

706-542-3924

Department:

Agricultural and Applied Economics

Graduate Coordinator(s):

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Ph.D. in Economics

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

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

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

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

The UC Berkeley College of Letters & Science   provides students helpful resources, links, and tools for successfully completing the Ph.D. in Economics.

ECONOMICS GRADUATE STUDENT SERVICES

The economics student services mission is to advise our students holistically by providing a high standard of service in a supportive and collaborative environment.  professional and peer advisors work as a team to provide accurate information in a timely manner.  we partner with faculty to assist students in engaging with the campus and the global economic community.  we value fairness, diversity, and the important roles our students, faculty, and staff in the department of economics play at the university of california, berkeley..

If you or someone you know is experiencing financial, food, housing or other basic needs challenges - you can find support and services at:  http://tinyurl.com/UCB-BNC-C19 .

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

Graduate Office Address:

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Graduate Programs

Thank you for your interest in the Graduate Program in Economics at the University of Washington. We offer a program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in economics. The PhD program is for students interested in pursuing advanced study and doing original research in economics. This program develops professional economists for a variety of careers in teaching, in government, in industry, or with international agencies in the United States and abroad.

Quan Wen Professor, Graduate Program Director

Overview of the Doctoral Program's three phases .

Econ Graduate Student Resources

• Graduate Guide for Students (PDF) A detailed description of the current requirements for the MA and PhD degrees.
• Supervisory Committee Form (PDF) Students may either collect signatures or emails from their prospective committee members. Emails should be printed out and stapled to the back of the committee form.
• Supervisory Committee Change Request   Students need to collect signatures and submit this form for any committee changes
• Econ Grad Job Placement Profiles of some of our recent graduates who have been placed in both academic and non-academic positions.
• How We Allocate TAs (PDF) A description of the process by which students are ranked for funding purposes.
• Graduate Student Travel Policy (PDF) Please refer to this for questions about grad student travel reimbursement.

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Agricultural & Consumer Economics

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Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Applied Economics

Degree requirements   Sample program

Study and research for the Ph.D .in Agricultural and Applied Economics typically requires four years beyond the MS degree.

• The first year is devoted to completing the Ph.D. core courses which cover the theory and quantitative methods upon which field or elective courses in agricultural and consumer economics are based.
• The second year is usually devoted to courses in the student's chosen area(s) of specialization and to completion of an independent research paper.
• The third year students present their research paper, complete research, and orally defend a proposal for dissertation topic.
• The fourth year student defend their final exam and deposit their dissertation.

Upon completing courses and passing a written preliminary examination, doctoral students must complete a significant research paper and orally defend a proposal for dissertation research. The oral defense assesses their preparation and plans for independent research and other related topics. Each Ph.D. candidate presents the completed research in a final dissertation defense.

The Ph.D. degree is a STEM-designated program.

To view the general requirements of the PhD program, see the university's academic catalog . We have also created a sample program to help visualize how a Ph.D. student's time would be spent.

Specializations

ACE is a leader in agricultural and applied finance. The program has both a strong research base, and proven record working with industry participants and policy makers to address real-world problems and develop useful tools and outreach products. Students in the graduate program can become involved in any of a wide range of finance-related topics including asset valuation, credit assessment, firm-level financial management, investment and capital budgeting evaluation, leverage, financial structure, lending policies, agricultural credit institutions, and national and international trends affecting financial outcomes in agriculture. The faculty's strong ties to production agriculture, lending institutions, and agribusiness create an environment conducive to problem-oriented research, and provide highly promising post-graduation opportunities.

Recommended Courses for Ph.D. Area of Specialization

Descriptions of courses listed below are available on the  course catalog

• ACE 542, Advanced Agricultural Finance

and at least two of:

• ACE 591, Independent Study (Approved Finance Topics), 4 hours
• FIN 511, Investments, 4 hours
• FIN 561, Financial Intermediation, 4 hours
• FIN 562, Macrofinance, 4 hours
• FIN 591, Theory of Finance, 4 hours
• FIN 596, Seminar in Fin Intermediation, 4 hours

For more information about Agricultural Finance, please contact:

Students in family and consumer economics use applied economics to address policy-relevant issues related to the behavior and well being of families, individuals, and consumers. This area of specialization focuses on household demand, household production, family formation and dissolution, consumer finance and family economics, and government policy. Faculty members are leading experts in several areas of family and consumer research including child support payments; effects of family structure on children's schooling, health, and well being; determinants of household financial well-being; family and consumer policy; consumer information and regulation; and health care issues. Faculty members also have a strong and growing interest in the international dimensions of family and consumer economics, including applications in the areas of international development and consumer finance.

