stanford phd economics admission requirements

Frequently Asked Questions for PhD Applicants

If you have questions about the application process, please consult the Application FAQ

Program FAQ

• When is the application deadline?  December 7, 2024 11:59 PM PST is the application deadline for Autumn 2025-2026.
• I will have just earned my bachelor’s degree before starting graduate study at Stanford. Should I apply to the MS or the PhD program?  You should apply to the degree program that can fulfill your ultimate degree goal. For example, if obtaining a PhD is your ultimate goal, you should apply directly to the PhD program.
• Do I need to have a master’s degree before applying to the PhD program?  No; the minimum degree requirement is a bachelor’s degree. Students who enter the PhD program may opt to pursue the master’s degree along the way to earning the PhD.
• If I apply to the PhD program but do not get admitted, will I be considered for the MS program?  The Electrical Engineering Department does not consider PhD applicants not admitted into the PhD program for the MS program. 
• If I am admitted and enrolled in the MS program, may I enter the PhD program later?  Admission to the PhD program is possible only through the  annual general admissions process . Current MS students must reapply through this process to be considered for the PhD program.
• May I apply for a start term other than autumn? No; applications are reviewed on an annual basis for autumn quarter start only.
• How long does it take to complete the PhD?  Typical completion time for the PhD program is 5-7 years.
• How important is it to contact faculty before I apply?  Contact with faculty members is not a required part of the application process nor does it guarantee admission to our graduate program. Admissions decisions are made by the Admissions Committee, not by individual faculty members.
• Is financial assistance available for PhD students?  Yes; all PhD students who maintain satisfactory academic progress receive full financial support for the duration of the doctoral program. For more information, please see  Financial Assistance for PhD Students .
• What are the minimum GPA requirements for admission?  Applicants do not need to meet any minimum grade point average (GPA) to secure admission, and we do not release information about average GPAs of admitted students. As a guideline, successful applicants typically earn undergraduate cumulative GPAs among the top of their class. However, please keep in mind that admission to our graduate programs depends on a combination of factors, and all areas of a student’s application are weighed when applications are reviewed.
• Am I eligible to apply if my undergraduate major is not Electrical Engineering?  Yes; students who meet the minimum degree requirements with a strong technical background in engineering, physical sciences, or mathematics are welcome to apply. A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering is not strictly required.
• Are specific prerequisite courses required for admission?  No; we advise prospective applicants to review the  EE Graduate Handbook  and the  Stanford Course Catalog  to evaluate what prerequisites are needed for graduate-level courses in your area(s) of interest.
• What is the minimum level of study required of international applicants from an academic institution outside of the U.S.?  Please refer to  Stanford Graduate Admissions | International Applicants  for eligibility guidelines related to study outside of the U.S.
• What is the process for transferring to the PhD program from another institution?  Students who wish to transfer to our PhD program from another institution must complete the same application procedure as new applicants. If you are admitted and enrolled, you may request to transfer up to 45 units of coursework from your previous institution toward the PhD degree requirements at Stanford, by following the procedures for  Graduate Residency Credit . Students must complete one quarter at Stanford before requesting to transfer units, and all transferred units are subject to approval by the Registrar’s Office.
• If I am admitted to a EE graduate program, can my admission be deferred?  The Department greatly discourages deferral of matriculation dates.  Deferrals are granted only to PhD applicants, and only in exceptional circumstances such as for US military service or visa issues for students arriving from designated countries.  Admitted students wishing to defer admission must send a written request (along with documentation if possible) to  [email protected] . Requests will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. MS and Coterm applicants cannot defer admission dates.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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To be eligible for admission to graduate study at Stanford:

• You must hold, or expect to hold before enrollment at Stanford, a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing.
• You must meet the university’s minimum requirements for English proficiency.

Refer to the  Eligibility  page for details.

Citizens and residents of all countries are eligible to apply for graduate study and matriculate at Stanford University, including those who are undocumented. If you are undocumented, refer to the Personal Background section of this page for instructions on completing the citizenship section of the application.

The  Explore Graduate Programs  page lists all MA, MS, PhD, and other non-professional graduate programs offered at Stanford, and includes corresponding links to department websites and the Stanford Bulletin.

For information about professional programs (e.g., JD, MBA, MD), visit the corresponding links on  our homepage .

You may apply to only one degree program per academic year with these exceptions:

• Within the  Biosciences PhD programs , you may apply for two programs within a single application.
• You may apply concurrently to one program listed on the  Explore Graduate Programs  page and one or more professional school programs. For example, you can apply concurrently to the PhD program in History, the PhD program at the Graduate School of Business, and the JD program at the Law School.

On the  Explore Graduate Programs  page, under  Other Options  on the left side, check the box next to  Biosciences PhD Program  to filter the list for just those programs.

No. There is only one application that covers all programs listed on the  Explore Graduate Programs  page. Required questions and materials vary across programs, and the online application will display program-specific content based on the program you select at the start. 

If you are applying to one or more professional programs (e.g., JD, MBA, MD) in addition to a non-professional program, you will need to submit a separate application to the professional program. Refer to the corresponding links on  our homepage .

• If you attended an undergraduate institution outside the U.S., refer to our  Eligibility  page for the minimum level of study required for international institutions.
• If your first language is not English, you are required to submit TOEFL scores or demonstrate that you qualify for an exemption/waiver. Refer to the  TOEFL  section for details.

If you are interested in pursuing a master’s degree while completing your bachelor’s degree, visit the Coterminal Degree Programs section of the Student Services website to confirm your eligibility and check whether your department of interest offers a coterm option.

If you are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree or any master’s degree not available as a coterm program, follow the same process as external applicants to apply for graduate study.

• Yes. Reapplicants follow the same application process as first-time applicants.

Personal Background

Since entries are required for both first and last names in order to submit an application, please enter your name as follows:

• Enter a period (.) in the First (Given) name field.
• Enter your given name in the Last (Family) name field.
• Select “Yes” under “Would you like to share a different first name that you go by?” then enter your given name in the Chosen First Name field.

If you have been granted DACA status, do not hold formal citizenship in any country, or are otherwise undocumented, you are eligible to apply for graduate study and matriculate at Stanford University. When prompted for your citizenship on the application, please select “Other” instead of a specific country. To explore resources for undocumented and DACAmented students at Stanford, visit the Undocumented at Stanford website.

Academic History

• Stanford’s assessment of a post-secondary degree is based on the characteristics of a national educational system, the type of institution you attended, and the level of studies you completed. Refer to the  Eligibility  page to view the minimum level of study you should have achieved from a recognized academic institution to enroll in graduate study at Stanford.
• You must list and provide your unofficial transcript for every post-secondary institution where you were enrolled — or are currently enrolled — in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
• No. Stanford considers unofficial transcripts to be sufficient for the review process. If you are offered admission to Stanford and accept the offer, you will be required to submit official transcripts/degree conferral documents at that time.
• If you were enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at that school, then yes. If you are offered admission to Stanford and accept the offer, you will not be required to submit official transcripts for schools you attended for less than one academic year or on a part-time basis.
• In lieu of a transcript, please upload a document that includes the courses that are in progress.
• Yes, as long as you submit original language records with official English translations. We accept translations issued by the institution or a professional translating service. Translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records.
• You are asked to enter both GPA and GPA scale for each institution you list on the application. Enter your GPA as it appears on your transcript. Do not convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale if it's reported on a different scale.
• Please choose the degree option that best matches your degree program. In addition, please write a note in the Additional Information section stating your actual degree and describing your degree program so that your evaluators may understand your situation.
• We recommend adding two degrees (two rows)—one that represents an equivalent bachelor's degree (do not select “No degree awarded or expected”) and one that represents an equivalent graduate degree. Please upload the same (one) transcript for both entries. Then, write a note in the Additional Information section describing your degree program so that your evaluators may understand your situation.
• Please reduce the size of your transcript PDF document, then try submitting again.

Test Scores

Each graduate program sets its own policy on GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test scores — required, optional, or not considered. Refer to the  Explore Graduate Programs  page to view each program’s testing policy.

Required : You must submit GRE scores for your graduate program.

Optional : You are not required to submit GRE scores for your graduate program, but you have the option to include them in your application to be displayed to the admission committee.

Not Considered : You are not required to submit GRE scores for your graduate program, and the admission committee will not have access to your self-reported or official GRE scores.

You are required to take the TOEFL if your first language is not English and you do not qualify for a TOEFL exemption/waiver. Refer to  Test Scores  for more information, including Stanford’s minimum TOEFL score requirements and exemption/waiver guidelines.

Refer to the ETS instructions for sending your  GRE  and  TOEFL  scores. Stanford’s ETS institutional code is  4704 . Individual department code numbers are not necessary. As long as you select the institutional code of  4704 , the score is electronically delivered to Stanford.

We follow ETS policies on score validity (five years for GRE scores, two years for TOEFL scores). Refer to  Test Scores  for the earliest test date Stanford considers to be valid for the current application cycle.

Yes.   Graduate programs that accept the GRE also accept the GRE at-home test for those impacted by COVID.

Yes.   The admission committee will see all scores you list, as well as the highest score from each section.

Yes.   Any scores you self-report on the application are considered unofficial but sufficient for the initial review process.

This may be due to one of the following reasons:

• Your official scores were sent less than two weeks ago. If so, please wait until two weeks have passed before submitting a request.
• There is a discrepancy between the name/birthdate on your score report and the name/birthdate on your application. Follow the instructions below to submit a request.
• Your official scores were sent to Stanford during a previous application cycle. Follow the instructions below to submit a request.

If more than two weeks have passed since you requested scores to be sent to Stanford, please submit a request to Graduate Admissions with the following information:

• Topic: Technical Support
• Section: Test Scores
• Subject: Missing Official Scores
• Test type (e.g., GRE, TOEFL)
• Name and Date of Birth listed on your score report
• Date your official scores were sent to Stanford, if different from the test date
• File Upload: Upload a PDF of your score report

Recommendations

Three letters of recommendation are required for your application.

Yes. The application system allows you to list up to four recommenders. This gives you the option to register a fourth recommender to serve as a backup in case one of your first three recommenders is unable to submit by the deadline.

Recommendations will be displayed to the admission committee in the order in which they are submitted. It is up to the admission committee to decide which recommendations to review. If all four recommendations are submitted and you wish for only three of them to be considered, you may exclude the additional recommendation.

Letters of recommendation should come from academic or professional references who know you well and are qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. It is strongly recommended that at least one of these letters be from a university professor familiar with your academic work.

Refer to your  graduate program’s website  to check whether it offers specific guidance on choosing your recommenders.

Refer to the  Recommendations  page to view the general prompt for the recommendation letter. The exact prompt displayed to the recommender may differ depending on the graduate program you select.

Refer to your  graduate program’s website  to check whether it offers specific guidance on what recommenders should include in their letters.

Waiving your right lets your recommender know that you do not intend to read the letter that they submit for your application. That, in turn, reassures your graduate program’s admission committee that your recommender has provided support that is candid and truthful. While you are free to respond as you wish, if you decline to waive your right, your recommender may decline to provide a letter.

If you decline to waive your right of access, you may review recommendations for your application only after you enroll as a student at Stanford, and then only to the extent that the information is maintained by the university.

Upon sending the request to your recommender, you will no longer be able to change your decision about whether to waive your right to that request. You will need to cancel the existing request by clicking  Exclude,  then re-adding the recommender with your updated waiver response.

On the Recommendations page of the application, click on the recommender’s name you wish to replace, then click  Exclude  at the bottom of the resulting popup window. You then will see the option to add a new recommender. The recommender you exclude will not receive an email notification.

No. Your recommenders may submit their letters before or after you submit your application.

Unless otherwise specified on your graduate program’s website, the deadline to receive recommendation letters is the same as the application deadline.

Yes. Letters received after the deadline will still be attached to your application and viewable to the admission committee. However, late letters are not guaranteed to be reviewed.

Yes, Interfolio is now compatible with the online system except for departments in the School of Engineering . However, please remember that letters written specifically for your Stanford graduate program tend to be stronger than letters written for general use purposes.

Occasionally, some email servers will send recommender link emails directly to Spam or will not allow the email to reach the primary inbox at all (particularly for email addresses located outside of the United States). Please reach out to Technical Support by submitting a request via the "Request Application Support" button on the "Instructions" page of your application.

Application Fee

The application fee is $125.

We accept online payments via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club) or via bank transfer from a U.S. checking account. 

Yes. Refer to the  Application Fee  webpage for details.

Your fee waiver request will no longer be considered if you decide to submit your application and pay the fee before receiving a decision. We are unable to issue refunds for application fees. Be sure to submit your fee waiver request at least 10 business days (two weeks) before the application deadline to ensure a timely decision.

If you pay the application fee via ACH (bank transfer), it may take 5-10 business days for your bank to approve and process the payment. You will receive a confirmation email when your payment is successfully received. Rest assured that this will not impact the consideration of your application, as long as you initiated payment by the application deadline.

No. The application fee is nonrefundable.

Current tuition rates are listed on the  Graduate and Professional Tuition Rates  webpage and estimated living expenses are on  The Student Budget  webpage.

Refer to  Graduate Aid at Stanford  for an overview of funding sources available for graduate study.

In general, no. In most cases, you will be considered for any available departmental funding awards when you apply for graduate study, and a separate application is not necessary. Note that in order to be considered for  Knight-Hennessy Scholars , you must submit a separate application.

Not with your application for admission. If you are admitted and accept the offer to enroll in a graduate program at Stanford, you will need to follow the process described on the  Visa Document Process for New Students  webpage, which includes providing proof of funding. Do not send financial statements in advance.

Post-Submission

You may update the following information on your status page after submitting your application:

• Recommenders
• Test Scores (if required/considered)
• Contact Information (email, phone, address)

The evaluation of graduate applications and admissions decisions take place at the department level. As such, timelines for notification of admissions decisions vary. Please refer to your program’s website to learn more about their specific admissions decision timeline.

Accommodations for Applicants with Extenuating Circumstances

If extenuating circumstances (e.g., natural disaster, political/civil unrest, etc.) prevent you from submitting your application by the stated deadline, please reach out to the graduate program to which you are applying to inquire about an extension. Discretion on whether or not to provide an extension rests with each graduate program; programs are not obligated to provide extensions.

If your program requires GRE scores, you may reach out to them and explain your situation. Find your program’s GRE requirement and contact information on the Explore Graduate Programs page.

