uni geneva phd economics

• Assistant Professor / Lecturer
• PhD Candidate
• Senior Researcher / Group Leader
• Researcher / Analyst
• Research Assistant / Technician
• Administration
• Executive / Senior Industry Position
• Mid-Level Industry Position
• Junior Industry Position
• Graduate / Traineeship
• Remote/Hybrid Jobs
• Summer / Winter Schools
• Online Courses
• Professional Training
• Supplementary Courses
• All Courses

PhD Programs

• Master's Programs
• MBA Programs
• Bachelor's Programs
• Online Programs
• All Programs
• Fellowships
• Postgraduate Scholarships
• Undergraduate Scholarships
• Prizes & Contests
• Financial Aid
• Research/Project Funding
• Other Funding
• All Scholarships
• Conferences
• Exhibitions / Fairs
• Online/Hybrid Conferences
• All Conferences
• Economics Terms A-Z
• Career Advice
• Study Advice
• Work Abroad
• Study Abroad
• Campus Reviews
• Recruiter Advice
• Study Guides - For Students
• Educator Resource Packs
• All Study Guides
• University / College
• Graduate / Business School
• Research Institute
• Bank / Central Bank
• Private Company / Industry
• Consulting / Legal Firm
• Association / NGO
• All EconDirectory
• 📖 INOMICS Handbook

All Categories

All disciplines.

• Scholarships
• All Economics Terms A-Z
• Study-Guides
• All Study-Guides
• EconDirectory
• All 📖 INOMICS Handbook

This program page was last updated on 06 December 2023. Some details may have changed since then. Please check the Geneva School of Economics and Management website or the Geneva School of Economics and Management page for current opportunities.

PhD in Economics - University of Geneva

06 december 2023, phd programs.

The Ph.D. IN ECONOMICS provides students with a high-quality education for an academic career in the field of economics.

The GSEM PhD program in Economics provides students with a high-quality education for an academic career. Ph.D. students benefit from close interaction with the faculty and renowned visiting scholars, dedicated Ph.D. classes, and research seminars. Previous Ph.D. graduates have been appointed at top universities around the world

The program usually lasts five years, of which two years are devoted to courses. In the first year, students are required to attend the Swiss Program for Beginning Doctoral Students in Economics offered by the Gerzensee Center, which features core courses taught by leading economists. At the end of the first year, students choose their supervisors and start working on their dissertations. In the second year, students complete their training with elective courses chosen from a wide array of options.

From year two onward, students are required to regularly attend two department seminar series. These are the Research Seminar in Economics and Econometrics, featuring invited external speakers, and the Brown Bag Seminars, during which Ph.D. students present their ongoing work and receive feedback.

Prerequisites Ph.D. applicants must hold an MSc in Economics or a closely related subject by the time they start the program, hence applications are welcome from students who are close to completing their MSc. Applicants must submit the results of the GRE General Test to be considered for admission. The program is taught in English and knowledge of French is not required.

Faculty The main current fields of research at the Institute of Economics and Econometrics are development, econometrics, environmental economics, international trade, labor economics, and urban economics.

Financial support The GSEM offers generous financial support to most Ph.D. students, usually in the form of teaching or research assistant contracts. All admitted candidates are automatically considered for these positions and no additional application is required. The number of assistantships is limited and is allocated based on academic merit. Research funds may provide additional financial support.

The deadline for applications is 29 February 2024 , but earlier applications are welcome and some admission offers could be made earlier.   

Find out more about the program and the application procedure:

• Program presentation ( https://bit.ly/GSEMPhDEconomicsInfo )
• Admissions ( https://bit.ly/GSEMPhDAdmissionsInfo )

We are looking forward to receiving your application.

Geneva School of Economics and Management - University of Geneva

Bd du Pont-d'Arve 40

1205 Genève , Switzerland

• PhD Economics and Management

Login to your account

Email Address

Forgot your password? Click here.