• ACE 531, Impact Evaluation, 2 hours
• ACE 571, Household Economics, 2 hours
• ACE 572, Economics of the Family, 4 hours

For more information about Family and Consumer Economics, please contact:

This area focuses on a variety of management and decision issues relevant to farms and other firms in the food and agribusiness sector. Cooperation with the College of Business allows students to take courses or minor in related business fields. Research areas include decision analysis, information systems, operations management, business organization and strategy, marketing tactics and strategy, and behavior of organizations and decision makers. Close ties with industry executives enrich students' opportunities.

For more information about Food, Agribusiness and Farm Management, please contact:

Students in this area study the role of government in economic development, marketing, finance, international trade, and agriculture. They analyze policies related to market stabilization, international economic relations, food safety and biotechnology, natural resource use, income distribution, and public sector-private sector relations. Students and faculty also study the role of interest groups in the development of policies. Faculty have experience in Australia, Africa, Canada, Asia, Western and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

• ACE 531 Impact Evaluation, 2 hours
• ACE 556 Agricultural Policy and Political Economy, 4 hours
• ACE 557 Food, Poverty and Development, 2 hours
• ACE 559 Food, Trade and Development, 2 hours
• ACE 571 Household Economics, 2 hours

For more information about International and Development Economics, please contact:

ACE is a leading contributor to economic studies of bioenergy, soil carbon sequestration, water resource management and valuation, resource and habitat conservation, and voluntary environmental programs. Our proximity to some of the world’s most productive agricultural land as well as to the Mississippi River, the Great Lakes, and Chicago provides ready access to important field sites and enables us to be major contributors to environmental, natural resource, and agricultural policy development both nationally and regionally.

At least two of:

• ACE 510, Adv Natural Resource Economics, 4 hours
• ACE 516, Environmental Economics, 4 hours

For more information about Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, please contact:

Students in price analysis and agricultural marketing address the performance of agricultural markets. The department is closely linked with one of the world's most important markets for agricultural commodities. It is a leader in analyzing those markets, including options and futures markets located in Chicago, to find ways of improving the worldwide flow of food and fiber. Other areas of research include market information, grain quality in domestic and international markets, location and transportation analysis, and managing price and income risk.

• ACE 520, Food Commodity Markets, 4 hours
• ACE 527, Advanced Price Analysis, 4 hours

For more information about Price Analysis and Agricultural marketing, please contact:

Regional economics is an intellectually demanding and exciting field. Recognizing that space or location matters adds another dimension of complexity and realism to traditional economics. Traditional questions of regional economics include why some regions prosper while others do not, why some industries cluster, and what public policies can help places become more competitive and prosperous. More recent questions deal with the spatial externalities of weather events on, among others, crop yield and interregional trade as well as the impact of climate change on global supply chain linkages. The University of Illinois has a 40‑year heritage of educating leading regional economists and providing leadership to the Regional Science Association International.

• ACE 532/SE, Spatial Econometrics, 4 hours
• ACE 592, Environmental and economic Input-Output, 4 hours

For more information about Regional Economics and Public Policy, please contact:

Sample Program

*If approved, one field course may also fulfill the quantitative methods requirement.

PhD in Applied Economics

A collaborative program offered by the Departments of Economics, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Finance and Management Science, and the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan

Program overview

How to apply, research areas, course listing, tuition and funding.

A PhD in Applied Economics will give you the skills to conduct research for businesses, governments, think tanks, and other research organizations, as well as to train the next generation of applied economics professionals as an academic.

The PhD program combines advanced courses in applied economics with a major research dissertation. The core of the program focuses on microeconomic theory and quantitative methods with one advanced course in macroeconomics. The student and their advisory committee determine the remainder of the student’s field courses.