Stanford accepts scores from the TOEFL Home Edition, if available for you. If not, you may enter a future date for a TOEFL test in order to submit your application. Be sure to explain the reason TOEFL scores will not be supplied in the Additional Information section of the application. If admission is offered, you may be required to submit TOEFL scores at a later date.

Unfortunately, we are not able to waive payment of the application fee outside of the standard fee waiver process . Some individual graduate programs may offer alternative options in limited circumstances. Please check the website for the graduate program to which you are applying to see if waivers are provided.

Stanford’s graduate application system is set up to only accept application fee payments via credit card or U.S. checking account. If possible, you may ask a family member, relative, or friend with one of the accepted payment methods to help you to pay for the application fee. Please log into your Status Page and copy/paste the "Submit Payment" link to give to the person who is paying on your behalf. With this URL, the person can go straight to your payment page without logging into your account and can make or initiate the payment from there.

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Application requirements for phd, ma, ms.

The following requirements and processes apply to all PhD and most master’s programs with the following exceptions:

• Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP)
• Joint MA Programs
• Individually Designed MA in Education

Deadlines For The 2025-2026 Academic Year:

Application Available:  Mid September 2024  PhD Application Deadline: Early December 2024 MA/MS Application Deadline:  Early January 2025 KHS  GSE Program Application Deadline, Master's & PhD Candidates: Mid November 2024

Complete and submit Stanford’s graduation application form . For reference only, here is a PDF sample of last year's application .

Coterm applicants (current Stanford undergraduates): please use the coterminal application . For more information on being a GSE coterm, visit this page: https://ed.stanford.edu/admissions/coterminal

The application fee is $125, is nonrefundable, and must be received by the application deadline.

Application fee waivers are reviewed when the graduate application opens in mid-September, and are available to GSE applicants in three ways:

• GRE Fee Reduction Certificate-Based Waiver
• Program Participation-Based Waiver
• School-Based Waiver

GRE fee reduction certificate and program participation waivers are granted by Stanford's Central Graduation Admissions office . School-based waivers are granted by GSE admissions to applicants who do not qualify for the GRE fee reduction certificate or the program participation-based waiver. School-based waiver applications will be reviewed on a first-come basis. Preference is given to low-income, first generation domestic applicants. Acceptance or denial of your fee waiver application does not affect your likelihood of admission into a graduate program.

GSE Admissions reviews and releases our School-based fee waiver decisions in rounds, and decisions are sent after 12:00 PM (Pacific) the day of the fee waiver application deadline. The rounds are scheduled as follows for the 2024-2025 application cycle:

Round 1: October 1 - October 19 @ 12pm PDT (decisions released on October 20) Round 2: October 20 - November 2 @ 12pm PDT (decisions released on November 3, last day for KHS Master's or PhD applicants) Round 3: November 3 - November 16 @ 12pm PDT (decisions released on November 17, last day for PhD applicants) Round 4: November 17 - December 7 @ 12pm PST (decisions released on December 8) Round 5: December 8 - January 4 @ 12pm PST  (decisions released on January 5, last day for Master's applicants)

If your fee waiver application is approved you will receive a waiver code to enter on the payment page of your graduate admissions application.

If you do not receive a fee waiver, you are instructed to pay the $125 nonrefundable fee.

Your typed, single-spaced statement of purpose should be between one and two pages with 12-point font and regular, one-inch margins. Describe your reasons for applying, your preparation for this field of study, why our program is a good fit for you, your future career goals, and other aspects of your background and interests that might aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.

If you are applying to the doctoral program , you should include your research interests and the names of two or three faculty members whose work closely converges with yours, to identify potential advisors. DAPS applicants have a specific statement of purpose prompt; please review it below under the program-specific requirements section.

For master's applicants , focus on how your previous work, background, and/or academic experience informs your decision to apply to the program as well as how the program will impact your career goals.

Please keep a copy for your records.

What is a good statement of purpose?

Upload your resume or CV (whichever is most appropriate to your background) in the online application. There is no page limit, though we typically see resumes of one page with 12-point font and regular, one-inch margins.

In the online application, you will be asked to identify your recommenders and their email addresses. Please notify your recommenders that they will receive an email prompt to submit their letters online. You can submit your request for letters of recommendation through the system without submitting your entire application. Stanford GSE only accepts recommendations through the online application system , and cannot accept mailed, emailed, or faxed recommendations.

Your recommenders should be people who have supervised you in an academic, employment, or community service setting. We strongly recommend that at least one of these letters be from a university professor familiar with your academic work. Your letters should directly address your suitability for admission to a graduate program at Stanford GSE.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all three letters of recommendation are submitted through the application system by the application deadline. 

Guide for Recommenders

If you are writing a letter of recommendation for an applicant to Stanford GSE, please review our Guide for Recommenders to see what we are looking for in a strong letter or recommendation.

We require transcripts from every college and university you have attended for at least one academic year as a full-time student. Upload transcripts as scanned copies or PDFs (no larger than 10MB) when submitting the online application. Please refrain from uploading a secured PDF/transcript with a digital signature, as our system cannot upload these properly.

If you earned a degree at the institution from which you are submitting a transcript, please ensure that the degree conferred and the degree conferral date are clearly visible on the document. If you are currently enrolled in a degree program and will not have earned the degree by the time you submit your application, submit your most recent in-progress transcript .

If admitted, we will contact you with instructions for sending official transcripts. Note that the instructions for sending transcripts in the online application and on the Stanford Graduate Admissions Office website differ from this GSE requirement.

Study Abroad

If the transcript from your home institution reflects your study abroad coursework and grades, you do not need to submit original transcripts from your abroad institution.

Foreign Institutions

If your institution provides a transcript in a language other than English, we require that you submit a translation, either provided by the institution or a certified translator. Translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records.

If your transcript does not include your degree conferred and your degree conferral date , please submit a scanned copy of your diploma, a conferral statement, or a conferral document in addition to your transcript. If you are currently enrolled in a degree program and will not have earned the degree by the time you submit your application, submit your most recent in-progress transcript .

GSE will not require the GRE for admission for the 2025-2026 academic year. However, applicants will have the opportunity to submit GRE scores if you have taken the test and feel that your scores would enhance your application. Not submitting your GRE scores does not affect your application negatively in any way. If you wish to send scores, please follow the guidelines below.

• For applicants submitting optional GRE scores: We accept all scores that are still valid/reportable by ETS standards . If your scores are reportable you may send them electronically to Stanford University institution code 4704 (department code does not matter). Once you submit your application, your scores will be matched with your application. We cannot guarantee that official scores received after your program’s application deadline will be included in your application.

TOEFL Requirement

Stanford University requires the TOEFL from all applicants whose native language is not English. The GSE requires a minimum score of 100 ibT. The Test of Written English (TWE) is not required. Applicants who have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree or a one- or two-year master’s program (or equivalent) in the U.S. or at an institution at which English is the main language of instruction do not need to take the TOEFL. For more information on TOEFL requirements, please refer to the central Stanford Graduate Admissions website .

TOEFL Dates and Deadlines

You should plan to take the TOEFL and have the scores sent electronically to Stanford at institution code 4704 no later than the following dates:

• PhD applicants: November 1 (to meet the December 1 deadline)
• MA/MS applicants: December 13 (to meet the January 7 deadline)
• KHS-GSE applicants: October 15 (to meet the November 15 deadline)

In alignment with ETS policy, Stanford considers TOEFL scores to be valid for two years (counting back from the application deadline).

Do I need to take the TOEFL?

Please follow our TOEFL flowchart  to determine if you are required to take the TOEFL.

TOEFL Waiver Request

If you have earned a degree from an institution in a country outside the U.S., Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, or the UK but the language of instruction was only English, then you may request a TOEFL waiver from Stanford's central Graduate Admissions Office. Because the central office needs up to 15 business days (three weeks) to review the request, then please plan to submit your GSE application 3 weeks BEFORE the application deadline.  To request a TOEFL waiver, please see the instructions at the bottom of this page .

If approved, you do not need to take the TOEFL. If not approved, you need to take the TOEFL.

Program-Specific Requirements

Cte: elementary education; literacy, language, and english education; history/social science education; mathematics education; science education; teacher education.

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information. Writing sample: Not required. Other program-specific requirement: None.

NOTE : The History/Social Science Education program will  not admit students for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

DAPS: Developmental and Psychological Sciences

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information. Writing sample: Not required. Other program-specific requirement: DAPS Statement of Purpose must include the following (2,000 word maximum):

• Describe your academic coursework (e.g., courses in math, statistics, computer science, data science, interview or ethnographic methods, etc.) that demonstrates you have potential to be successful in the research-focused DAPS strand. Also, add a short statement of why you believe these courses are relevant to your DAPS ambitions.
• Describe any research experiences and papers you have authored/co-authored that demonstrate you have potential to be successful in the quantitative/qualitative-focused DAPS strand.
• Describe any other academic, research or volunteering experiences (e.g., film projects, policy briefs, software design, teaching) that demonstrate your potential as a researcher.
• Describe experiences that illustrate why you are applying to the graduate program in DAPS. These experiences should include academic, research, or professional experiences, and they may also include personal experiences that further demonstrate your commitment to this course of study.
• Lastly, how do you see your interests and ideas connected to those of two or more current faculty members in the DAPS program?

LSTD: Learning Sciences and Technology Design 

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information. Writing sample: Not required. Other program-specific requirement : None.

RILE: Race, Inequality, and Language in Education 

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information. Writing sample: Required. Please submit a piece of writing that helps us understand your perspectives on education as they relate to race, inequality, and/or language. The piece could include a blog post, an op-ed, a reflection on a lesson you have designed, an essay, or a more formal research paper. There is no minimum or maximum page limit requirement, however 1,000 to 5,000 words is preferred. Other program-specific requirement: None.

SHIPS: Anthropology of Education

Interview: Not required. Writing sample: Required. Please submit one research-oriented writing sample written in the context of your employment or education. The writing sample should be at least 10 pages in length; submitting the work in its entirety is acceptable. Other program-specific requirement: None.

SHIPS: Economics of Education

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information. Writing sample: Not required . Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the SHIPS Economics of Education supplemental application (page 13).

• Please discuss a situation in which you approached a problem with data (preferably about education). Explain the problem you addressed and how you used your analytical and technical skills as well as your domain knowledge to understand the data and problem. You may also elaborate on potential theoretical applications and/or data-driven approaches if you have yet to carry one out. (1,500 characters maximum)
• It is important we understand your current skills so we can better understand your needs should you be admitted to the program. On the application, you will be asked to fill out a skill level matrix. View the matrix here . If your answer is other than “degree” or “certified course,” please elaborate. (1,000 characters maximum)
• How many years of experience do you have with statistical software/programming languages? Please list languages and experience. (for example: R—x years; Python—x years; Stata—x years, etc.)
• Please identify a piece of empirical research/scholarship about education that represents the scholarship that you would like to learn to do. Why do you find this type of research valuable? We would prefer if you choose a sample of research or scholarship that was not written by one of our program faculty. (1500 characters maximum)

SHIPS: Education Data Science

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information. Writing sample: Required. Please submit a research-oriented writing sample, e.g., master's or honors thesis, senior or capstone research paper, a class research paper or proposal, or a study written in the context of your employment. Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the SHIPS EDS supplemental application (page 13).

• Please briefly describe what your ideal PhD program would provide, given your academic and professional goals. (1500 characters maximum)
• Please discuss a situation where you approached a problem with data (preferably about education). Explain the problem you addressed and how you used your analytical and technical skills as well as your domain knowledge to understand the data and problem. You may also elaborate on potential data-driven approaches if you have yet to carry one out. (1500 characters maximum)
• How many years of experience do you have with statistical software/programming languages? Please list languages and experience (for example: R—x years; Python—x years; Stata—x years, etc.).

SHIPS: Educational Linguistics

Interview: Not required Writing sample: Required. Please submit one research-oriented writing sample written in the context of your employment or education. The writing sample should be at least 10 pages in length; submitting the work in its entirety is acceptable. Other program-specific requirement: None.

SHIPS: Educational Policy

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information. Writing sample: Not required. Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the SHIPS Educational Policy supplemental application (page 13).

SHIPS: Higher Education

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information.  Writing sample: Required. Applicants must submit a research-oriented writing sample, e.g., master's or honors thesis, senior or capstone research paper, a class research paper or proposal, or a study written in the context of your employment. Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the SHIPS Higher Education supplemental application (page 13). 

• Describe any research experiences or other scholarly work that illustrate your potential for doctoral training. (1500 characters maximum)
• Describe how specific faculty, research, and curricular resources at Stanford and the GSE will help you accomplish your goals for doctoral training. (1500 characters maximum)
• Describe how you envision contributing to the doctoral learning community at Stanford and the GSE. (1500 characters maximum)

SHIPS: History of Education

Ships: international comparative education , ships: organizational studies.

This program will not admit students for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

SHIPS: Philosophy of Education

Ships: sociology of education.

Interview: The admissions committee might contact you for an interview in order to get additional information.  Writing sample: Required. Applicants must submit a research-oriented writing sample, e.g., master's or honors thesis, senior or capstone research paper, a class research paper or proposal, or a study written in the context of your employment. Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the SHIPS Sociology of Education supplemental application (page 13). 

The CTE master's program will not admit students for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Interview: Not required. Writing sample: Not required. Other program-specific requirements:

• Please briefly describe what your ideal MS program would provide, given your academic and professional goals (1500 characters maximum).
• Please describe a time you used data to better understand a problem (preferably related to education). How did you use your analytical and technical skills as well as your domain knowledge to frame the problem and consider solutions? You may also elaborate on potential data-driven approaches if you have yet to carry one out (1500 characters maximum).
• How many years of experience do you have with statistical software/programming languages? Please list statistical software/programming languages and experience separately (for example: R—x years; Python—x years; Stata—x years, etc.).
• Students will need basic programming skills to enter most data science classes. As a result, basic programming experience or prior coursework in programming is required. Novices should consider taking EdX or Coursera courses before applying. The education data science program relies on R and Python programming languages.

Interview: Not required. Writing sample: Required. Please submit one research-oriented writing sample written in the context of your employment or education. The writing sample should be at least 10 pages in length; submitting the work in its entirety is acceptable. Other program-specific requirement : None.

Interview: Not required. Writing sample: Not required. Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to these essay prompts on the LDT supplemental application (page 13).