• Press Enter to activate screen reader mode.

Department of Management, Technology, and Economics

Doctoral studies in economics.

Doctoral studies in economics include advanced micro- and macroeconomics, econometrics, computational economics, environmental and resource economics, the design of institutions, and policy dynamic macroeconomics.

In order to be eligible for doctoral studies in economics, prospective doctoral candidates must apply for an open position at a CER-ETH chair .

Involved chairs, centres, and institutes

Course overview.

• Press Enter to activate screen reader mode.

Center of Economic Research at ETH Zurich

Doctoral studies in economics.

Doctoral studies in economics include advanced micro-​ and macroeconomics, econometrics, computational economics, environmental and resource economics, the design of institutions, and policy dynamic macroeconomics. 

In order to be eligible for doctoral studies in economics, prospective doctoral candidates must apply for an open position at a CER-​ETH chair.

For more information on Dotoral Studies in Economics

• Studying east
• Research east
• Executive Education east
• University east
• phone Kontakt
• en German English
• Engaged community
• Great career opportunities
• Superb study programmes
• Costs of an HSG degree
• Courses north_east

Exchange programmes

• Incoming Guest Students
• Outgoing HSG Students

Get in touch

• Campus tours
• Offers for schools
• Services for businesses
• Admission Bachelor
• Admission Master
• Admission Ph.D.
• Additional Qualification Programmes
• Recognition of degrees
• Application deadlines
• Rematriculation

Starting your studies

• Preparation for studies
• Study planning
• Student Advisory Service
• Semester dates

Research at HSG

• Scientific Integrity & Research Ethics
• Research Support
• Research Services
• GSERM - Global School in Empirical Research Methods
• Prizes and Awards
• Open Faculty Positions
• Resources for current and future faculty
• Faculty Development
• Early Career Programme
• All HSG Faculty

Research units

• Institutes and research units
• Global Centres
• Strategic research collaboration
• PhD Programme in Management (PMA)

Graduate Programme in Economics and Finance (GPEF)

• Computer Science (DCS)
• Organization Studies and Cultural Theory (DOK)
• International Affairs and Political Economy (DIA)

Research in Focus

• Elite Quality Index
• Circular Lab
• Alexandria north_east

Executive Education

• Executive Programmes north_east
• Board Programmes north_east
• Custom Programmes north_east
• Executive MBA north_east
• MBA north_east
• Educational Consultation north_east
• Special Topic on the Future of Universities
• Special Topic HSG Startups
• Special Topic Artificial Intelligence
• Special Topic Ukraine
• Special Topic Sustainability
• Media releases
• Event calendar
• Public Lectures
• Dies academicus
• HSG Graduation Days
• Promotionsfeier
• St.Gallen Symposium
• START Summit

Publications

• HSG Focus north_east
• Brochures north_east
• Research Platform Alexandria north_east

Video series

• Impact Awards
• Knowledge Bank
• Art interviews
• Academic GIFts
• Little Green Bags
• HSG Research Insight
• Innovations in Sustainable Finance
• Machines That Fail Us
• Meet the CFO
• HSG Student Podcast
• Vision and values
• Organisation
• Rankings and accreditations
• Quality development
• Art at the HSG
• Advisory offices
• Student engagement
• Entrepreneurship
• Responsibility and Sustainability
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Regional impact
• HSG Alumni north_east
• HSG Foundation north_east

Offers for the public

• 125th anniversary of HSG
• Jubiläumsreihe
• Children’s University
• HSG SQUARE north_east
• Experiencing the HSG
• Info Desk and contact
• Search and Use
• Research and publishing
• Visiting and Studying
• Contact and Consultation
• School of Computer Science
• School of Economics and Political Science
• School of Finance
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• School of Management

Working at HSG

• Working in administration
• Working in Academia
• Apprenticeships at HSG
• Life in Switzerland
• Entry from abroad: First steps

• Research Studying Research Executive Education News University
• Ph.D. Research at HSG Faculty Research units Ph.D. Research in Focus Alexandria
• Graduate Programme in Economics and Finance (GPEF) PhD Programme in Management (PMA) Graduate Programme in Economics and Finance (GPEF) Computer Science (DCS) Law (DLS) Organization Studies and Cultural Theory (DOK) International Affairs and Political Economy (DIA) Early Career Programme

The Graduate Programme in Economics and Finance (GPEF) rquipts students to excel academically in Economics, Econometrics, and Finance with a specific emphasis on policy relevant theoretical and empirical research.