Main Program Components:

• core focus on microeconomic theory and quantitative methods
• advanced courses in applied economics / one advanced course in macroeconomics
• six field courses
• two comprehensive exams / major research dissertation
• 36 credit units (two years of classes)
• Years Three to Five
• two courses in microeconomics
• two courses in econometrics
• one course in macroeconomics
• one elective course (must be approved by the committee)
• first comprehensive exam
• guidelines for the first research paper
• choose an applied field and develop a program of study
• six field courses based on area of specialization
• second comprehensive exam
• complete dissertation proposal
• dissertation research and writing
• dissertation defence
• Program in Detail

Admission requirements

Doctor of philosophy.

• A master’s degree, or equivalent, in a related field of study from a recognized college or university.
• A cumulative weighted average of at least 70% (U of S grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (e.g. 60 credit units) 
• Proof of English language proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): Submission of a GRE or GMAT score is recommended for all applicants. Applicants who have not earned a degree from a Canadian or US institution are required to submit a GRE or GMAT score.

Students are not required to identify a faculty supervisor.

Please visit the  College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies  to learn more and submit your application. We start accepting application on September 15 th  for the following September term.  Applications must be completed by January 15 th .

Students in the Applied Economics PhD program have a wide variety of focus research areas to choose from, each with a multidisciplinary component that spans across academic units.

Applied econometrics

Application of novel empirical methods to applied economics questions. Applications include, for example, labour markets, education, health care, international economics, efficiency and productivity measurement in agriculture, financial markets.

Behavioural and experimental economics

Understanding decision-making at the level of individual consumers, firms, and organizations. Applications include, for example, risk tolerance and responses to risk; health behaviours; food consumption behaviours; technology and innovation adoption decisions by firms; computational economics, behavioural responses to policy nudges. Researchers have access to state-of-the-art research facilities at the Experimental Decision Laboratory ( Social Sciences Research Laboratories ).

Environmental and resource economics

The application of economic theory and empirical methods to environmental and resource management and policy issues. Applications include, for example, ecological economics, forestry economics, water resources, adaptation to climate change, biofuels policy, pollution, indigenous land/resource use issues, and environmental valuation.

Ken Belcher , Joel Bruneau , Richard Gray , Hayley Hesseln , Suren Kulshreshtha , Patrick Lloyd-Smith , Saeed Moshiri ,  Tristan Skolrud

Finance and financial economics

Applications include the empirical research in the areas of corporate finance (including capital structure, dividend policy, financing costs, corporate governance, corporate ownership and control, corporate social responsibility, mergers & acquisitions, international corporate finance, and firm valuation), asset pricing, banking, financial derivatives and risk management, financial institutions, venture capital, agricultural finance and public finance.

James Cao , Abdullah Mamun , Min Maung , Eric Micheels , Dev Mishra , Marie Racine , Enchuan Shao , Lee Swanson , George Tannous , Craig Wilson , Fan Yang

Health and labour economics

Applications to the analysis of labour markets, health care provision and costs, income inequality, and economics of nutrition.

Kelly Foley , Murray Fulton , Jill Hobbs , Mobinul Huq ,  Sabine Liebenehm ,  Haizhen Mou , Nazmi Sari , Enchuan Shao , Keith Willoughby

Industrial organization, strategy and firm behaviour

Analysis of firm behaviour and decision-making and industry structure. Applications include, for example, game theory, agricultural co-operatives, agri-food supply chains, firm strategy; managerial economics; competitiveness.

James Cao , Murray Fulton , Mehran Hojati , Eric Micheels , James Nolan , Hamed Samarghandi , Tristan Skolrud , Peter Slade , Shan Wang ,  Keith Willoughby , Jingang Zhao

International economics

International trade, including trade theory and policy, international finance, and international macroeconomics. Applications include, for example, exchange rates, trade agreements, agricultural trade policy.

Joel Bruneau , Maxym Chaban ,  Richard Gray , William Kerr

Policy and governance

Analysis of the economic welfare outcomes of policy decisions, and public policy formation. Applications include, for example, innovation and science policy; trade policy; agricultural policy; food policy; environmental policy; resource management policy; health policy; transportation policy, wetland and wildlife conservation policy.