• Please briefly describe what your ideal master’s program would provide, given your academic and professional goals. (1,000 characters maximum)
• What intrigues you about the design of digital tools for learning? (1,000 characters maximum)

Interview: Not required. Writing sample: Required. Please submit a writing sample of no more than 10 typewritten pages. This may be a paper written for a course, a section of an undergraduate thesis, a report submitted in the context of your employment, or a piece you write in response to a current event or something you have read. This writing sample should show evidence of your ability to evaluate an issue or problem, use evidence, and offer an informed opinion or solution. Other program-specific requirement: You will be asked to respond to this additional essay prompt on the POLS supplemental application (page 13): 

• Why POLS? Why Stanford? (2,500 characters maximum)

Still have questions? Our FAQ page might have what you are looking for.

For information not covered in our program pages , application requirements, or FAQ page , please contact the GSE Admissions Office at [email protected] . For information on recruitment events and visiting campus, please see Connect & Visit .

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To learn more about tuition and financial support at the GSE, please visit Financing Your Education .

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Applying to economics PhD programs

June 13, 2020

Topics: education research

Last year I applied to several economics PhD programs at elite universities and business schools. I applied to twelve programs (nine in economics and three in business), was accepted by three, and chose to study at Stanford . This post describes my experience with the application process and offers some advice to future applicants.

Earning a degree

Gaining research experience, completing the gre, choosing where to apply, transcripts, gre score reports, recommendation letters, statements of purpose, writing samples, diversity statements, waiting for responses, admissions decisions, further reading, before applying.

The programs I applied to accepted applications between late September and early December. However, these applications depended on tasks completed earlier: earning a degree , gaining research experience , completing the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) , and choosing where to apply .

Every program required that I held the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree or higher. Most stated explicitly that a master’s was not necessary. Some stated explicitly that applicants need not have a major in economics, but some prior coursework (e.g., intermediate microeconomics) helps to signal interest and familiarity. Most stated explicitly that applicants should be comfortable with undergraduate-level calculus, linear algebra, and probability and statistics.

While not required explicitly, my impression is that most successful applicants to top programs have some research experience. Such experience helps demonstrate that you know what research is and can conduct it successfully. Moreover, everyone applying to top programs has stellar grades, so having research experience helps you stand out.

Thankfully, there are many ways to gain research experience. I have four recommendations.

First, write an honours or master’s thesis. Doing so provides early evidence that you’re interested in research and can work independently.

Second, work with professors while studying. The University of Canterbury (UC), where I completed my bachelor’s degree, offers scholarships to work with professors during summer breaks. I won one to work with Richard Watt on a theoretical project related to insurance pricing. Completing the project gave me experience to discuss in my statement of purpose and gave Richard something to discuss in his recommendation letter .

Third, work at a research-oriented organisation after finishing your bachelor’s or master’s. In New Zealand, the best place is Motu or the Reserve Bank , depending on whether you’re more interested in microeconomics or macroeconomics. Working at Motu has improved my technical and research skills, and given me experience working with respected economists on substantive research projects. It has also helped clarify what a “research career” looks like and whether it’s something I want to pursue.

Finally, consider completing a pre-doctoral fellowship at an elite university. These fellowships typically last one or two years, and involve assisting professors with their research. Pre-doctoral fellowships deliver similar benefits to working at places like Motu. However, some fellowships (e.g., those offered by Opportunity Insights at Harvard and SIEPR at Stanford) allow you to take graduate courses while working, further strengthening your profile. Moreover, working with well-known economists at elite universities (and impressing them) helps you gain strong recommendation letters.

All programs required official scores from the (general) GRE , a standardised test comprising three sections: quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and analytical writing. The test can be attempted multiple times. Programs consider only your highest score on each section.

I sat the GRE once, in 2018. The test took about four hours. The quantitative and verbal reasoning sections each comprised two sets of 20 multi-choice questions. The quantitative section was mostly high school-level mathematics. (New Zealanders: think NCEA Level 1 or 2.) The verbal section tested reading comprehension and vocabulary. The analytical writing section comprised two short, typed essay responses to prompts given during the test. I think anyone who recently earned a bachelor’s degree in economics could do well on the test with 2–4 weeks of study.

Jones et al. (2020) survey graduate admissions coordinators, who report placing more emphasis on quantitative reasoning scores than verbal reasoning scores when evaluating applicants. Both scores are less important at higher ranked programs because applicants to such programs tend to have higher scores, leaving less variation for identifying applicants’ relative abilities. For example, Harvard’s economics department states that admitted candidates’ quantitative scores range “in the 97th percentile.” I scored in the 94th percentile and would have resat the test if I had scored any lower.

I applied to most programs in the “top 10,” and a few more specialised programs that matched my interests and geographic preferences. I figured that if I was going to move overseas, away from my family and friends, then I better go somewhere excellent. If I had a weaker technical background or less research experience then I might have aimed lower.

Beyond this “aim high” strategy, I have two recommendations.

First, apply to as many programs as you can afford and would attend. The marginal effort cost of applying to each program falls quickly after preparing your first set of application materials. Moreover, although the application fees can sting, they are small compared to the expected gain in life satisfaction from being admitted.

Second, apply to programs at business schools as well as economic departments. Chicago, Harvard, Northwestern, NYU, and Stanford’s business schools all offer excellent economics-focused PhD programs. They provide similar technical training and faculty access to “traditional” programs. However, business schools tend to offer larger stipends and require less teaching than economics departments. Business schools tend to make fewer offers, but they also tend to receive fewer applications.

Application materials

All of the programs I applied to required the following materials:

• An application form, submitted online;
• Copies of my academic transcripts ;
• Official GRE score reports ;
• Recommendation letters ;
• A statement of purpose .

Most programs required a writing sample . Some required a (short) diversity statement . All required payment of a 75–125 USD application fee.

Overall, it took about a month to prepare my application materials and about a day to tailor them to each program. To track my progress and help manage my time, I maintained a checklist of form sections to complete and materials to upload.

Stanford asked for official copies of my academic transcripts. All other programs accepted “unofficial” copies. I ordered a digital copy from UC, which set up a My eQuals account with my transcript uploaded as a PDF and certified by the UC registrar. I shared this certified version with Stanford, saving me about 190 USD worth of third-party certification fees. I downloaded the PDF version from My eQuals and used it as the unofficial copy for my other applications.

In addition to transcripts, some schools asked for more information about my prior coursework. Harvard and MIT asked for comprehensive lists of course codes and titles, dates completed, grades obtained, and textbooks used. Other programs asked for similar information but only for the handful of “most advanced” courses I’d taken in economics, mathematics, and statistics. Stanford asked me to match the courses I’d taken with courses offered at Stanford. The matching took a while because the courses I took at UC often matched Stanford courses in different subject areas and at different degree levels.

New Zealand universities use a nine-point GPA system, whereas the universities I applied to use a four-point system. Some programs asked me to report my GPA on its original scale, some asked me to convert it to the four-point scale, and some asked me to leave the GPA field blank. Overall, the difference in systems didn’t seem to be problematic.

All programs asked for official GRE score reports. The testing fee (205 USD) covers the cost of sending scores to up to four institutions, nominated on test day. Sending scores to additional institutions costs 27 USD per institution. I didn’t nominate any schools on test day because I wasn’t sure whether I would need to resit the test, or whether sending low scores would hurt my admissions chances even if I resat the test and performed better. Once I sent my score reports, most programs confirmed receipt after about a week.

All programs asked me to nominate three recommendation letter writers. I arranged my recommenders about two months in advance. I gave each a list of programs I was applying to, a description of each program, and the due date for their letters. I also provided copies of my CV, transcript, and draft statements of purpose.

Whenever I nominated a recommender, I was asked whether I wanted to waive my FERPA right to view their letter upon admission. I always waived. I wasn’t concerned that my recommenders would change what they wrote if they knew I could read their letters. Instead, I was concerned that admissions committees would observe that I chose not to waive access, assume that my recommenders responded by providing stronger-than-truthful recommendations, and subsequently discount the quality of those recommendations.

All programs asked for a statement describing my preparation for graduate study, my research experience and interests, and my career goals. The statement I submitted to Stanford contained

• a brief introduction,
• a paragraph describing my educational background,
• five paragraphs describing my research experience,
• a paragraph stating my research interests, and
• a paragraph stating my career goals.

I focused on my research experience because I felt that it was my comparative advantage over other applicants, whom I assumed were well-trained technically and had more prestigious alma maters.

Most programs asked for a writing sample. Some programs required at least 15 pages; some required at most 10 pages. In both cases, I used an excerpt from my most recent journal submission. For long samples, I excluded figures and tables, which happened to leave 15 pages. For short samples, I included only the first eight pages, which contained the introduction, literature review, method, and data sections. I always included a cover page describing the excerpt and stating the full paper’s abstract.

I could have submitted my honours thesis, which analysed a theoretical model of insurance and saving. However, I felt that my academic transcript signalled my technical skills adequately. Instead, I wanted my writing sample to demonstrate skills not demonstrated by other application materials: identifying interesting and important research questions, and synthesising literature.

Stanford and Yale asked me to explain how I would contribute to diversity on campus. My response to Stanford read as follows:

I grew up in Wakefield, a small rural town in New Zealand. I have been fortunate to attend university, to discover my passion for research, and to collaborate on research projects with economists from Europe and North America. These projects have benefited from the diverse ideas and experiences of my collaborators, which have increased the quality of our work. I am excited to continue engaging with ideas in an inclusive research environment as a graduate student at Stanford. I am also excited to share my cultural experiences in New Zealand with my Stanford classmates, and to learn about their experiences in other countries. Doing so will increase our understanding of how different cultural values shape economic and social outcomes. This understanding will enhance our ability to conduct globally relevant economic research that considers a range of perspectives.

After applying

Clicking “submit” on the online application forms began the long—about three month— wait for responses . In two cases, those responses were invitations for interviews ; in most cases, they were admissions decisions .

On waiting for responses, I offer three pieces of advice.

First, take a break . Applying to PhD programs takes many years of effort earning a degree, gaining research experience, building relationships with recommendation letter writers, completing the GRE, and preparing your applications. Make time to acknowledge and celebrate that effort.

Second, realise that there is nothing you can do (except, if invited, prepare for interviews) to change your admissions decisions. Worrying is futile. Instead, try to find fun and engaging ways to spend your time that take your mind off your applications. I ran a lot and worked on some blog posts.

Third, try to stay off Urch and TheGradCafe . In late January, people will start using those fora to share their anxiety and admissions results. You will, after months of waiting, be hungry for news. However, if you’re going to get good news then you will receive it from the program first. Programs generally send all acceptances at the same time (or, at least, on the same day). Thus, online fora can only deliver bad news: others received acceptance notifications but you did not.

As far as I know, only business schools conduct interviews. I interviewed for the business programs at Harvard and MIT, in late January and early February. Both interviews comprised discussing my research experience and interests, and why those interests are best pursued at a business school. The interviews lasted about fifteen minutes each and took place over Zoom.

Most programs sent admissions decisions in late February or early March. They were either acceptances, rejections, or being placed on a wait list. The program for which I was wait-listed was weaker than my best offer at the time, so I declined them promptly to help the market clear.

See here for more resources on economics PhD admissions. I found Susan Athey’s professional advice , Chris Blattman’s FAQs on PhD applications , and Abhishek Nagaraj’s guide to business PhD applications particularly helpful.

4.5.1 Doctoral Degrees, Requirements: Policy

Main navigation.

• 1. Requirements for Specific Types of Doctoral Degrees
• 2. Residency
• 3. Candidacy
• 4. University Oral Examination
• 5. Dissertation
• 6. Teaching and Research Requirements
• 7. Foreign Language Requirement
• 8. Ph.D. Minor

Related Content

Last updated on: Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Details all university requirements for doctoral degrees: Ph.D., J.S.D., D.M.A. and Ed.D.

Stanford University has authorized the granting of several doctoral degrees: the Ph.D., D.M.A., J.S.D., and Ed.D. degrees. Currently the Ed.D. is not being offered.

Authority: 

• Committee on Graduate Studies (policy)
• Office of the Registrar  via Stanford Services & Support (implementation)
• Degree program office (implementation)

Applicability: 

Students pursuing and programs granting doctoral degrees.

Related Pages: 

4.5.2 Doctoral Degrees, Requirements: Implementation

1. Requirements for Specific Types of Doctoral Degrees

Doctor of philosophy.

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is conferred on candidates who have demonstrated to the satisfaction of their degree program substantial scholarship, high attainment in a particular field of knowledge, and ability to do independent investigation and present the results of such research. They must satisfy the general requirements for advanced degrees, the requirements specified by their degree programs, and the doctoral requirements described below. The option for a Ph.D. minor is also described below, though it is not a Ph.D. requirement.

Doctor of the Science of Law

The degree of the Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) is conferred upon candidates who hold a J.D. or its equivalent, who complete one academic year in residence, and who, as a result of independent legal research, present a dissertation that is, in the opinion of the faculty of the Stanford School of Law, a contribution to knowledge. Such work and dissertation shall conform to the rules of the Stanford School of Law and of Stanford University for the dissertation and university oral examinations.

Doctor of Musical Arts

The degree of Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) is conferred on candidates who have satisfied the general requirements for advanced degrees, the program requirements specified in the “Music” section of the Stanford Bulletin, and the candidacy requirement described below.

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2. Residency

Each type of graduate degree offered at Stanford has a residency requirement based on the number of academic units required for the degree. The minimum number of units required for the Ph.D. and D.M.A. degrees is 135, and for the J.S.D. is 39 units (26 semester units). See  GAP 3.2 Residency Policy for Graduate Students .

3. Candidacy

Admission to a doctoral degree program is preliminary to, and distinct from, admission to candidacy. Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is a judgment by the faculty of the degree program of the student’s potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program. Students are expected to complete degree program qualifying procedures and apply for candidacy by the end of their second year in the Ph.D. program (see  GAP 4.6 Doctoral Degrees, Candidacy ).

Failure to complete the academic requirements, including university and degree program requirements, including admission to candidacy, within the established time limits may lead to dismissal (see  GAP 3.1 Registration, Enrollment, and Academic Progress ).

4. University Oral Examination

Passing a university oral examination is a requirement of the Ph.D. and J.S.D. degree. See  GAP 4.7 Doctoral Degrees, University Oral Examinations & Committees .

