PhD in Economics

• Economics
• European Doctorate in Law and Economics

Curriculum 1: Economics

• Applied Economics
• Behavioral and Experimental Economics
• Econometrics
• Economic Development and Growth
• Economic History
• Economic Theory
• Environmental and Resource Economics
• Financial Economics
• Industrial Organization
• International Economics
• Labor Economics
• Macroeconomic and Finance
• Monetary Economics
• Political Economics
• Public and Health Economics
• Social and Cultural Economics

Curriculum 2: European Doctorate in Law and Economics

• Law and Economics
• Regulation
• Economics of competition law
• Economics of intellectual property law
• Environmental Law and Economics

Lorenzo Forni (lorenzo.forni@prometeia.com) will participate in the Admission Board activities as expert member for the Executive PhD positions.

The PhD programme is divided into 2 phases: PhD candidates’ economic education through advanced courses and thesis preparation. The dissertation must demonstrate candidate's ability to carry out original and independent research at the highest level. PhD candidates are expected to acquire necessary tools for theoretical, empirical and experimental analysis, with the aim of attaining a research profile, applied and academic, of international excellence. Admission to successive years is conditional on passing all of the exams, active participation in the research activities of the Department and receiving a positive assessment of presentations at the PhD Forum and at seminars from the supervisor and the PhD Academic Board. Achievement of educational goals and development of the ability to carry out theoretical and applied research require intensive supervision and a continuous interaction between PhD candidates and Faculty.

The PhD programme in Economics offers a wide and structured set of courses. During the first two years, PhD candidates take courses for a total of 360 hours of frontal lectures. The first-year courses can be taken also from the Master’s programmes offered by the Department of Economics (in particular LMEC). The programme also offers courses that are specific to the PhD degree. The Advanced Topics and the methodological courses (involving both theory lectures and programming in the lab) for a total amount of about 300 hours. Finally, the programme offers courses on giving presentations in English and writing economic papers.

PhD candidates are required to attend two seminars a week. Once a year each PhD candidate presents the advancement of his/her research activity in a PhD forum (a one-day workshop) and III and IV year PhD candidates in the internal seminar series.

The last year is dedicated to the refinement and write-up of the thesis. PhD candidates must spend part of these years abroad. The programme has activated a network of contacts and exchange programmes with foreign universities. Some of the best PhD candidates are awarded joint doctoral degrees with the universities hosting their visiting periods. Students enrolled in EDLE need to spend a period of at least one year abroad to obtain the joint title.

Further general information on the program, seminars, activities and students are available on the webpage: https://phd.unibo.it/economics

Research training activities compliant with the Doctoral programme's learning outcomesIn addition to courses (as described above) and to the presentations in the monthly PhD meeting and in the yearly PhD Forum, the PhD programme also organizes reading groups by topic (micro and macroeconomics, etc.) all along the academic year. This activity is carried out thanks to the participation of the Department’s Faculty, including the research fellows of the Department.

The Placement Director of the PhD programme also organizes specific activities for the preparation to the job market, including a course on academic talks, dedicated seminars for job-market candidates as well as mock interviews carried out by the Department’s Faculty.

The considerable diversification of research areas covered by the members of the Department and their international reputation provide an outstanding environment where PhD candidates of most fields in economics may find research ideas and tight guidance for their doctoral studies. The ultimate goal of the PhD programme is the dissertation, which must prove that the candidate is capable of conducting original and valuable research.

The selection procedures have been designed to facilitate the application by foreign candidates. The PhD website - https://phd.unibo.it/economics - is in English and contains specific information for the application by foreign candidates. It is our intention to anticipate the date of the call for applications to align it with the deadlines of the best PhD programmes in Economics in Europe. The call has been simplified and also translated into English. The selection is based on the documents sent by candidates and on an online interview. The presentation of GRE/GMAT scores is compulsory. In the last few years over half of the applications have arrived from international students (EU and non-EU) and about 25% of the PhD candidates currently enrolled are non-Italian. All activities, i.e. courses, seminars with international speakers, internal seminars, reading groups (and the administration) are in English. In the last years, about 80 per cent of the students have spent a period abroad visiting prestigious universities or in internships in international organizations, research centers and central banks. Many of our students participate in the international job market (US and Europe) and got positions abroad both in Academia and in international organizations.
The "European Doctorate in Law and Economics” track is offered together with the universities of Rotterdam, Hamburg and Rennes within a co-tutelle framework.

The PhD programme aims at training PhD candidates and supporting them in writing their PhD dissertation, which is expected to prove the candidate’s ability to carry out original and independent research at the highest level. The aim of the results of the candidate’s research should be publishable in renowned international refereed journals. The quality of the research work, the ability to give presentations and to write articles of economic analysis are goals which aim at bringing students towards a top career as economists in academic institutions, research bodies and international organizations.