Regional and development economics

Understanding how economies operate at the national, sub-national and local level and understanding how decision-making at the household, firm and community-level influences development outcomes. Applications to regional economic development, rural development, international development, indigenous communities.

James Cao , Don Gilchrist , Eric Howe ,  Mobinal Huq ,  Anna Klimina ,  Sabine Liebenehm ,  David Natcher , James Nolan

Not all of the below courses are required. Please refer to the Program in Detail for more information.

• Core courses
• Field courses

Micro Economic Theory -  2 courses from:

• ECON 800 Micro Economic Theory: Studies theories of exchange, consumer demand, production and cost, and pricing.
• ECON 873 Advanced Microeconomic Theory: A survey of advanced topics in modern macroeconomic theory. Topics include theories of growth, real business cycles, search in labour markets, nominal business cycles and macro policy.
• AREC 842 Agricultural Market Organizations: Develops a conceptual framework in which organizations, their behaviour, their interactions with other firms and their impact on an industry can be studied, compared and analyzed. The relevant literature in organizational theory, industrial organization and contract theory is reviewed, especially as it focuses on theoretical and empirical work in the areas of co-operatives, agri-business firms and other forms of organizations.
• ECON 850 Game Theory Strategic and Cooperative Choices: A systematic introduction to game theory and its application in economics. Provides concepts and tools for understanding current research and performing your own research in the field. Covers both non-cooperative and cooperative game theories.

Macro Economic Theory   - 1 course from:

• ECON 801 Macro Economic Theory: A survey of macro-economic theory, and includes theories of the consumption function, theories of investment, money and interest rates, monetary and fiscal policy, and general equilibrium theory.
• ECON 874 Advanced Macroeconomic Theory: A survey of advanced topics in modern macroeconomic theory. Topics include theories of growth, real business cycles, search in labour markets, nominal business cycles and macro policy.

Econometrics -  2 courses from:

• ECON 808 Econometrics I: The fundamentals of estimation and inference in the classical regression model, with applied laboratory sessions using actual economic data. Topics covered typically include: multiple linear and non-linear regression models; least squares; maximum likelihood; instrumental variables; statistical properties of estimators; asymptotic theory; restrictions; measurement error; serial correlation; heteroskedasticity; systems of equations.
• ECON 809 Econometrics II: Considers estimation and inference in different econometrics models. The first part deals with time-series econometrics and nonstationary data: unit root; cointegration; single-equation and system methods. The second part covers panel data and discrete choice. Additional topic is added based on instructor’s current interests. Application of these techniques in applied projects.

Please note the grouping of field courses by area is illustrative, and some courses are applicable to more than one area. The availability of field courses will change from year to year, and additional field courses may also become available.

• FIN 801 Advanced Corporate Finance : Provides students with a fundamental understanding of the current issues of interest in research in the modern theory of corporate finance. It provides students with a theoretical background in areas such as firm theory, security issuance, capital raising, capital structure, and corporate governance. Presentation and discussion of articles from academic journals are used as tools to enhance student learning.
• FIN 802 Advanced Investment Theory : Develops investment theory through the financial economics framework of Von-Neumann Morgenstern utility. This allows exploration of risk aversion, stochastic dominance, and portfolio optimization. MPT and CAPM are derived. Arrow-Debreu contingent claims and option pricing theory are addressed. Additional topics include risk-neutral valuation, stochastic discount factors, and the consumption CAPM.
• FIN 803 Empirical Methods in Finance : Presents a critical look at current financial models and gives the student experience in the systematic analysis of financial data. Students are exposed to a suite of analytical tools that allow rigorous assessment of the characteristics of financial data and models.
• FIN 805 Fixed Income Securities : This course considers the financial concepts required to invest in fixed income securities. Topics include the mathematics required to evaluate fixed income cash flows, measuring and hedging fixed income portfolio risk, the yield curve in theory and practice, repurchase agreements, interest rate forward agreements, futures contracts, swaps, and mortgage-backed securities.