5. Dissertation

An approved doctoral dissertation is required for the Ph.D. and J.S.D. degrees. See  GAP 4.8 Doctoral Degrees, Dissertations & Dissertation Reading Committees .

6. Teaching and Research Requirements

A number of degree programs require their students to teach (serving as a Teaching Assistant) or assist a faculty member in research (serving as a Research Assistant) for one or more quarters as part of their doctoral programs. Detailed information is included in the degree program sections of the Stanford Bulletin and in degree program requirements.

7. Foreign Language Requirement

Some degree programs require a reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages as indicated in their respective sections of the university bulletin and in degree program requirements. Fulfillment of language requirements must be endorsed by the chair of the major department.

8. Ph.D. Minor

Students pursuing a Ph.D. may pursue a minor in another degree program to complement their Ph.D. program. This option is not available to students who are not pursuing a Ph.D. Candidates cannot pursue a minor in their own major degree program. In rare cases, a Ph.D. student may complete the requirements for more than one minor.

Only degree programs that offer a Ph.D. may offer a minor, and those programs are not required to do so. Interdisciplinary Ph.D. minors, administered by a designated academic department, may be approved by the Faculty Senate. The minor should represent a program of graduate quality and depth, including core requirements and electives or examinations. The degree program offering the minor establishes the core and examination requirements. Elective courses are planned by the students in conjunction with their minor and Ph.D. programs.

The minimum university requirement for a Ph.D. minor is 20 units of course work at the graduate level (typically courses numbered 200 and above). If a minor program chooses to require those pursuing the minor to pass the Ph.D. qualifying or field examinations, the 20-unit minimum can be reduced. All of the course work for a minor must be done at Stanford.

Units taken for the minor can be counted as part of the overall requirement for the Ph.D. of 135 units of graduate course work done at Stanford. Courses used for a minor may not be used also to meet the requirements for a master’s degree. In rare cases, a Ph.D. student may complete the requirements for more than one minor. In that case, 20 unduplicated units must be completed for each minor.

An  Application for Ph.D. Minor  outlining a program of study must be approved by the major and minor degree programs and submitted to the Student Services Center. This form is submitted at the time of admission to candidacy or at the appropriate time thereafter. This form specifies whether representation from the minor degree program on the university oral examination committee is required by the minor department.

Related Policies

• GAP 3.1 Registration, Enrollment, and Academic Progress
• GAP 3.2 Residency Policy for Graduate Students
• GAP 4.6 Doctoral Degrees, Candidacy
• GAP 4.7 Doctoral Degrees, University Oral Examination & Committees
• GAP 4.8 Doctoral Degrees, Dissertations & Dissertation Reading Committees
• GAP 6.1 Graduate Tuition Categories

Related Student Services Sections

• Degree-Specific Requirements (Doctoral Degrees)

Related Information and Forms

• Application for Candidacy for Doctoral Degree
• Application for Ph.D. Minor

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Courses offered by the Department of Economics are listed under the subject code ECON on the Stanford Bulletin's ExploreCourses web site .

The department's purpose is to acquaint students with the economic aspects of modern society, to familiarize them with techniques for the analysis of contemporary economic problems, and to develop in them an ability to exercise judgment in evaluating public policy. There is training for the general student as well as for those who plan careers as economists in civil service, private enterprise, teaching, or research.

The department's curriculum is an integral part of Stanford's programs in International Relations, Public Policy, and Urban Studies.

The faculty interests and research cover a wide spectrum of topics in most fields of economics, including behavioral economics, comparative institutional analysis, econometrics, economic development, economic history, experimental economics, industrial organization, international trade, labor, macro- and microeconomic theory, mathematical economics, environmental economics, and public finance.

• Mission of the Undergraduate Program in Economics

The mission of the undergraduate program in Economics is to acquaint students with the economic aspects of modern society, to familiarize them with techniques for the analysis of contemporary economic problems, and to develop in them an ability to exercise judgment in evaluating public policy. The program introduces students to macro- and microeconomic theory, teaches them to think and write clearly about economic problems and policy issues and to apply the basic tools of economic analysis. The undergraduate major provides an excellent background for those who plan careers in government and private enterprise as well as those pursuing graduate degrees in professional schools or in the field of economics.

• Learning Outcomes (Undergraduate)

The department expects undergraduate majors in the program to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are used in evaluating students and the department's undergraduate program. Students are expected to demonstrate:

• understanding of core knowledge within Economics.
• ability to analyze a problem and draw correct inferences using qualitative and/or quantitative analysis.
• ability to write clearly and persuasively and communicate ideas clearly.
• ability to evaluate theory and critique research within the discipline.
• Graduate Programs in Economics

The primary objective of the graduate program is to educate students as research economists. In the process, students also acquire the background and skills necessary for careers as university teachers and as practitioners of economics. The curriculum includes a comprehensive treatment of modern theory and empirical techniques. Currently, 20 to 25 students are admitted each year.

Graduate programs in economics are designed to ensure that students receive a thorough grounding in the methodology of theoretical and empirical economics, while at the same time providing specialized training in a wide variety of subfields and a broad understanding of associated institutional structures. Toward these ends, the program is arranged so that the student has little choice in the curriculum at the outset but considerable latitude later on.

Students admitted to graduate standing in the department are expected to have a strong background in college-level economics, mathematics, and statistics. Preparation ordinarily consists of a college major in economics, a year-long calculus sequence that includes multivariate analysis, a course in linear algebra, and a rigorous course in probability and statistics. 

• Learning Outcomes (Graduate)

The purpose of the master's program is to further develop knowledge and skills in Economics and to prepare students for a professional career or doctoral studies. This is achieved through completion of courses, in the primary field as well as related areas, and experience with independent work and specialization.

The Ph.D. is conferred upon candidates who have demonstrated substantial scholarship and the ability to conduct independent research and analysis in Economics. Through completion of advanced course work and rigorous skills training, the doctoral program prepares students to make original contributions to the knowledge of Economics and and to interpret and present the results of such research. 

• Fellowships and Assistantships

The department awards a number of fellowships for graduate study. All students whose records justify continuation in the program may be assured support for the second through fifth years in the form of employment as a teaching or research assistant. All first year and a few second or third year students are typically awarded full fellowships, including a stipend and tuition. Second year students who are not on fellowship receive support in their entire second year (and surrounding summers) through a second year RAship. Third and fourth year students typically arrange for RA support directly with a faculty adviser or request TA support through the department. These half-time (20 hours per week) appointments provide a living wage and tuition allowance. Entering students are not eligible for research or teaching assistantships. Students in their final job market year are encouraged to apply for SIEPR dissertation research fellowships.  

Bachelor of Arts in Economics

The Department of Economics offers a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Eligible students may also pursue a  Bachelor of Arts with Honors . The department also offers a  minor in Economics .

• Suggested Preparation for the Major

The total number of units required for the major is 80. Students are encouraged to complete the core courses 1-6 below, as early as possible. Ideally, students should complete the core during the sophomore year, before taking upper division courses. Courses may not be taken before the prerequisites are completed. The required number of field courses is five. There is great flexibility in the choice of electives, including some upper-division math, statistics, and computer science.

• How to Declare the Major
• Complete the online Econ Major Declaration form and submit it to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS): ​ Declare the Econ Major
• When the declaration form is submitted, the DUS reviews the forms and emails the student and the assigned advisor.
• The student then makes an appointment to meet with the advisor to go over the declaration form.
• At the conclusion of the meeting the student requests that the advisor notify the Undergraduate Student Services Officer that the plan is approved. 
• The student declares in Axess .
• The student makes an appointment to meet with the Student Services Officer, to finalize the major declaration and she approves the declaration in Axess. 
• The student must declare by the end of the quarter prior to the quarter of graduation. Students may not declare during Summer Quarter, the last week of Autumn or Winter Quarter or last two weeks of Spring Quarter.
• Degree Requirements

The total number of units required for the major is 80. At least 55 of those units must be taken at Stanford in California. All courses counting toward the economics major must be taken for a letter grade and a GPA in the major of 2.0 (C) or better must be achieved.

Students scoring a 5 on both the advanced placement microeconomics and advanced placement macroeconomics exam may petition the Director of Undergraduate Studies to have the  ECON 1 Principles of Economics  course requirement waived. Students do not receive units credit for placing out of  ECON 1 Principles of Economics .

To use transfer credit in partial satisfaction of the requirements, the student must obtain written consent from the department's Director of Undergraduate Study, who establishes the amount of credit to be granted toward the department requirements (see the Information Book for Undergraduate Economics Majors). Students must have completed all Stanford prerequisites for approved transfer credit courses in order to use those courses towards the Economics major. See the department's Transfer Credit web site for additional information.

Course prerequisites are enforced. Students taking courses to satisfy prerequisites in another department or institution must petition for Stanford course substitution or transfer credit approval in order to satisfy course prerequisites.

The time limit for satisfactory completion of a course is one year from the date an incomplete is given, although instructors may set a shorter time limit. Students are responsible for seeing that all grades of 'incomplete' are cleared within the time limit.

• Course Requirements 

• Flexible Tracks

Flexible Tracks listings of economics courses are provided to emphasize the diverse interests of Economics majors. Flexible Tracks do not add major requirements.  Flexible Tracks may be examined in the department's  Information Book for Economics Majors . These flexible tracks are not declared in Axess and are not printed on the transcript or diploma. Flexible Tracks are provided for the following areas of emphasis (field courses are in bold):

• Behavioral & Experimental (ECON 13N, 46,  136 (or 182), 137, 160 (or 180 ),  178, 179 )
• Finance (ECON 43, 44,  111, 112, 140, 141,  143,  165,  184)
• International & Development (ECON 15N, 46, 106,  118,  124,  125,  127 ,  130, 131, 162 , 164, 165, 166 )
• Policy (ESF 1, ECON 11N, 15N, 17N, 19Q, 22N, 23N, 46, 47,  111, 118, 126,  130,  141, 144, 145, 146, 147,  150, 154 , 155,  159)
• Research (ECON  102C, 102D,  136 (or 182), 137, 160 (or 180), 198, 199D, 202, 210 )
• Strategy (ECON 19Q,  136 (or 182), 137, 149, 157, 158, 160 (or 180) )
• Honors Program

The honors program offers an opportunity for independent research, creativity, and achievement. It is designed to encourage a more intensive study of economics than is required for the normal major, with course and research work of exceptional quality. Honors students submit their theses in writing and present them during the Honors Research Symposium during Spring Quarter.  The honors program requires:

• Completing all requirements for the major; plus five additional units, bringing the total to 85 units.
• Achieving a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 for the required courses of the Economics major (excluding  ECON 139D Directed Reading  and  ECON 199D Honors Thesis Research ). See details in the Information Book for Economics Majors.
• Complete  ECON 102B Applied Econometrics  and at least two Econ upper division courses most relevant for the proposed topic of the honors thesis by the end of the junior year. (These can be included in the basic 80 units.)
• Candidates must write an honors thesis in their senior year for at least one unit and up to nine units of credit in their thesis advisor's section of   ECON 199D Honors Thesis Research . Additionally, winter registration for one unit of Honors Thesis Research, under  the Director of the Honors Program section number is mandatory for all honors students.  The thesis must be of very high quality and written under the direction of a member of the department or its affiliated faculty. Units of  ECON 199D Honors Thesis Research  do not count toward the course work requirements for the basic economics major, or in the computation of the GPA requirement for honors.

Juniors interested in the honors program should contact the honors program director for more information. Prospective candidates for the honors program should submit an application to the director no later than the third Wednesday of Autumn Quarter for Spring Quarter degree conferral. Also required, in the same quarter, is a three-page thesis proposal that must be approved by the thesis advisor.

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• Minor in Economics 

The minor in Economics has two main goals: to acquaint students with the rudiments of micro- and macroeconomic theory that are required of all majors; and to allow students to build competence in the application of this theory to two fields of economics of their choosing, and the opportunity to specialize further in any one of these fields by taking one additional advanced course in the Department of Economics.

Students must complete their declaration of the minor no later than the last day of the preceding quarter before their degree conferral.

At least 20 out of the 35 units for the minor must be taken at Stanford. Students must have completed all Stanford prerequisites for approved transfer credit courses in order to use those courses towards the Economics minor.

No courses receiving Department of Economics credit under the preceding requirements may be taken credit/no credit. The combined total of all units for the minor must equate to the grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) or better.

Master of Arts in Economics

University requirements for the master's degree are described in the " Graduate Degrees " section of this bulletin.

The Economics department does not offer a terminal M.A. degree. An M.A degree may only be pursued in combination with a doctoral degree from Economics or another department at the University.  Students must be currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Stanford before adding the Economics M.A. degree. Economics students may, but need not, elect to add this degree in addition to their current Ph.D. degree after they have been enrolled at Stanford for at least one quarter. 

• Adding the M.A. Degree

While a formal application to the M.A program is not required, current Ph.D. students (including those in the Economics Ph.D. program) must:

• Submit a Graduate Authorization Petition via Axess in order to add the M.A. as an additional degree. Students must have completed the Stanford requirements for a B.A. in Economics or approximately equivalent training. Since students are required to take some of the same courses as Ph.D. candidates, similar preparation in mathematics and statistics generally is expected before the petition to add the M.A. will be approved.  
• Complete the Master's Program Proposal form and submit it to the Economics Student Services Manager.
• Apply to graduate (in Axess, before the quarterly deadline) in the quarter you wish to confer the degree.  The degree is not conferred automatically.

A master's program must satisfy these criteria:

• Completing, at Stanford, at least 45 units of credit beyond those required for the bachelor's degree, of which at least 40 units must be in the Department of Economics. Students must complete ECON 202 Microeconomics I  or ECON 202N Microeconomics I For Non-Economics PhDs students   and at least three other 200-level lecture courses. They must receive a grade of 'B-' or better in ECON 202 Microeconomics I  or ECON 202N Microeconomics I For Non-Economics PhDs students . Undergraduate courses must be numbered 105 or higher (with the exception of the ECON 102A Introduction to Statistical Methods (Postcalculus) for Social Scientists , ECON 102B Applied Econometrics , ECON 102C Advanced Topics in Econometrics sequence listed below). No seminar courses numbered 300 or above can be counted.
• Demonstrating competence in empirical methodology by receiving a grade of 'B-' or better in both ECON 270 Intermediate Econometrics I and ECON 271 Intermediate Econometrics II , or by receiving a grade of 'B-' or above in each of ECON 102A Introduction to Statistical Methods (Postcalculus) for Social Scientists , ECON 102B Applied Econometrics , and ECON 102C Advanced Topics in Econometrics .
• Submitting two term papers (or a thesis of sufficient quality). At least one of these papers must be deemed to represent graduate-level work. Normally, this means that it is written in connection with a 200-level course. A maximum of 5 units of credit can be earned for a directed reading/thesis ( ECON 239D , ECON 400 , or comparable thesis course in home department) toward the 45-unit degree requirement. In lieu of this paper requirement, students may elect to take two additional 200+ level Economics courses.
• A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 must be maintained for all master's level work. All lecture courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Doctor of Philosophy in Economics

University requirements for the Ph.D. are described in the " Graduate Degrees " section of this bulletin.