GPEF graduates frequently secure prestigious positions both in academia and beyond. The GPEF Ph.D. programme provides a strong foundation for launching an international academic career. Recent academic placements include Erasmus University in Rotterdam, King's College in London, Northeastern University in Boston, Drake University, Goethe University in Frankfurt, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Lausanne, Fisher College of Business at the Ohio State University, and University of Zurich.

The GPEF offers a structured PhD programme tailored towards a high-quality and internationally oriented education in economics, econometrics and financial research. Graduates frequently secure very prestigious academic and non-academic positions. The University of St.Gallen is one of the most renowned universities in the fields of finance, economics, and business in Europe.

"After spending a few years in management consulting, I wanted to deepen my understanding of banking, asset pricing, and corporate finance. The PhD programme in finance gave me an opportunity to delve into research interests in these subjects. Ultimately, the programme prepared me for competing with top graduates from around the world. It gave me the theoretical and empirical foundations to apply my knowledge to important academic and policy questions."

"I joined the GPEF after working in the financial sector. My motivation was to build expertise in macroeconomics and to get closer to policy institutions. The  programme provided me with rigorous foundations in economics during the course phase. As a doctoral student, I could also benefit from the accessiblity of the faculty members. The programme entails various interactions with faculty and distinguished speakers. I had sufficient time for my research and could also engage in teaching activities. I am still in contact with the faculty and continue to value what the programme gave me."

Admission for Autumn Semester 2024

GPEF Curriculum

Academic vacancies for autumn 2024, gpef job market candidates, discover more.

GPEF Students and Alumni

Sfi the university of st.gallen has become part of the sfi and the pif programme is now part of the sfi ph.d. campus.

GPEF Regulations

The phd programme in finance, pif, is now part of sfi.

Mirela Keuschnigg

Executive Director

Tereza Tykvová

Member of the Steering Committee

Academic director PiF

Beatrix Eugster

Academic director PEcon

Michael Lechner

Chair of the Steering Committee

Student representatives

Peter Kress

PhD student

Marcel Freyschmidt

Project Manager and Associates

Further Links

General information about the phd studies.

Department of Economics

Phd program.

The Department of Economics runs a small but high-quality PhD program. PhD students can attend first-year courses at the Study Center Gerzensee, together with PhD students from other Swiss universities.

Many of our previous PhD students have spent one or two semester of their graduate studies abroad, at universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Brown University, etc.

The Department of Economics has an excellent track record of placing graduates in research-oriented positions in government agencies and the private sector. Graduates that seek to pursue an academic career often get very good placements as well. List of Recent Placements.

During the coursework stage, doctoral students shall attend courses in the amount of at least 24 ECTS. The students must successfully complete a sequence of first-year PhD courses offered by the Swiss Program for Beginning Doctoral Students in Economics at Gerzensee or by another program recognized as equivalent by the PhD program committee.

In addition, the students are required to obtain at least 6 ECTS from advanced PhD courses offered by the department of economics. Each year, the department offers at least one advanced PhD course in each of thefollowing areas of research: macroeconomics, microeconomics and quantitative methods.

Doctoral Thesis

The doctoral thesis is evaluated and graded by the dissertation committee, which consists of the main advisor and at least a second reviewer who is not a member of the department.

The PhD program at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences leads, after successful completion, to the title Doctor rerum oeconomicarum, Dr. rer. oec.