Health and labour

• ECON 823 Labour Economics : The functioning of labour markets including labour supply, labour demand, accumulation of skills, contracts, and unemployment.
• ECON 833 Economic Evaluation Methods in Health Services Research : This course provides an array of economic evaluation methods used to assess health and healthcare programs, policies, technologies and interventions. Topics include methods of measuring health and health outcomes, as well as various economic evaluation methods (cost effectiveness, cost utility and cost benefit analyses), and their applications in health and healthcare policies.
• ECON 834 Health Economics : Examines health economic issues and the functioning of health care markets using microeconomic theory. Topics include health insurance and demand for health, production of health, economic evaluation methods, economic explanations for the behavior of health care providers, functioning of insurance markets, cost efficiency and regulation in health care markets.
• ECON 850 Game Theory, Strategic and Cooperative Choices : A systematic introduction to game theory and its application in economics. Provides concepts and tools for understanding current research and performing your own research in the field. Covers both non-cooperative and cooperative game theories.
• ECON 870 Behavioural Economics : Details the economics of behaviour and the importance of behavioural assumptions for the analytical predictions of economic theory, with special emphasis of the theory of the firm, household economics, experimental economics, rational choice analyses and public policy.
• AREC 825 Research Issues in Agribusiness Management : Lectures/discussions will emphasize the development and illustration of concepts, issues, and research questions in agribusiness, both past and present. The course readings will provide a general framework for class lecture/discussions. Through assignments and in-class discussions, students will broaden their understanding of practical and research issues within the context of agribusiness management.
• AREC 840 Economics of Agri-Food Marketing : Economic analysis of agriculture and food marketing systems. Topics include transactions costs and the role of institutions, spot markets, contracts and vertical integration, market power, price discovery, quality signalling and information asymmetry in agri-food markets. The relevant theoretical literature and empirical applications in these areas are reviewed.
• AREC 842 Agricultural Market Organizations : Develops a conceptual framework in which organizations, their behaviour, their interactions with other firms and their impact on an industry can be studied, compared and analyzed. The relevant literature in organizational theory, industrial organization and contract theory is reviewed, especially as it focuses on theoretical and empirical work in the areas of co-operatives, agri-business firms and other forms of organizations. Examination of these types of firms is undertaken to better understand their behaviour and to develop concepts that can be put to use in analyzing other types of organizations.
• JSGS 865 Decision Making in Organizations : Examines the manner in which decisions are made in organizations, with a particular focus on policy decisions. The course uses a wide variety of behavioral theories to look at phenomena such as policy traps, framing, unwarranted optimism, and group think.

International

• AREC 855 International Agricultural Trade Policy : The economic analysis of agricultural trade policy. Topics include introduction to international trade theory, an introduction to trade policy, methods of protection by importers and methods of protection by exporters.
• ECON 811 International Trade Theory : Studies recent developments in the pure theory of trade. Topics include current explanations of patterns of trade and factor movements, the formation of regional free trade areas, commercial policies and international cartels.
• ECON 812 International Monetary Economics : The nature of adjustment in open economics, under various international monetary systems, to real and monetary disturbances. The systems investigated will include fixed exchange rates, both with and without sterilization, flexible exchange rates and managed floating.
• ECON 830 Public Finance : A study of modern theoretical constructs and some of their applications. Topics include cost-benefit analysis, fiscal policy, the public debt, analysis of taxes and intergovernmental fiscal relations.
• AREC 832 Rural Development : The study of theories of rural development in advanced-market economies, a review of empirical studies of selected North American rural economies and a survey of national and subnational North American development policies. A particular emphasis will be placed on empirical analysis of economic development issues.
• AREC 845 Transportation Economics and Regulatory Policy : Economic analysis of the Canadian transportation sector, with particular emphasis on the movement of agricultural commodities. Specific topics include an overview of basic operations research methods including linear programming and efficiency measurement, analysis of industrial organization and regulation in the transportation sector using contestability theory and the new empirical industrial organization (NEIO), an introduction to the economics of networks, and an examination of the link between transportation and economic development.
• AREC 851 Agricultural Policy : Focuses on an economic analysis of agricultural policies in Canada. In addition, general economic policy will be discussed in terms of how it impacts on trade, investments, economic growth and efficiency.
• JSGS 862 Political Economy : Focuses on the politics of aggregating individual decisions into collective action, revealing the difficulty of formulating and implementing public policy broadly construed. The course readings emphasize formal approaches to this subject, while the assignments and discussion emphasize their application to real problems.
• AREC 820 Applied Microeconomic Theory : A study of the application of economic theory to production economics and consumer demand systems. The course links static micro economic theory to the behavior of economic systems. This course includes a survey on the choice of functional form, the application of duality in demand theory and the use of Bayesian econometrics to impose inequality restrictions in system estimation. The course also examines several aspects of technological change and dynamic problems involving risk and uncertainty.
• ECON 804 Research in Econometrics : A research project serves as the primary tool to learn econometric techniques, but is augmented by a consideration of the theoretical aspects of econometrics.
• ECON 805 Mathematical Analysis in Economics : A study of the mathematical formulation and investigation of economic relationships. Topics include the theory of consumer demand, theory of the individual firm, input-output analysis, models of aggregate economic activity and economic growth.