Students admitted to graduate standing in the department are expected to have a strong background in college-level economics, mathematics, and statistics. Preparation ordinarily consists of a college major in economics, a year-long calculus sequence that includes multivariate analysis, a course in linear algebra, and a rigorous course in probability and statistics. When deemed appropriate, a student may be required to complete the necessary background preparation at Stanford. All students take a common core curriculum at the outset and later branch out into the desired fields of specialization.

Well-prepared students should anticipate spending, with some overlap, approximately two years in course work and another two years in seminars, independent study, and dissertation research. A minimum of 135 completed units is required for the degree. The goal is to complete the program in five years, although some types of research programs may require at least six years to complete. The department has a strong commitment to guiding students through the program expeditiously.

Questions and petitions concerning the program and the admissions process should be addressed to the Director of Graduate Study, who has responsibility for administering the graduate program.

• Requirements for the Ph.D.

Specific requirements are best discussed in two stages, the first consisting of requirements for admission to candidacy and the second involving further requirements for earning the degree.

• Admission to Candidacy for Ph.D.

A student may apply for admission to candidacy when the following minimal requirements are met:

• Graduate Core

• Completing the requirements in two additional advanced fields of specialization from the list below or, if approved in advance by the Director of Graduate Study, in one such field together with a substantial amount of work toward a second field taught in a related department (e.g. GSB Finance). Students may request permission from the Director of Graduate Study to create a field not listed as an advanced field below, such as International Finance or Law & Economics. Requirements for completing a field can usually be satisfied by completing two courses and a paper, although students in some fields may be advised to add a third course, which can then be counted toward the distribution requirement discussed later. A minimum grade average of B is required to pass a field sequence. Individual course grades cannot be less than a B- in order to count for field course credit. Specific requirements for completing each field can be found on the Economics department website .
• Completing a candidacy paper, normally written in conjunction with one of the advanced specialty fields selected above. Submission of this paper or another research paper is required by the first day of Autumn Quarter of the third year. Satisfactory presentation of this paper is required in the Autumn quarter third year seminar. It is expected that the student meet, and indeed exceed, the above standards by the end of the first quarter in the third year of residency. When this is not possible for any reason, the Director of Graduate Study should be consulted as early as possible during the third year.

Once it is deemed that the above standards have been met, the student should complete the Application for Candidacy for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. After a student fulfills the department prerequisites for applying for candidacy and submits their candidacy application form, the faculty votes to determine whether the student has the potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program. If approved , candidacy remains valid for five years (although it can be terminated earlier by the department if progress is deficient); it can be renewed or extended beyond this period only under unusual circumstances. Failure to advance to candidacy results in dismissal from the program.

• Further Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
• Third Year Seminar:  presentation of an expanded research paper in Spring Quarter of the third year.
• at least one course from the area of economic history, unless history is one of the two fields of specialization.
• courses in at least two fields other than the two fields of specialization. Distribution courses cannot be crosslisted in those fields.
• with advance approval of the Director of Graduate Study, some of these distribution courses may be drawn from related fields taught in other departments. However, including courses taken to meet either the specialization or distribution requirements, no more than two courses in total may be taken outside the Economics department.
• all courses used to fulfill distribution requirements must be passed with a grade of B or better.
• Teaching Experience: Each student must serve as a teaching assistant for at least one quarter. It is strongly recommended that this requirement be satisfied before the fourth year of residence.
• Seminar Participation: Each student is expected to participate in at least two all-year research seminars by the end of the fourth year of residence. Normally, participation in a seminar requires one or more oral presentations and the submission of a research paper (which, however, need not be completely separate from dissertation research). Detailed information on fulfilling the seminar requirements can be found on the Economics department website .
• Ph.D. Dissertation: The process involves selecting a topic, choosing an appropriate adviser, submitting a prospectus (signed by the adviser) outlining the proposed research, selecting a three-member reading committee (usually all from the Department of Economics, although exceptions can be made under certain circumstances), passing the University oral examination at which these three faculty (and two other members of the Academic Council) ask questions about the completed research, and submitting a final draft of the work signed by all members of the reading committee. The student is advised to initiate this process as early as possible.

Graduate Fields

• A. Behavioral and Experimental Economics

To receive credit for this field, students must take the following three courses. Research papers and presentations are requirements of these courses.

• B. Econometric Methods For Causal Inference

To receive credit for the Econometric Methods field, students must complete the two courses from the list below.  

• C. Econometrics

A student may satisfy the requirements for the econometrics field by completing the requirements of one of two subfields:

C-A: Theoretical Econometrics:

To receive credit in the theoretical econometrics subfield, students must complete two courses from:

C-B: Applied Econometrics:  

To receive credit in the applied econometrics subfield, students must complete ECON 273 and either ECON 275 or ECON 276  or ECON 292 (also known as GSB MGTECON 640). Students must also complete a course (or set of courses) that is empirically oriented. The last requirements must be approved by the Director of Graduate Study in consultation with the instructor of 275, 276 or 292.

• D. Economic Development

To receive credit for this field, students must complete two courses from the following list. Students are required to develop and present a series of research ideas throughout each course. Regular attendance at the Development Economics workshop and the Development student workshop is required.

• E. Economic History/Institutions

Students must complete two courses from the following list and develop a research proposal in each course. Presentation of a research proposal is required at the end of the second year. Regular attendance (at least four quarters) at the economic history workshop is required.

• F. Environmental, Resource and Energy Economics

To receive credit for this field, students must complete:

To receive credit for the field, students must complete two courses from list list below. A 20-minute research project proposal is required.

• H. Industrial Organization

To receive credit for the field, students must complete:

• I. International Trade and Finance

To receive credit for this field, students must complete two courses from the list below, but are encouraged to take all three courses.  Those interested in an International Trade concentration should take, at a minimum, 266 and 268; those interested in an International Finance concentration should take, at a minimum, 268 and 269.  Students are expected to develop and present a research proposal in each course.

• J. Labor Economics

To receive credit for this field, students must complete two courses from: 

• K. Macroeconomics

Requirements for this field are completion of two courses from the list below. Presentation of a research proposal in each course is required. ECON 236 and 237 may not be double-counted towards both the macroeconomics and the finance field.

• L. Market Design

To receive credit for this field, students must take two from the following and give a research presentation:

• M. Microeconomic Theory

To receive credit for this field, students must complete two courses from the following and give a research presentation:

• N. Political Economy

To receive credit for this field, students must pass the two courses below with grades of B or better. Students may petition to substitute Econ 221 for a comparable course in the political science department.

• O. Public Economics

To receive credit for the field, students must complete the two courses from the list below and develop an original research project.  Regular attendance at the Public Economics workshop is required for students in their third year or above to receive credit for the field.

• Ph.D. Minor in Economics

To be recommended for the Ph.D. degree with Economics as a minor subject, a student must qualify in three fields of economics, at least one of which must be in the core economics sequence (Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics). The standard of achievement in these fields is the same for minor as for major candidates, including minimum grade requirements, paper submissions and research presentations where appropriate. All courses used for the Ph.D. minor must be taken for a letter grade.

Joint Degree Programs in Economics with the School of Law

• J.D./M.A. and J.D./PH.D.

The Department of Economics and the School of Law offer a joint program leading to either a J.D. degree combined with an M.A. degree in Economics, or to a J.D. degree combined with a Ph.D. in Economics.

The J.D./M.A. and J.D./Ph.D. degree programs are designed for students who wish to prepare themselves for careers in areas relating to both law and economics. Students interested in either joint degree program must apply and gain entrance separately to the School of Law and the Department of Economics and, as an additional step, must secure permission from both academic units to pursue degrees in those units as part of a joint degree program. Interest in either joint degree program should be noted on the student's admission applications and may be considered by the admission committee of each program. Alternatively, an enrolled student in either the Law School or the Economics department may apply for admission to the other program and for joint degree status in both academic units after commencing study in either program.

Joint degree students may elect to begin their course of study in either the School of Law or the Department of Economics. Faculty advisers from each academic unit participate in the planning and supervising of the student's joint program. Students must be enrolled full time in the Law School for the first year of law school, and, at some point during the joint program, may be required to devote one or more quarters largely or exclusively to studies in the Economics program regardless of whether enrollment at that time is in the Law School or in the Department of Economics. At all other times, enrollment may be in the graduate school or the Law School, and students may choose courses from either program regardless of where enrolled. Students must satisfy the requirements for both the J.D. and the M.A. or Ph.D. degrees as specified in this bulletin or by the School of Law.

The Law School approves courses from the Economics Department that may count toward the J.D. degree, and the Economics department approves courses from the Law School that may count toward the M.A. or Ph.D. degree in Economics. In either case, approval may consist of a list applicable to all joint degree students or may be tailored to each individual student's program. The list may differ depending on whether the student is pursuing an M.A. or a Ph.D. in Economics.

In the case of a J.D./M.A. program, no more than 45 quarter hours of approved courses may be counted toward both degrees. In the case of a J.D./Ph.D. program, no more than 54 quarter hours of approved courses may be counted toward both degrees. In either case, no more than 36 quarter hours of courses that originate outside the Law School may count toward the Law degree. To the extent that courses under this joint degree program originate outside the Law School but count toward the Law degree, the Law School credits permitted under Section 17(1) of the Law School Regulations shall be reduced on a unit-per-unit basis, but not below zero. The maximum number of Law School credits that may be counted toward the M.A. or the Ph.D. in Economics is the greater of: (a) 5 quarter hours in the case of the M.A. and 10 quarter hours in the case of the Ph.D.; or (b) the maximum number of hours from courses outside of the department that M.A. or Ph.D. candidates in Economics are permitted to count toward the applicable degree under general departmental guidelines or in the case of a particular student's individual program.

Tuition and financial aid arrangements are normally made through the school in which the student is then enrolled.

For more information, see the Law School's Degrees and Joint Degrees web site.

Joint Degree Program in Ph.D. in Economics and Master of Public Policy

The Ph.D./M.P.P. joint degree is designed for students who wish to prepare themselves for careers in areas relating to both policy and economics. Students interested in this degree first apply to the Economics Department, indicating an interest in the joint program. There is one admissions application and one fee. If the decision is made by the department to admit the applicant, the file is then forwarded to the M.P.P. program. An admission decision, based on the information in the Ph.D. application, is made promptly, and the department informs the student of the decision.

Students may also apply to the M.P.P. after having commenced study in the Economics Department at Stanford, by first receiving the consent of the Director of Graduate Studies in Economics and then applying to the Public Policy program.

Students must have a faculty adviser from the Economics Department to assist with the planning and supervising of the joint program. The adviser is usually chosen from among the department's Public Policy-affiliated faculty.

Tuition and financial aid arrangements are made through the Economics Department.

Requirements for the M.P.P./Ph.D. in Economics

• Core M.P.P. curriculum of 45 units

• Other Programs

Other programs leading to dual degrees may be arranged. For example, the Ph.D. in Economics combines with one or two years of study in the School of Law, leading to the nonprofessional Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) degree. A dual degree program does not permit counting any courses toward both the Economics and the Law degrees. For more information, see the Law School's Degrees and Joint Degrees web site.

• COVID-19 Policies

On July 30, the Academic Senate adopted grading policies effective for all undergraduate and graduate programs, excepting the professional Graduate School of Business, School of Law, and the School of Medicine M.D. Program. For a complete list of those and other academic policies relating to the pandemic, see the " COVID-19 and Academic Continuity " section of this bulletin.

The Senate decided that all undergraduate and graduate courses offered for a letter grade must also offer students the option of taking the course for a “credit” or “no credit” grade and recommended that deans, departments, and programs consider adopting local policies to count courses taken for a “credit” or “satisfactory” grade toward the fulfillment of degree-program requirements and/or alter program requirements as appropriate.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

In academic year 2020-21, the Department of Economics will count courses taken with a grade of 'CR' (credit) towards the satisfaction of its undergraduate degree requirements so long as (i) the number of units taken CR does not exceed 15 and (ii) the CR courses are not ECON 50, ECON 51, ECON 52, ECON 102B, or ECON 199D (Honors Research).  In academic year 2020-21, the five aforementioned courses must be taken for a letter grade if they are to count towards the satisfaction of the degree requirements. Apart from the five aforementioned courses, even courses that normally require a letter grade will count towards the degree requirements if they are taken CR.

Graduate Degree Requirements

The Department of Economics counts all first year (core) courses taken in academic year 2020-21 with a grade of 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) towards satisfaction of graduate degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade provided that the instructor affirms that the work was done at a 'B-' or better level for each individual course and a 'B' average or better across each field sequence.

For second year+ (field & distribution) courses, a grade of 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) will count towards satisfaction of graduate degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade provided that the instructor affirms that the work was done at a 'B' or better level.

Graduate Advising Expectations

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the " Graduate Advising " section of this bulletin.

The Department of Economics is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the adviser and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Faculty advisers guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing of teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.  Outlined below are a list of specific responsibilities of the various advising relationships, year by year:

First-year students are assigned to an adviser in groups of four or five students, so that there are only a handful of first-year advisers.  First-year advisers should meet with students early in Autumn Quarter and offer to help with any questions as the year progresses. Including the DGS, Ph.D. administrator, student mentors, study groups, core course instructors, and the first-year seminar series, students have a variety of information sources. The adviser is simply another person to whom the students can turn to for basic and broad advice about the program.

If a first year adviser sees a student struggling academically or personally, please ensure that they are connected to the help that they need, and if unsure of how to help please consult with the DGS.  