Further information on the struture of the PhD program and the doctoral thesis can be found in the  Guidelines for PhD Students .

Admission requirements

The admission requirements are given by the Reglement über das Doktoratsstudium (german only).

• The applicant must find a main advisor in the Department of Economics who is willing to supervise her/his dissertation.
• The applicant must have obtained a Master's degree in Economics (or a similar degree) from a recognized university. Furthermore, a minimum overall grade of the Master's degree must have been achieved. For applicants with a Master's degree from the University of Bern the minimum grade is 4.75. Students with a Master's degree in another field can be admitted if they have completed at least 60 ECTS in Economics, or if they complete the missing credits from the Master program in Economics. In the latter case, the PhD program committee decides on the coursework that needs to be completed.

Department of Economics

Phd programme in economics.

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

Life as a PhD student at Stockholm University:

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

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

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on Facebook

Programme structure

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

Year 2 and 3

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

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

Course details PhD programme

Thesis work and defence

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

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

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

Collaborations

Stockholm doctoral course programme in economics, econometrics and finance.

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

The PhD programme is also a part of ENTER

Center for monetary policy and financial stability

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

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

Visit CeMoF for more information

Meet our PhD students

Students starting in 2023.

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

Meet our new PhD students

Students starting previous years

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

Meet Patrizia Massner, a third-year student:

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

The graduate students' council

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

Information and contact

Job placement for prior classes

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

• How to apply

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

How to apply to the PhD programme in Economics

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

[email protected]

• Visiting address

Södra huset A, room A763

Last updated: February 8, 2024

Source: Department of Economics

Study at Stockholm University

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

Navigation auf uzh.ch

Department of Economics

Quicklinks und sprachwechsel, main navigation, phd programs, table of contents, zurich graduate school of economics, marlene porsche graduate school.

PhD in Economics at the University of Zurich

The Zurich Graduate School of Economics  at the University of Zurich, ZurichGSE in short, was launched in its current format in 2009. It offers a set of courses taught (in English) by internationally renowned academic faculties at the University of Zurich and world-class research opportunities. A specific feature of the doctoral program is a close attachment between graduate students and advisors and a strong team spirit among students. The goal of the program is to produce independent young researchers who can obtain academic jobs in the best universities, central banks, and international organizations.

Overview Zurich Graduate School of Economics

PhD in Neuroeconomics at the University of Zurich

The Marlene Porsche Graduate School of Neuroeconomics was launched in 2017, enabled by a donation by the Marlene Porsche Foundation. The interdisciplinary degree program in the cutting-edge field of Neuroeconomics has a strong scientific focus, with the goal of enabling students to become independent researchers of the highest caliber. Its faculty consists of internationally renowned scholars with expertise in behavioral economics, neuroimaging, neuropharmacology, brain stimulation techniques, and computational modeling.

Overview Marlene Porsche Graduate School of Neuroeconomics

Weiterführende informationen.

Contact Graduate Schools

Graduate Campus (GRC) – for early career researchers

Global Student Experience

• Marlene Porsche GS Neuroeconomics

GENEVA GRADUATE INSTITUTE

Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2A Case postale 1672 CH - 1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland +41 22 908 57 00  

[email protected] + 41 22 908 58 98  

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

[email protected] +41 22 908 57 54  

[email protected] + 41 22 908 57 55

PhD Programmes at the Graduate Institute, Geneva

PhD programmes at the Institute require a four-year commitment, with the first three semesters in residence. During the first two semesters, you will take theoretical and methodological doctoral seminars before presenting a preliminary thesis at the end of the third semester, with the defence of your thesis taking place at the end of the eighth semester. Our PhD programmes meet the established requirements for accreditation in Switzerland. The courses are taught in English, however the thesis could be written either in English or French.