Funding is available and all students that are admitted to the program are automatically considered for funding.

Please visit the  College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies  for information on tuition rates.

Applied Economics Ph.D. Program Rm 2D14 - 51 Campus Drive University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8

Please direct all program inquiries to: Melissa Zink, Graduate Administrator [email protected]

Graduate Committee: Dr. Andreas Pollak (Chair) – Department of Economics Dr. Peter Slade,  Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics   Dr. Fan Yang, Department of Finance and Management Dr. Alaz Munzur,  Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy

Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics

• Degree Programs

9.0. Important Academic and Professional Opportunities and Obligations

9.1. graduate student association.

The department has an active and productive Graduate Student Association. This GSA organizes a departmental seminar series, sponsors Friday coffees, and has a number of social events throughout the year. The GSA also maintains a Web-page on the department Web-site. This Web-page contains information about upcoming events, the lecture series, conferences, and profiles and vitas of participating graduate students. All graduate students are strongly encouraged to actively participate in this organization.

9.2. Professional Societies

Graduate students are encouraged to join and participate in the activities of professional societies. Most societies have reduced dues for students. You should attend professional meetings whenever possible. Students serving on committees or delivering papers may receive at least partial travel expense reimbursement from department and/or graduate school sources. Such reimbursement is subject to availability of funds. Thus, early application is important.

9.3. Seminars

Student attendance is encouraged at departmental seminars.

9.4. Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is critically important in all aspects of graduate study. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and the consequences can be severe. All graduate students should be aware of standards of proper academic conduct as spelled out in the current Texas Tech University Student Handbook & Code of Conduct. These standards apply to the classroom, the conduct of research, and all other aspects of student life.

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MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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

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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.

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by Burk Krohe | May 20, 2024

Gabrielle Sewester successfully defended her dissertation earlier this month, earning a doctorate in educational psychology from the College of Education. Sewester works as a juvenile officer with the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division and hopes to apply her research in the field. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)

Even as a teenager, Gabrielle Sewester loved being around children and families. An avid athlete, she coached younger kids and also worked at youth summer camps.

Sewester thought her fondness for working with families would eventually translate to a career in nursing. In high school, she volunteered at Mercy Hospital St. Louis for one summer but found that she enjoyed interacting with the pediatric patients more than the clinical aspects of health care.

“One of the staff for the hospital recommended social work, and I had never really thought about it before,” she recalled.

The suggestion spurred Sewester to pursue a bachelor’s degree in child and family development and then a master’s degree in human development and family science at the University of Central Missouri. From there, she went on to a successful career in the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division as an alternative care worker and juvenile officer, working with children and families in the foster care system.

Sewester has continued to advocate for foster care children while furthering her education at the University of Missouri–St. Louis . Earlier this month, she graduated from the College of Education with a PhD in educational psychology after successfully defending her dissertation on placement stability among foster care children.

“It felt amazing,” she said of defending her dissertation. “It was a huge accomplishment that I’ve been working for for four years. It felt good to be done.”