• Second-Year RAship

The second-year RA-ship is an opportunity for students to gain experience with research. The RA-ship is subsidized by the department and averages 15 hours/week (rather than the 20 for standard RAships in later years) for the entire second year (and surrounding summers). Students are advised to ensure that it is as educational as possible. Some students have fellowships and thus do not need RA support, but should still seek advisers and should be given the same attention to ensure that their research is progressing.  

• Second-Year Paper

The second-year paper is due at the beginning of Autumn Quarter of the third year, and students have to agree with a faculty member to oversee that paper by the end of the Spring Quarter of the second year.   

An adviser on a second-year paper should make sure that the student is progressing on the paper during the Summer by setting a timeline and meeting with them at key points. It is essential that this be finished on time so that students can move on to new projects or to further develop it during the third year. Students are encouraged to talk to multiple faculty, but the person who signs their paper should take responsibility. The student also has a responsibility to be seeking advice and communicating regularly with their adviser, both about progress and unexpected setbacks, both of which are inevitable in research. Note that second-year papers can be co-authored with other students and/or faculty.  

• Third-Year Advising

The third-year seminar helps shepherd students through the transition to dissertation research; however, it is not a substitute for an adviser but rather a complement. Students should clear their slides for their third-year presentations with their advisers before the presentations.  

The adviser and student are both responsible for ensuring that they meet regularly and have set a clear a timeline and goals for their research.  

At the end of the third year, students meet with the DGS and present a form signed by someone agreeing to advise their dissertation research, and they should have plans for a dissertation and a committee. If a faculty member is advising a student during the third year and does not plan to continue that relationship, the faculty member is responsible for letting the student know early enough so that s/he can find a new adviser going forward. Occasionally, students who are getting substantial advice from more than one person may wish to designate co-primary advisers. This involves a serious commitment in terms of time and attention from all of the primary advisers, and should involve more than window-dressing.

• Fourth Year and Beyond

Advisers and students should be meeting regularly and have a clear plan and timeline for completion of a dissertation research and going on the market.  The adviser’s role includes providing guidance concerning designing, implementing, conducting, writing, presenting, submitting (where, how, etc.), and revising their research. The adviser should meet regularly with the student and inform the DGS if a student is languishing or falling behind in their research.  

Advisers should be very clear with students about how their research is progressing and what they need to do to improve. Students are responsible for being broadly engaged, keeping their adviser regularly informed of their progress, and seeking advice from several faculty, attending and participating in conferences, regularly attending seminars, talking with other students, and more generally being regularly involved in research-related activities. 

Faculty who are on a student’s dissertation committee must discuss the student’s job market prospects with him or her well in advance of the job market. It is essential to calibrate students’ expectations appropriately. If the student aspires to jobs for which a committee member feels s/he cannot write supportive letters, that faculty must make that fact absolutely clear to the student well in advance. The faculty member must also confer with other committee members to determine whether they are in agreement concerning the student’s progress, job market plans, and likely prospects. A dissertation committee member whose assessment of a student is out of line with the rest of the committee has an obligation to make their views known to the committee well before the student enters to job market, and should be willing to withdraw from the committee if it is in the student’s best interest. Committee members should therefore compare their assessments, at the latest, by the start of  the Autumn Quarter during which the student enters the job market. 

Students need to become self-sufficient; most of these aspects of conducting and disseminating research are not learned via courses or readings, but by doing coupled with timely advice. It is the most important, and rewarding, part of the Ph.D. program. 

An extensive and detailed guide to the adviser/advisee relationship and responsibilities appears on the department's website . 

Emeriti: (Professors) Takeshi Amemiya, Timothy F. Bresnahan, Paul A. David, Walter Falcon, Victor R. Fuchs, John G. Gurley, Peter J. Hammond, Donald Harris, Anne O. Krueger, Mordecai Kurz, Lawrence J. Lau, Roger G. Noll, John H. Pencavel, Thomas Sargent, John B. Shoven, David A. Starrett, Joseph E. Stiglitz, Gavin Wright

Chair: B. Douglas Bernheim

Vice Chair : Monika Piazzesi

Director of Graduate Studies:  Luigi Pistaferri

Director of Undergraduate Studies:   Frank Wolak

Professors: Ran Abramitzky, Kyle Bagwell, B. Douglas Bernheim, Nicholas Bloom, Michael Boskin, Mark Duggan,  Pascaline Dupas, Liran Einav, Matthew Gentzkow, Lawrence Goulder, Avner Greif, Robert E. Hall, Han Hong, Caroline Hoxby, Guido Imbens, Matthew Jackson, Patrick Kehoe, Pete Klenow, Jonathan Levin, Thomas E. MaCurdy, Neale Mahoney, Paul R. Milgrom, Muriel Niederle, Monika Piazzesi, Luigi Pistaferri, Joseph Romano, Alvin Roth, K. Martin Schneider, Ilya Segal, John B. Taylor, Alessandra Voena, Heidi L. Williams, Frank Wolak 

Associate Professors:  Gabriel Carroll, Arun Chandrasekhar

Assistant Professors:  Adrien Auclert, Luigi Bocola, Ignacio Cuesta, Daniel Fetter, Bradley Larsen, Melanie Morten, Petra Persson, Isaac Sorkin 

Lecturers:  Marcelo Clerici-Arias, Gopi Shah Goda, Alexander Gould, Ward Hanson, Gregory La Blanc, Chris Makler, Scott McKeon, Mark Tendall, Ramin Toloui

Postdocs: Ravi Jagadeesan, Øvind Schøyen, Colin Sullivan

Courtesy Professors: Anat Admati, Susan Athey, Jay Bhattacharya, Jeremy Bulow, Steve Callander, Darrell Duffie, Marcel Fafchamps, James D. Fearon, Stephen H. Haber, Charles Kolstad, David M. Kreps, Edward Lazear, Rosamond L. Naylor, Peter C. Reiss, Gregory Rosston, Kenneth Singleton, Andrzej Skrzypacz 

Courtesy  Associate Professors:   Jacob Goldin, Saumitra Jha, Grant Miller, Rebecca Diamond

Visiting Assistant Professors:  Assaf Romm

• Overseas Studies Courses in Economics

The Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP) manages Stanford international and domestic study away programs for Stanford undergraduates. Students should consult their department or program's student services office for applicability of Overseas Studies courses to a major or minor program.

The BOSP course search site displays courses, locations, and quarters relevant to specific majors.

For course descriptions and additional offerings, see the listings in the Stanford Bulletin's ExploreCourses or Bing Overseas Studies .

Due to COVID-19, all BOSP programs have been suspended for Autumn Quarter 2020-21. All courses and quarters of operation are subject to change.

ECON 1. Principles of Economics. 5 Units.

This is an introductory course in economics. We will cover both microeconomics (investigating decisions by individuals and firms) and macroeconomics (examining the economy as a whole). The primary goal is to develop and then build on your understanding of the analytical tools and approaches used by economists. This will help you to interpret economic news and economic data at a much deeper level while also forming your own opinions on economic issues. The course will also provide a strong foundation for those of you who want to continue on with intermediate microeconomics and/or intermediate macroeconomics and possibly beyond.

ECON 1V. Principles of Economics. 5 Units.

The course covers all of economics at a basic level. It stresses the key idea that economics is about making purposeful choice with limited resources and about people interacting with other people as they make these choices. Most of those interactions occur in markets, and the course is mainly about markets, including labor markets and capital markets. We show why free competitive markets can improve people's lives and how they have removed millions from people from poverty, with many more, we hope, to come; we show how monopolies and environmental spillovers cause market failures; we show how to remedy these failures through government policy; and we explain why government failure can also be a problem. The overall goal is to use economics to understand the big issues of the day including economic growth, inequality, crises, and unemployment. The goal of this course is to learn how to use economic analysis to reach reasoned conclusions about the big issues of the day from the workings and benefits of a market economy to the causes of economic growth, financial crises, and unemployment.

ECON 4. Democracy Matters. 1 Unit.

Should the U.S. close its border to immigrants? What are the ramifications of income inequality? How has COVID-19 changed life as we know it? Why are Americans so politically polarized? How can we address racial injustice? As the 2020 election approaches, faculty members from across Stanford will explore and examine some of the biggest challenges facing society today. Each week will be dedicated to a different topic, ranging from health care and the economy to racial injustice and challenges to democracy. Faculty with expertise in philosophy, economics, law, political science, psychology, medicine, history, and more will come together for lively conversations about the issues not only shaping this election season but also the nation and world at large. There will also be a Q&A following the initial discussion. Attendance and supplemental course readings are the only requirements for the course. Same as: PHIL 30 , POLISCI 42 , PUBLPOL 4

ECON 5. Frontiers in Economic Research and Policy. 1 Unit.

Interested in exploring how economics is used in professional, policy, and research settings? This course will feature weekly presentations from Stanford faculty and scholars and economists in government, non-profit, and business to demonstrate how economic analysis can be applied to a wide range of practical and policy problems. May be repeated for credit. Pre-requisites: none.

ECON 10. Microcosm of Silicon Valley and Wall Street. 1 Unit.

Seminar in applied economics with focus on the microcosm of Silicon Valley, how growth companies are originated, managed and financed from start-up to IPO. Round-table discussion format. Applicable to those students with an interest in technology company formation, growth and finance including interaction with Wall Street. Enrollment limited to 10 juniors, seniors and co-term students. Application found at https://economics.stanford.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/forms.

ECON 11N. Understanding the Welfare System. 3 Units.

Welfare-reform legislation passed by the federal government in the mid-1990s heralded a dramatic step in the movement that has been termed the devolution revolution, which is again being discussed in the context of healthcare reform. The centerpiece of devolution is the transfer of more responsibilities for antipoverty programs to the states. We will explore the effects of these reforms and the role that devolution plays in the ongoing debates over the designs of programs that make up America's social safety net. In addition to discussing conventional welfare programs (e.g., Medicaid, food stamps, TANF, SSI) and other governmental policies assisting low-income families (EITC, minimum wages), we will examine the trends in governmental spending on anti-poverty programs and how our nation defines poverty and eligibility for income support. We will apply economics principles throughout to understand the effectiveness of America's antipoverty programs and their consequences on the behavior and circumstances of families. Prerequisites: A basic understanding/knowledge of introductory economics is recommended.

ECON 12. Economics of Artificial Intelligence. 1 Unit.

How will artificial intelligence and machine learning reshape the economy? This course examines the prospective impact of AI on jobs, wages, inequality, industrial power, and global competition. We begin by examining the effects of previous technological revolutions (from the Industrial Revolution to the digital age) on living standards, relative power of labor and capital, and organization of economic activity. We then review the tools and methods economists use to analyze the potential consequences of AI and machine learning. We conclude by assessing priorities for government policy, including opportunities for harnessing AI to create a more prosperous and equitable society.

ECON 14. Navigating Financial Crises: From Emerging Markets to COVID-19. 1 Unit.

What causes financial crises? What are the keys to anticipating, preventing, and managing disruptions in the global financial system? This course prepares students to navigate future episodes as policymakers, finance professionals, and citizens by going inside the practical decisions made in an unfolding crisis, from the U.S. government and IMF to the boardroom and trading floor. Students will learn warning signs of distress; market structures that govern crisis dynamics; strategic interactions among the key actors; and lessons learned for creating a more resilient system. Concepts will be applied to real-world experiences in emerging market crises, the U.S. housing and global financial crisis, the European sovereign crisis, and as well the extraordinary fiscal and central bank responses to the COVID-19 crisis. Same as: PUBLPOL 14

ECON 17N. Energy, the Environment, and the Economy. 3 Units.

Examines the intimate relationship between environmental quality and the production and consumption of energy. Assesses the economics efficiency and political economy implications of a number of current topics in energy and environmental economics. Topics include: the economic theory of exhaustible resources, Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) control (cap and trade mechanisms and carbon fees), GHG emissions offsets, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), the "smart" transmission grid for electricity, nuclear energy and nuclear waste, the real cost of renewable energy, natural gas and coal-fired electricity production, the global coal and natural gas markets, Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) and Low-Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS), Energy Efficiency Investments and Demand Response, and Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS). For all topics, there will be reading to explain the economics and engineering behind the topic and class discussion to clarify and elaborate on this interaction. Prerequisite: ECON 1 is recommended.

ECON 19Q. Government by the Numbers. 3 Units.

Spending by federal, state, and local governments accounts for about one-third of U.S. GDP and governments employ more than one-in-seven workers in the U.S. For most U.S. residents, government is represented by a complicated web of federal, state, and local policies. There is an increasingly contentious debate about the proper role of the government and regarding the impact of specific government policies. This debate is rarely grounded in a common set of facts. In this seminar, we will explore how each level of government interacts with U.S. residents through government services, public programs, taxes, and regulations. We will examine financial results for different levels of government while considering the net effects of government intervention on the health and economic well-being of individuals and families. Particular attention will be paid to certain sectors (e.g. education, health care, etc.) and to certain groups (e.g. those in poverty, the elderly, etc.). Along the way we will accumulate a set of metrics to assess the performance of each level of government while highlighting the formidable challenges of such an exercise. Prerequisite: ECON 1 . Same as: PUBLPOL 19Q

ECON 22N. Causes and Consequences of the Rise in Inequality. 3 Units.

In this class we will discuss the economic and institutional causes of the rise in inequality in the US and other countries over the last 40 years. We will also discuss the consequences of inequality in terms of social justice, economic welfare, aggregate economic performance, intergenerational mobility, and the possible implications of inequality for the recent global financial crisis.

ECON 23N. Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. 3 Units.

We will explore the evolution and current performance of capitalist and socialist economies, their interaction with democracy, and the contemporary debate about the appropriate roles of individual vs. collective rights and responsibilities.

ECON 25N. Public Policy and Personal Finance. 3 Units.

The seminar will provide an introduction and discussion of the impact of public policy on personal finance. Voters regularly rate the economy as one of the most important factors shaping their political views and most of those opinions are focused on their individual bottom lines. In this course we will discuss the rationale for different public policies and how they affect personal financial situations. We will explore personal finance issues such as taxes, loans, charity, insurance, and pensions. Using the context of (hypothetical) personal finance positions, we will discuss the public policy implications of various proposals and how they affect different groups of people, for example: the implications of differential tax rates for different types of income, the promotion of home ownership in the U.S., and policies to care for our aging population. While economic policy will be the focus of much of the course, we will also examine some of the implications of social policies on personal finance as well. There will be weekly readings and several short policy-related writing assignments. Same as: PUBLPOL 55N

ECON 27N. The Economics of Gender. 3 Units.