We offer six disciplinary PhDs:  PhD in Anthropology and Sociology ,  PhD in International Economics ,  PhD in Development Economics ,  PhD in International History ,  PhD in International Law  and  PhD in International Relations/Political Science .  

how to apply

PHD IN ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY  

• Four-year programme
• Provides students with theoretical perspectives and methodological tools to explore the social and cultural systems that influence policy interventions
• Involves a year of coursework and preparation followed by extensive fieldwork and a dissertation

PHD IN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS  

• Four-year programme centered around a research dissertation
• A crucial field at the heart of policy debates
• Fieldwork opportunities in developing countries

PHD IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS  

• Stimulating collegiate work atmosphere
• Trains students to undertake innovative research 

PHD IN INTERNATIONAL HISTORY & POLITICS  

• Combines coursework, seminars, preliminary thesis and doctoral thesis
• Equips students with the analytical, conceptual and methodological tools to successfully complete original book-length research

PHD IN INTERNATIONAL LAW  

• Designed for outstanding students with a strong commitment to international law
• Research supervision available for a wide range of topics
• Learn more ​​​​​​​

PHD IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS / POLITICAL SCIENCE  

• Stand-alone four-year PhD programme or Fast-track master’s/doctoral program allowing students to complete a master’s and PhD within five years
• Designed to prepare students for a research-focused career in international relations

The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva is pleased to announce the opening of 30 fully funded 4-year PhD positions in our 5 departmental programmes in Anthropology and Sociology, International Economics or Economics of Development, International History and Politics, International Law, International Relations and Political Science.  The d eadline  for application  is 15 January 2022 . Each of the six 4-year PhD packages distributed by each department will combine 2 years of full scholarship followed by 2 years of teaching assistantship.  

more information

Learn more about the Institute

Master & PhD Programmes

Academic Departments

Life at the Institute

Discover the Institute

Health Care Economics

Explore the economic forces shaping us health care.

Taught by Harvard Medical School faculty, this Harvard Online course provides insights into the interactions between industries in the US health care sector and teaches what economic forces are shaping health care.

What You'll Learn

Why is health care spending so high in the US? What are the primary drivers of rising health care costs? What is the relationship between finance and health care? How does money shape your decision-making as a patient, provider, or payer? Is a sustainable healthcare architecture possible?

Even for those within the health care industry, the economics of the United States health care system are stunningly complex and can be challenging to navigate. In Health Care Economics, gain insights into the interactions between industries in the health care sector and learn what economic forces are shaping health care. You will cover core topics in health care economics, such as moral hazard and adverse selection, and examine how these forces, as well as the actions of patients, providers, and other key stakeholders, shape outcomes in the health care market.

Balancing the needs of patients and purchasers is a daily struggle for health care leaders and central to the success of any health care business. To make this happen, clinical, research, operational, and financial leaders need a shared understanding of the true drivers of health care spending, the policies that shape and define the sector, and how financial incentives impact both patient and provider behavior. This course will examine health care spending growth, considering new technologies and other economic factors, and explore the theoretical framework behind controlling spending growth through changes to benefit design and payment reform.

Delivered via Harvard Business School Online’s innovative course platform, Health Care Economics features real-world examples, interactive lessons, and conversations with industry experts. Led by Harvard Medical School professor Michael Chernew, PhD, Chair of The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), this course allows you to gain a better understanding of core economic principles as you learn how to create more compelling programs, develop more effective growth strategies, negotiate better reimbursement contracts and partnerships, and advocate more effectively both inside and outside your organization.

The Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Harvard Medical School designates this enduring material for a maximum of  19.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ . Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will have access to claim their credits through the Harvard Medical School’s continuing education platform.