After graduating from UCM with her bachelor’s degree in 2015, Sewester began working at a domestic violence shelter. Through a client at the shelter, she met a Children’s Division worker and applied for a position with the organization.

Children’s Division is responsible for the administration of child welfare services in Missouri and works in partnership with families, communities and courts to ensure the safety and well-being of children in the state. Sewester started her career as an alternative care worker, supervising families in the field from the time children entered foster care due to credible allegations of abuse or neglect until they returned home, entered an adoption or guardianship or aged out of the system. In her current role as a juvenile officer, she still oversees cases but primarily works on the legal side of the system.

Sewester acknowledges that the work can be difficult at times, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.

“If you try to find the positives, if you try to make those connections with parents and caregivers, I’ve noticed that helps a lot because they’re willing to trust you,” she said. “If you can build that relationship so they’ll take the advice you give, they’re willing to talk to you about problems when they come up. It can be tough, but there’s a lot of good things that come from it – especially when you get to send the children back home with their parents and everyone’s really excited.”

A desire to build upon the positives in the foster care system was the impetus for her doctoral research at UMSL, though she first fell in love with the research process during her master’s program.

Sewester returned to UCM shortly after graduating to enroll in a new accelerated master’s program in human development and family science.

“I was like, ‘Well, I can do anything for a year. Let’s give it a shot,’” she said.

The program’s research courses immediately resonated with her, so much so that she sought permission to conduct an independent research project and write an accompanying thesis even though neither was required in the accelerated program.

After earning her MS, Sewester still felt like her work was unfinished. Her graduate school advisor encouraged her to continue her education, so she began looking for a doctoral program that would be flexible enough for her to continue working full-time at Children’s Division and also provide her with new skills.

UMSL’s educational psychology program fit the bill.

Sewester enjoyed the ability to pursue multidisciplinary coursework. She also praised the College of Education’s helpful faculty and staff, particularly her dissertation committee: Professor Cody Ding , Associate Professor Shea Kerkhoff , Associate Professor Emily Brown and Assistant Professor Kristy Brann .

“I had great professors,” Sewester said. “They all help lead you to where you want to go, even if they weren’t necessarily experts in what I was studying. They all suggested theories, research questions or ideas and helped along the way, which was amazing. It was a good experience. I met a lot of classmates that I still talk to now. We kind of helped push each other to finish our dissertations.”

Her dissertation, “Exploring Strategies for Placement Stability Among Foster Care Children,” stemmed from her experience working in the child welfare system. Some foster care children experience frequent placements, moves from home to home, which creates uncertainty in their lives and disrupts their cases. The qualitative study examined how some foster parents are able to provide stable environments for the duration of a case and what factors are involved.

“Gabrielle used an asset-based approach to her research, which shines a light on the positive experiences of foster parents,” Kerkhoff said. “Highlighting their experiences will be a great resource for future foster parents, hopefully resulting in more stability for all children.”

Sewester interviewed 13 foster parents from across Missouri who reported at least one placement they deemed successful. The hourlong interviews, conducted via Zoom, touched on a variety of topics including their motivations for becoming foster parents, responses to difficulties, interactions with caseworkers, experiences at court hearings and more.

Over the course of the project, three themes emerged. The first, and most important, was a child-focused approach to the placement.

“Most of the successful placements happened when the placement providers focused on the children and whether they were safe and if they got the access to services that they needed,” Sewester said, “and if that child had the ability to grow and learn and be themselves when they were placed with them.”

The second key aspect was an understanding of the children’s past trauma and how that can affect behavior, while the final component was a connection to and engagement with the foster care community. Parents often felt more confident with a support system around them where they could share experiences and resources.

“When I read Gabrielle’s findings for the first time, I cried because I knew that her research was going to help people,” Kerkhoff said.

Sewester said she just wanted to change the narrative around foster care and highlight the people working hard to make sure kids are safe. Ultimately, she hopes the conditions she identified can be replicated in more homes and inspire broader change.

“This research really does focus on the positives and the successes, and it’s not talked about enough,” she said. “I think if we changed the focus, then it might be a switch that the child welfare system needs in order to have more success stories.”

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