This seminar draws on empirical and theoretical insights from multiple fields within economics. The objective is to understand the role of gender in economic decision making, and the changing significance, timing and meaning of work, career and family. We will focus on recent work in experimental economics, and empirical work in the developed world. But at times we will widen the perspective to developing countries and consider historical changes as well.

ECON 43. Introduction to Financial Decision-Making. 5 Units.

The purpose of the class is for you to obtain greater comfort making the major financial decisions your life journey will require. Illustrative examples, case studies, historical and statistical evidence, and some simple analytical tools will be presented. We hope to help students avoid damaging mistakes in the decisions that will determine their financial flexibility and safeguard them against life's uncertainties. Students will learn how to keep more options open and to live with fewer constraints by making sound financial decisions. Topics include making a financial plan and budget, managing money, saving, investing in stocks and other assets, purchasing insurance, taxes and inflation, inheritance, financial markets and financial advisors.

ECON 44. The Modern Financial System. 3 Units.

The purpose of the class is to introduce you to the modern financial system. What are the major financial instruments -- bonds, bank loans and also equity - and how are their prices determined. What are the key financial institutions that lend, provide liquidity and make markets. What role does the government play through regulation, monetary policy and special intervention in crisis time. We'll devote particular attention to the payments system: how do households and firms make payments, how do financial institutions organize these payments, and how could this business change with potential entry of new digital currencies, provided by central banks or the private sector. Prerequisites: ECON 1 is recommended.

ECON 46. Networks and Human Behavior. 5 Units.

Two threads are interwoven: why social and economic networks have special features, and how those features shape power, opinions, opportunities, and behaviors. Some of the topics included are: the different ways in which a person's position in a network determines their influence; which systematic errors people make when forming opinions based on what they learn from others; how financial contagions work and why are they different from the spread of a flu; the role of splits in our social networks in inequality, immobility, and polarization; and how network patterns of trade and globalization have changed international conflict and wars. The course requires analyzing network data, which will be provided. No prerequisite but ECON 102A or equivalent is recommended.

ECON 47. Media Markets and Social Good. 5 Units.

This class will apply tools from economics and related social sciences to study the functioning of media markets and their impact on society. The guiding question will be: when and how do media best serve the social good? Topics will include the economics of two-sided markets, media bias, polarization, social media, fake news, advertising, propaganda, effects of media on children, media and crime, and the role of media in corruption, protests and censorship. The course will give students a non-technical introduction to social science empirical methods, including regression analysis, causal inference, experimental and quasi-experimental methods, and machine learning.

ECON 50. Economic Analysis I. 5 Units.

Individual consumer and firm behavior under perfect competition. The role of markets and prices in a decentralized economy. Monopoly in partial equilibrium. Economic tools developed from multivariable calculus using partial differentiation and techniques for constrained and unconstrained optimization. Prerequisites: ECON 1 or 1V, and MATH 51 or MATH 51A or CME 100 or CME 100A .

ECON 51. Economic Analysis II. 5 Units.

Neoclassical analysis of general equilibrium, welfare economics, imperfect competition, externalities and public goods, risk and uncertainty, game theory, adverse selection, and moral hazard. Multivariate calculus is used. Prerequisite: ECON 50 .

ECON 52. Economic Analysis III. 5 Units.

Long-run economic growth and short-run economic fluctuations. Focus on the macroeconomic tools of government: fiscal policy (spending and taxes) and monetary policy, and their effects on growth, employment, and inflation. Prerequisites: ECON 50 .

ECON 78N. Economic Policies of the Presidential Candidates. 3 Units.

In nearly all polls, American voters rank the economy as one of their most important concerns. In the presidential election, much of the debate for voters will be on questions of economic policy. In this course, we will delve deeply into economic policy issues to understand options for government intervention and possible outcomes. We will combine economic analysis with political science methodology to understand efficient and implementable policy proposals.nnSpecific areas of interest will be taxation, budget, entitlement programs, economic regulation and competition policy, trade, demography, income inequality, and monetary policy. The course will incorporate other timely and salient policy issues as they arise during the course of the campaign. n nStudents will be expected to write a short paper and make an oral presentation to the class. A wide range of topics will be acceptable, including those directly related to campaign issues as well as other long-term economic issues facing the country. Same as: PUBLPOL 78N

ECON 101. Economic Policy Seminar. 5 Units.

Economic policy analysis, writing, and oral presentation. Topics vary with instructor. Limited enrollment. Prerequisites: ECON 51 and 52, 102B, and two field courses. Some sections require additional prerequisites.

ECON 102A. Introduction to Statistical Methods (Postcalculus) for Social Scientists. 5 Units.

Probabilistic modeling and statistical techniques relevant for economics. Concepts include: probability trees, conditional probability, random variables, discrete and continuous distributions, correlation, central limit theorems, point estimation, hypothesis testing and confidence intervals for both one and two populations. Prerequisite: MATH 20 or equivalent.

ECON 102B. Applied Econometrics. 5 Units.

Hypothesis tests and confidence intervals for population variances, chi-squared goodness-of-fit tests, hypothesis tests for independence, simple linear regression model, testing regression parameters, prediction, multiple regression, omitted variable bias, multicollinearity, F-tests, regression with indicator random variables, simultaneous equation models and instrumental variables. Topics vary slightly depending on the quarter. Prerequisites: ECON 102A or equivalent. Recommended: computer experience (course often uses STATA software to run regressions).

ECON 102C. Advanced Topics in Econometrics. 5 Units.

The program evaluation problem. Identifying and estimating the effects of policies on outcomes of interest (e.g., tax rates on labor supply, etc.). Identifying and estimating the effects of human capital on earnings and other labor market outcomes. Topics: Instrumental variables estimation; limited dependent variable models (probit, logit, Tobit models); Panel data techniques (fixed and random effect models, dynamic panel data models); Duration models; Bootstrap and Estimation by Simulation. Prerequisite: ECON 102B .

ECON 102D. Econometric Methods for Public Policy Analysis and Business Decision-Making. 5 Units.

This course focuses on the use of econometric methods in public policy analysis and business decision-making. Building on methods taught in Economics 102A and 102B, additional descriptive, predictive and causal econometric modeling methods will be introduced along with the assumptions required for the validity of each methodology. Methods for designing randomized controlled trials (RCT) and analyzing the resulting data will be discussed. The methods for recovering economically meaningful magnitudes such as price elasticities of demand and other behavioral responses from observational data will be discussed. Both classical econometric methods and modern techniques in machine learning will be employed. The class will be taught using the R programming language. Students will perform both in-class and out-of-class assignments working with actual datasets to address policy-relevant decisions and simulation exercises designed to deepen their knowledge of these methods. Prerequisites: Econ102A, Econ102B.

ECON 106. World Food Economy. 5 Units.

The economics of food production, consumption, and trade. The micro- and macro- determinants of food supply and demand, including the interrelationship among food, income, population, and public-sector decision making. Emphasis on the role of agriculture in poverty alleviation, economic development, and environmental outcomes. Grades based on mid-term exam and group modeling project and presentation. Enrollment is by application only and will be capped at 25, with priority given to upper level undergraduates in Economics and Earth Systems and graduate students (graduate students enroll in 206). Application found at https://economics.stanford.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/forms. Same as: EARTHSYS 106 , EARTHSYS 206 , ECON 206 , ESS 106 , ESS 206

ECON 111. Money and Banking. 5 Units.

The primary course goal is for students to master the logic, intuition and operation of a financial system - money, financial markets (money and capital markets, debt and equity markets, derivatives markets), and financial institutions and intermediaries (the Central Bank, depository institutions, credit unions, pension funds, insurance companies, venture capital firms, investment banks, mutual funds, etc.). In other words, how money/capital change hands between agents over time, directly and through institutions. Material will be both quantitative and qualitative, yet always highly analytical with a focus on active learning - there will be an approximately equal emphasis on solving mathematical finance problems (e.g. bond or option pricing) and on policy analysis (e.g. monetary policy and financial regulation.) Students will not be rewarded for memorizing and regurgitating facts, but rather for demonstrating the ability to reason with difficult problems and situations with which they might not previously be familiar. Prerequisite: ECON 50 , 52 . Strongly recommended but not required: some familiarity with finance and statistics (e.g. ECON 135 or 140, ECON 102A ).

ECON 112. Financial Markets and Institutions: Recent Developments. 5 Units.

The course covers innovations, challenges and proposed changes to the financial system. Topics include new mortgage products, foreclosure rules, securitization, credit ratings, credit derivatives, dealer networks, repo financing, implications for prudential regulation & monetary policy. Emphasis is on quantitative studies of these topics. Prerequisites: ECON 52 , ECON 102B .

ECON 118. Development Economics. 5 Units.

The microeconomic problems and policy concerns of less developed countries. Topics include: health and education; risk and insurance; microfinance; agriculture; technology; governance. Emphasis is on economic models and empirical evidence. Prerequisites: ECON 50 , ECON 102B .

ECON 124. Economic Development and Challenges of East Asia. 3-5 Units.

(Formerly IPS 224) This course explores East Asia's rapid economic development and the current economic challenges. For the purpose of this course, we will focus on China, Japan, and Korea. The first part of the course examines economic growth in East Asia and the main mechanisms. In this context, we will examine government and industrial policy, international trade, firms and business groups, and human capital. We will discuss the validity of an East Asian model for economic growth. The second part of the course focuses on the current economic challenges confronting these countries, such as, political economy, human capital, inequality, and entrepreneurship and innovation. Readings will come from books, journal articles, reports, news articles, and case studies. Many of the readings will have an empirical component and students will be able to develop their understanding of how empirical evidence is presented in articles. Prerequisites: INTPOL 301B, Polisci150A(355A), ECON 102B or equivalent courses that cover regression analysis. Same as: INTLPOL 224

ECON 125. Economic Development, Microfinance, and Social Networks. 5 Units.

An introduction to the study of the financial lives of households in less developed countries, focusing on savings, credit, informal insurance, the expansion of microfinance, social learning, public finance/redistribution, and social networks. Prerequisites- ECON 51 or PUBLPOL 51 and ECON 102B .

ECON 126. Economics of Health and Medical Care. 5 Units.

Institutional, theoretical, and empirical analysis of the problems of health and medical care. Topics: demand for medical care and medical insurance; institutions in the health sector; economics of information applied to the market for health insurance and for health care; measurement and valuation of health; competition in health care delivery. Graduate students with research interests should take ECON 249 . Prerequisites: ECON 50 and either ECON 102A or STATS 116 or the equivalent. Recommended: ECON 51 . Same as: BIOMEDIN 156 , BIOMEDIN 256 , HRP 256

ECON 127. Economics of Health Improvement in Developing Countries. 5 Units.

Application of economic paradigms and empirical methods to health improvement in developing countries. Emphasis is on unifying analytic frameworks and evaluation of empirical evidence. How economic views differ from public health, medicine, and epidemiology; analytic paradigms for health and population change; the demand for health; the role of health in international development. Prerequisites: ECON 50 and ECON 102B . Same as: MED 262

ECON 131. The Chinese Economy. 4 Units.

This is a survey course of the Chinese economy with emphasis on understanding the process of economic reform, transition and development during the past 40 years. It will help students learn the different historical stages of institutional changes, develop an informed perspective on economic and political rationale and the effectiveness of the economic policies that have shaped China's economic emergence, and think critically about the process of economic and social changes. Prerequisite: ECON 1 .

ECON 135. Foundations of Finance. 3 Units.

For graduate students and advanced undergraduates. This course teaches the foundations of finance. Topics include internal rate of return and net present value, Black-Scholes option pricing, portfolio diversification and the Capital Asset Pricing Model, relationships between risk and return, market efficiency, and the valuation of derivative securities. Much of the analysis will build on the Arrow-DeBreu state preference model. Next, adverse selection and moral hazard in contracting and the design of auctions will be discussed. Towards the end of the course applied topics such as bank capital regulation, sovereign debt, pension funds, university endowments, and the evaluation of private equity performance and fees will be discussed, depending on time. Prerequisites: MATH 51 , ECON 50 , ECON 102A , or equivalents; ability to use spreadsheets, and basic probability and statistics concepts including random variables, expected value, variance, covariance, and simple estimation and regression.

ECON 136. Market Design. 5 Units.

Use of economic theory and analysis to design allocation mechanisms and market institutions. Course focuses on three areas: the design of matching algorithms to solve assignment problems, with applications to school choice, entry-level labor markets, and kidney exchanges; the design of auctions to solve general resource allocation problems, with applications to the sale of natural resources, financial assets, radio spectrum, and advertising; and the design of platforms and exchanges, with applications to internet markets. Emphasis on connecting economic theory to practical applications. Students must write term paper.

ECON 137. Decision Modeling and Information. 5 Units.

Effective decision models consider a decision maker's alternatives, information and preferences. The construction of such models in single-party situations with emphasis on the role of information. The course then evolves to two-party decision situations where one party has more information than the other. Models examined include: bidding exercises and the winner's curse, the Akerlof Model and adverse selection, the Principal-Agent model and risk sharing, moral hazard and contract design. Prerequisite: ECON 102A or equivalent. Recommended: ECON 50 , Optimization and simulation in Excel.

ECON 139D. Directed Reading. 1-10 Unit.

May be repeated for credit.

ECON 140. Introduction to Financial Economics. 5 Units.

Modern portfolio theory and corporate finance. Topics: present value and discounting, interest rates and yield to maturity, various financial instruments including financial futures, mutual funds, the efficient market theory, basic asset pricing theory, the capital asset pricing model, and models for pricing options and other contingent claims. Use of derivatives for hedging. Prerequisites: ECON 50 , ECON 102A .

ECON 141. Public Finance and Fiscal Policy. 5 Units.

What role should and does government play in the economy? What are the effects of government spending, borrowing, and taxation on efficiency, equity and economic stability and growth? The course covers economic, historical and statistical analyses and current policy debates in the U.S. and around the world. Policy topics: Fiscal crises, budget deficits, the national debt and intergenerational equity; tax systems and tax reform; social security and healthcare programs and reforms; transfers to the poor; public goods and externalities; fiscal federalism; public investment and cost-benefit analysis; and the political economy of government decision-making. Prerequisites: ECON 51 (Public Policy majors may take PUBLPOL 51 as a substitute for ECON 51 ), ECON 52 (can be taken concurrently). Same as: PUBLPOL 107

ECON 143. Finance, Corporations, and Society. 4 Units.