The course is part of the Health Care Leadership Learning Path  and will be delivered via  HBS Online’s course platform .  Learners will be immersed in real-world examples from experts at industry-leading organizations. By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Articulate the drivers of spending and spending growth in health care and evaluate how your organization’s strategy and decision-making processes impact total spending as well as value
• Describe approaches to getting the incentives right for both providers and patients and evaluate the impacts of changes to these incentives
• Understand risk and pooling as they relate to insurance markets and health benefit design
• Define the role of employers, insurers, and government in influencing the economics of health care markets, such as spending, access to care, and stability of insurance markets
• Explain how technology and patients’ and providers’ decisions contribute to high spending and spending growth, and how they impact their own organizations

Your Instructor

Michael Chernew, PhD,  is the Leonard D. Schaeffer Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Chernew’s research examines several areas related to improving the health care system, including studies of novel benefit designs, Medicare Advantage, alternative payment models, low-value care, and the causes and consequences of rising health care spending. Dr. Chernew is currently serving as Chair of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), where he previously served as the Vice Chair and as a Member. In 2000, 2004, and 2010, he served on technical advisory panels for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that reviewed the assumptions used by Medicare actuaries to assess the financial status of Medicare trust funds. He's a member of the Congressional Budget Office’s Panel of Health Advisors and Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Health Connector Board. Dr. Chernew is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and a Senior Visiting Fellow at MITRE. He's currently a co-editor of the  American Journal of Managed Care  and on advisory boards for several private companies in the health care space, including Virta Health, Archway, and HEALTH[at]SCALE.

Real World Case Studies

Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

MATTHEW HUTTER, MD, MPH

SANDHYA RAO, MD

Dr. Sandhya Rao is chief medical officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts , the largest private health plan in Massachusetts. Learn from Rao about the challenges in health insurance today.

JOSEPH NEWHOUSE, PHD

Available discounts and benefits for groups and individuals.

Experience Harvard Online by utilizing our wide variety of discount programs for individuals and groups. 

Past participant discounts.

Learners who have enrolled in at least one qualifying Harvard Online program hosted on the HBS Online platform are eligible to receive a 30% discount on this course, regardless of completion or certificate status in the first purchased program. Past Participant Discounts are automatically applied to the Program Fee upon time of payment.  Learn more here .

Learners who have earned a verified certificate for a HarvardX course hosted on the  edX platform  are eligible to receive a 30% discount on this course using a discount code. Discounts are not available after you've submitted payment, so if you think you are eligible for a discount on a registration, please check your email for a code or contact us .

Nonprofit, Government, Military, and Education Discounts

For this course we offer a 30% discount for learners who work in the nonprofit, government, military, or education fields. 

Eligibility is determined by a prospective learner’s email address, ending in .org, .gov, .mil, or .edu. Interested learners can apply below for the discount and, if eligible, will receive a promo code to enter when completing payment information to enroll in a Harvard Online program. Click here to apply for these discounts.

Gather your team to experience Health Care Economics and other Harvard Online courses to enjoy the benefits of learning together: 

• Single invoicing for groups of 10 or more
• Tiered discounts and pricing available with up to 50% off
• Growth reports on your team's progress
• Flexible course and partnership plans 

Learn more and enroll your team ! 

Who Will Benefit

Rising Leaders

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the health care landscape, including the key drivers of rising US health care spending.

Administrators and Policy Makers

Gain insights into strategic decisions around new business initiatives, health benefit plans, reimbursement contract negotiations, and care delivery models.

Understand the financial impacts of new technologies and services and how to create value-based care for patients.

Learner Testimonials

“This is an amazing course. The professor did a fantastic job dissecting the complexities of healthcare into chewable chunks.”

Howard H. Dinh, MD, FACC Medical Director, Cardiac Services, Greater Sacramento The Permanente Medical Group and Chief, Cardiology, Kaiser Permanente, South Sacramento

“This is now my fourth HBS online course that I have taken. I love that the format lets me learn asynchronously when I have time in my busy schedule. The HBS courses do a wonderful job encouraging interaction with peer learners which amplifies the learning. The HBS courses foster this peer engagement much more effectively than I have found in other online courses that I have taken.”

Denver Sallee III, MD Chief Financial Officer, Sibley Heart Center Cardiology and Associate Professor of Pediatrics Emory University School of Medicine

“This is a very well designed course to understand the nuances of the US healthcare system economics. The videos and the guest talks were very helpful to understand the real world examples. The discussion surrounding the RAND experiment was very useful to understand many key concepts. Overall a very good course.”

Krishna K. Chotneeru, MPH Associate Director, Data Science & Statistics Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

Syllabus and Upcoming Calendars

Health Care Economics provides insights into the interactions between industries in the health care sector and teaches what economic forces are shaping health care.

Learning requirements: There are no required prerequisites to enroll in this course. In order to earn a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Online, participants must thoughtfully complete all 6 modules, including associated assessments, by stated deadlines.

Download Full Syllabus

Download October 2023 Calendar 

Download January 2024 Calendar 

• Why is health care so expensive?
• Why is health care spending growing?
• Make health care spending growth predictions.
• Compare US health care costs to costs in other countries.
• Analyze the math behind health care spending.
• Examine sources of waste in the health care industry.
• Explore the role of technology in health care spending growth.
• What role should patients play in making important choices about their care?
• What role should money play in the decisions of patients?
• Interpret demand curves.
• Explore willingness to pay for health care.
• Evaluate different solutions to inefficient consumption of care, such as moral hazard.
• What role should the provider play in determining care patterns?
• How do provider behavior and competition influence care?
• Analyze clinical decision-making.
• Recognize supplier-induced demand and the consequences of the medical arms race.
• Explore practice ownership trends.
• Determine whether prevention programs and care coordination are cost saving.
• What is the role of insurance in health care?
• Why is the risk pool for health insurance so important and how do we manage it?
• Explore risk preferences.
• Calculate actuarially fair premiums to understand what health insurance is and how it works.
• Examine solutions for solving some of the problems with insurance.
• Evaluate policy proposals for dealing with information asymmetry and adverse selection.
• How can we design insurance plans to promote efficient consumer decision-making?
•  Explore patient decision-making in health care.
• Analyze different approaches for improving patient incentives.
• Understand the benefits of value based care and insurance.
• Strategies for implementing value-based healthcare and insurance designs.
• How do we structure payments to promote efficient provider decision-making?
• Explore provider decision-making in health care.
• Analyze different approaches for improving provider incentives.

Earn Your Certificate

Enroll today in Harvard Online's Health Care Economics course.

Still Have Questions?

What are the learning requirements? How do I list my certificate on my resume? Learn the answers to these and more in our FAQs.

Related Courses

Digital health.

Digital technologies and big data offer tremendous opportunities to improve health care.

Health Care Strategy

Learn from HBS Professor Leemore Dafny how to align the principles of business strategy with the unique challenges and structures of health care organizations to capture value, define your mission, and lead your organization to success.

Innovations in Teamwork for Health Care

In this course, experts from Harvard Business School and the T.H. Chan School of Public Health teach learners to implement a strategy for organizational teamwork in health care.

St. Cloud State University leaders recommend major cuts in degree programs, faculty

Updated May 7, 9:38 a.m. | Posted May 6, 8:10 p.m.

St. Cloud State University leaders are proposing major budget cuts to programs and faculty to address a budget deficit.

In a meeting with faculty on Monday, SCSU administrators recommended discontinuing 46 of the university’s 136 degree programs, including criminal justice, Spanish, gender and women’s studies, sociology, physics, environmental science and economics.

They also proposed cutting 50 of 85 minor degrees, including African American and American Indian studies. Fifty-seven faculty positions would be cut, or 13 percent of the total.

In an interview Monday evening, acting president Larry Lee said the cuts are necessary to address a structural budget deficit. The university lost $18 million last year and is projected to lose $5.5 million this year — a deficit made smaller by one-time state funding. Without it, SCSU’s net operating loss would have been $15 million, Lee said.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

“We just can’t sustain the operation like that,” he said. “We have to align our expenses with our revenues, so we can continue to provide the type of experience that we’ve provided here for a long time.”

In his email to faculty and staff, Lee said higher education is facing “unprecedented struggles” — student enrollment declines, affordability concerns, a proliferation of higher education alternatives, public perception of college degrees and financial strains, among others.

“These circumstances negatively impact higher education, generally, and St. Cloud State University, specifically,” he wrote.

Lee said the university will focus on its 90 strongest academic programs, in which 90 percent of students are enrolled. 

“Students are speaking with their decisions — what programs are growing enrollment or not,” he said. “And we have some programs that just don’t have the enrollment that can support the amount of staffing that we have in that program.”

Students enrolled in the affected programs would still be able to complete their degrees, Lee said.

SCSU had one of its first enrollment increases this year in several years, Lee said, but continues to spend significantly more per year in instructional costs than other universities in the Minnesota State system.

The recommendations aren’t yet final, Lee said. The faculty union will respond to the administration with its comments within the next 10 days. 

Lee took over Sunday from President Robbyn Wacker, who stepped down last week, earlier than her planned departure of June 30. She told officials at Minnesota State that decisions about the university’s long-term operations should be made by leaders who will be there to manage the transition.

List of degree programs cut from St. Cloud State University

Degrees in italics have already frozen admissions to their programs

Criminal Justice Studies, BS

Criminal Justice Studies, MS

Gerontology, MS

Health and Physical Education, BS

Physical Education, BS

Rehabilitation Counseling, MS

Cultural Resource Management, MS

English Education, MS

English Studies, MA

Gender and Women’s Studies, BA

Global Studies, BA

History, MA

History, MS

Music Performance, BMUS

Music Teaching, BS (K-12)

Music Therapy, BS (not launched)

Sociology, BA

Spanish, BS

Studio Art, BFA

Writing Studies and Rhetoric, MA

Child and Family Studies: Family Studies, MS

Early Childhood Special Education, MS

Educational Administration and Leadership, SPEC

Educational Leadership and Technology, MS

Social Studies Education, MS

Biological Sciences, MA

Earth Sciences, BA

Electrical Engineering, MSEE

Environmental Engineering, BS

Environmental Science, BS

Environmental Studies, BS

Geography, BA

Geography, GIS, MS

Hydrology, BS

Manufacturing Engineering Technology, BS

Manufacturing Engineering, BS

Nuclear Medicine Technology, BS

Physics Education Grades 9-12, BS

Physics, BS

Physics/General Science Education Grades 5-12, BS

Software Engineering, PSM

Economics, BA

Entrepreneurship, BS

Hospitality and Tourism, BA

Public Administration, MPA

List of minor programs cut from St. Cloud State

Minors in italics have already frozen admissions to their programs

Applied Behavior Analysis

Athletic Coaching

Criminal Justice Studies

Gerontology

African American Studies

American Indian Studies

Arts - Entrepreneurship

Asian-Pacific American Studies

Chicano Studies

Conflict Management

Creative Writing

English Studies

E-Sports Broadcasting

Ethnic Studies

Film Production

Gender & Women Studies

Intercultural Communication

Linguistics

New Media - Music and Art

Teaching English as a Second Language

Early Childhood Education

Human Relations

Applied Analytics

Applied Mathematics

Career/Technical Ed: Communication

Career/Technical Ed: Construction

Career/Technical Ed: Manufacturing

Career/Technical Ed: Transportation

Environmental Studies

Forensic Science

Mathematics

Middle School Mathematics

STEM Education

Entrepreneurship  for Business Majors

Entrepreneurship  for Non-Business Majors

Esports Management for Business Majors

Esports Management for Non-Business Majors

Heritage Preservation (CMTY)

Hospitality & Tourism

Real Estate for Business Majors

Real Estate for Non-Business Majors

• St. Paul Public Schools graduates first EMT trainees  
• Students address University of Minnesota Board of Regents
• Hamline University staff dismantle protest vigils ahead of graduation ceremonies