Both "free market capitalism" and democracy are in crisis around the world. This interdisciplinary course will help you understand the issues by exploring the interactions between the financial system, corporations, governments, and broader society. Topics include basic financial decisions of individuals and corporations, consumer finance (including mortgages, student loans, insurance and savings), financial markets and firms, corporations and their governance, the role of disclosures and regulations, political economy and government institutions, and the role of the media. We will discuss current events and policy debates regularly throughout the course. The approach will be rigorous and analytical but not overly mathematical. Visitors with relevant experience will enrich the discussion. Same as: INTLPOL 227 , POLISCI 127A , PUBLPOL 143

ECON 144. Family and Society. 5 Units.

The family into which a child is born plays a powerful role in determining lifetime opportunities. This course will apply tools from economics and related social sciences to study how the functioning of families is shaped by laws, social insurance, social norms, and technology. Topics will include intergenerational transmission of wealth and health, the importance of the early family environment, partnership formation, cohabitation and marriage, teen pregnancy and contraception, assisted reproduction, Tiger Moms and Helicopter Parenting, and the employment effects of parenthood. In the context of these topics, the course will cover social science empirical methods, including regression analysis, causal inference, and quasi-experimental methods. Throughout the course, we will think critically about the role of the government and how the design of public policy targeting families affect our ability to solve some of the most important social and economic problems of our time. Prerequisites: ECON 50 .

ECON 145. Labor Economics. 5 Units.

Analysis and description of labor markets. Determination of employment, hours of work, and wages. Wage differentials. Earnings inequality. Trade unions and worker co-operatives. Historical and international comparisons.. Prerequisites: ECON 51 (Public Policy majors may take PUBLPOL 51 as a substitute for ECON 51 ), ECON 102B .

ECON 146. Economics of Education. 5 Units.

How a decision to invest in education is affected by factors including ability and family background. Markets for elementary and secondary schooling; topics such as vouchers and charter schools, accountability, expenditure equalization among schools, and the teacher labor market.The market for college education emphasizing how college tuition is determined, and whether students are matched efficiently with colleges. How education affects economic growth, focusing on developing countries. Theory and empirical results. Application of economics from fields such as public economics, labor economics, macroeconomics, and industrial organization. Prerequisites: ECON 50 , ECON 102B .

ECON 147. The Economics of Labor Markets. 5 Units.

This course will cover the economics of labor markets. Topics include: determinants of employment and unemployment; job creation and job destruction. The effects of technological change on the labor market. The effects of a universal basic income. There is a final exam. Prerequisites: ECON 51 (Public Policy majors may take PUBLPOL 51 as a substitute for ECON 51 ), ECON 52 , ECON 102B .

ECON 148. Investors and the Social Responsibility of Business. 3 Units.

Much of the world's economic activity is undertaken by corporations, the largest being more powerful than most nations. Given daunting societal challenges like climate change, inequality, and racial injustice, what objectives should corporations have? In this course, we discuss the ongoing debate about the social responsibility of corporations. We consider shareholder activism, divestments made by university endowments and other ways investors might influence corporations. We look at the ESG (environment, social, governance) movement and the potential for "impact investing" to solve problems. Throughout we focus on whether the incentives of key decision makers are aligned with desirable objectives. We will bring to class CEOs and leading investors in public and private equity, to ensure we provide a balance of theory and practice.

ECON 149. The Modern Firm in Theory and Practice. 5 Units.

Examines the empirics on the economics, management and strategy of organizations (e.g. firms). Topics include the organization of firms in US and internationally. Management practices around information systems, target setting and human resources. Focus on management practices in manufacturing, but also analyze retail, hospitals and schools, plus some recent field-experiments in developing countries. Prerequisites: ECON 51 (Public Policy majors may take PUBLPOL 51 as a substitute for ECON 51 ), ECON 102B .

ECON 150. Economic Policy Analysis. 4-5 Units.

The relationship between microeconomic analysis and public policy making. How economic policy analysis is done and why political leaders regard it as useful but not definitive in making policy decisions. Economic rationales for policy interventions, methods of policy evaluation and the role of benefit-cost analysis, economic models of politics and their application to policy making, and the relationship of income distribution to policy choice. Theoretical foundations of policy making and analysis, and applications to program adoption and implementation. Prerequisites: ECON 50 and ECON 102B . Undergraduate Public Policy students are required to take this class for a letter grade and enroll in this class for five units. Same as: PUBLPOL 104 , PUBLPOL 204

ECON 151. Tackling Big Questions Using Social Data Science. 5 Units.

Big data can help us provide answers to fundamental social questions, from poverty and social mobility, to climate change, migration, and the spread of disease. But making sense of data requires more than just statistical techniques: it calls for models of how humans behave and interact with each other. Social data science combines the analysis of big data with social science theory. We will take a project-oriented, many models-many methods approach. This course will introduce students to a variety of models and methods used across the social sciences, including tools such as game theoretical models, network models, models of diffusion and contagion, agent based models, model simulations, machine learning and causal inference. Students will apply these tools to tackle important topics in guided projects. Prerequisite is ECON 102A or equivalent. Same as: POLISCI 151

ECON 152. The Future of Finance. 2 Units.

This 2-credit course will examine vast changes driven by innovation both from within traditional finance and from new ecosystems in fintech among others. Breathtaking advances in financial theory, big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational capability, IoT, payment systems (e.g. blockchain, crypto currencies), new products (e.g. robo advising, digital lending, crowd funding, smart contracts), new trading processes (e.g. algorithmic trading, AI-driven sales & trading), and new markets (e.g. ETFs, zero-cost products), among others are changing not only how financial and non-financial firms conduct business but also how investors and supervisors view the players and the markets. nWe will discuss critical strategy, policy and legal issues, some resolved and others yet to be (e.g. failed business models, cyber challenges, financial warfare, fake news, bias problems, legal standing for cryptos). The course will feature perspectives from guest speakers including top finance executives and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs on up-to-the-minute challenges and opportunities in finance. nWe will discuss slowing global growth against the backdrop of ongoing intervention and wildcards in the capital markets of the U.S., Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, India, Japan, the Middle East and Latin America. We will look forward at strategic opportunities and power players appearing and being dethroned in the markets to discuss who is likely to thrive ¿ and not survive ¿ in the new global financial landscape. nnPrerequisites: If you are an undergraduate wishing to take this course, apply by completing the course application and provide a brief bio here: https://forms.gle/9BGYr8brdYwPS8Cu8. Same as: ECON 252 , PUBLPOL 364

ECON 154. Law and Economics. 4-5 Units.

In this course, we explore the role of law in promoting social well-being (happiness). Law, among its other benefits, can serve as a mechanism to harmonize private incentives with cooperative gains, to maintain an equitable division of those gains, and to deter social defection and dystopia. Law is thus an implementation of the social contract and essential to civilization. Economic analysis of law focuses on the welfare-enhancing incentive effects of law (and of law enforcement). More generally, we study the law's role in reducing the risks of cooperation, achieved by fixing expectations of what courts or the state will do in possible futures. Prerequisite: ECON 50 . Same as: PUBLPOL 106 , PUBLPOL 206

ECON 155. Environmental Economics and Policy. 5 Units.

Economic sources of environmental problems and alternative policies for dealing with them (technology standards, emissions taxes, and marketable pollution permits). Evaluation of policies addressing local air pollution, global climate change, and the use of renewable resources. Connections between population growth, economic output, environmental quality, sustainable development, and human welfare. Prerequisite: ECON 50 . May be taken concurrently with consent of the instructor.

ECON 157. Imperfect Competition. 5 Units.

The interaction between firms and consumers in markets that fall outside the benchmark competitive model. How firms acquire and exploit market power. Game theory and information economics to analyze how firms interact strategically. Topics include monopoly, price discrimination, advertising, oligopoly pricing, product differentiation, collusion and cartel behaviour, and anti competitive behavior. Sources include theoretical models, real-world examples, and empirical papers. Prerequisite: ECON 51 (Public Policy majors may take PUBLPOL 51 as a substitute for ECON 51 ).

ECON 158. Regulatory Economics. 5 Units.

Economics 158 examines public policies for dealing with problems arising in markets in which competitive forces are weak. The focus is on monopolies, oligopolies, cartels, and other environments where market mechanisms are unlikely to produce outcomes that benefit consumers more than the alternatives involving costly government intervention. The two main areas examined are competition policy and economic regulation. Competition policy refers to laws that define certain market behavior as illegal because it is harmful to competition or fails to provide consumer benefits that justify its costs to consumers. Economic regulation refers to policies in which government controls prices and/or decides the terms and conditions under which firms can participate in a market. A growing area of study and policy design is the introduction of market mechanisms into formerly regulated industries such as: telecommunications, electricity, airlines, railroads, postal delivery services and environmental regulation. Cross-listed with Law 1056. Prerequisites: ECON 51 or equivalent.

ECON 159. Economic, Legal, and Political Analysis of Climate-Change Policy. 5 Units.

This course will advance students understanding of economic, legal, and political approaches to avoiding or managing the problem of global climate change. Theoretical contributions as well as empirical analyses will be considered. It will address economic issues, legal constraints, and political challenges associated with various emissions-reduction and adaptation strategies, and it will consider policy efforts at the local, national, and international levels. Specific topics include: interactions among overlapping climate policies, the strengths and weaknesses of alternative policy instruments, trade-offs among alternative policy objectives, and decision making under uncertainty. Prerequisites: ECON 50 or its equivalent. Same as: EARTHSYS 159 , ECON 209 , PUBLPOL 159

ECON 160. Game Theory and Economic Applications. 5 Units.

Introduction to game theory and its applications to economics. Topics: strategic and extensive form games, dominant strategies, Nash equilibrium, subgame-perfect equilibrium, and Bayesian equilibrium. The theory is applied to repeated games, voting, auctions, and bargaining with examples from economics and political science. Prerequisites: Working knowledge of calculus and basic probability theory.

ECON 162. Games Developing Nations Play. 3-5 Units.

If, as economists argue, development can make everyone in a society better off, why do leaders fail to pursue policies that promote development? The course uses game theoretic approaches from both economics and political science to address this question. Incentive problems are at the heart of explanations for development failure. Specifically, the course focuses on a series of questions central to the development problem: Why do developing countries have weak and often counterproductive political institutions? Why is violence (civil wars, ethnic conflict, military coups) so prevalent in the developing world, and how does it interact with development? Why do developing economies fail to generate high levels of income and wealth? We study how various kinds of development traps arise, preventing development for most countries. We also explain how some countries have overcome such traps. This approach emphasizes the importance of simultaneous economic and political development as two different facets of the same developmental process. No background in game theory is required. Same as: POLISCI 247A , POLISCI 347A

ECON 165. International Finance. 5 Units.

We will explore models for analyzing a wide variety of issues in open-economy macroeconomics, such as the balance of payments; the determination of exchange rates; monetary and fiscal policy under flexible and fixed exchange rate regimes; exchange rate crises; sovereign debt crises and the possibility of contagion. Our theoretical framework will structure our examination of important historical episodes and contemporary policy debates; the textbook will be supplemented with readings from recent scholarly articles and mainstream news sources. Active class participation is an important part of the course. Prerequisite: ECON 52 .

ECON 166. International Trade. 5 Units.

Explaining patterns of trade among nations; characterizing the sources of comparative advantage in production and the prospect of gains from economies of scale. Enumerating and accounting for the net aggregate gains from trade, and identifying winners and losers from globalization. Analyzing the effects of international labor migration, foreign direct investment, outsourcing, and multinational companies. Strategic trade policy; international trade agreements; labor and environmental implications. We will review relevant theoretical frameworks, examine empirical evidence, and discuss historical and contemporary policy debates as covered in the popular press; active class participation is an important part of the course. Prerequisite: ECON 51 (Public Policy majors may take PUBLPOL 51 as a substitute for ECON 51 ).

ECON 178. Behavioral Economics. 5 Units.

The field of behavioral economics draws on insights from other disciplines, especially psychology, to enrich our understanding of economic behavior. The course will discuss how people may display systematic behavioral patterns that diverge from the predictions of standard economic models, as well as the ways in which economists incorporate those considerations into their theories, and the implications of those theories for market outcomes and public policies. Prerequisites: ECON 50 and ECON 102A . ECON 51 is recommended.

ECON 179. Experimental Economics. 5 Units.

Methods and major subject areas that have been addressed by laboratory experiments. Focus is on a series of experiments that build on one another. Topics include decision making, two player games, auctions, and market institutions. How experiments are used to learn about preferences and behavior, trust, fairness, and learning. Final presentation of group projects. Prerequisites: ECON 51 (Public Policy majors may take PUBLPOL 51 as a substitute for ECON 51 ), ECON 102A .

ECON 180. Honors Game Theory. 5 Units.

Rigorous introduction to game theory and applications. Topics include solution concepts for static and dynamic games of complete and incomplete information, signaling games, repeated games, bargaining, and elements of cooperative game theory. Applications mainly from economics, but also political science, biology, and computer science. Prerequisites: Experience with abstract mathematics and willingness to work hard. No background in economics required.

ECON 184. Institutional Investment Management: Theory and Practice. 4 Units.

This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of institutional investment management including asset allocation and manager selection across public and private equity, absolute return, real assets, and fixed income. The course is taught by the CIO of Stanford's endowment and takes the perspective of an institution with a long-term investment horizon like Stanford. We introduce and apply a framework for assessing investment strategies and investment firms. Students put theory into practice by meeting with leading investors from various asset classes. Enrollment capped at 20. To apply please send a statement of interest and an unofficial transcript to [email protected] by December 20, 2019. Prerequisites: ECON 50 and ECON 102A , may be taken concurrently.

ECON 198. Junior Honors Seminar. 5 Units.

For juniors (advanced sophomores will be considered) who expect to write an honors thesis in Economics or Public Policy. Weekly sessions go through the process of selecting a research question, finding relevant bibliography, writing a literature review, introduction, and study design, culminating in the write-up of an honors thesis proposal (prospectus) and the oral presentation of each student's research project. Students also interact with potential advisors, and outline a program of study for their senior year. To apply, complete the application at https://economics.stanford.edu/undergraduate/forms. Same as: PUBLPOL 197

ECON 199D. Honors Thesis Research. 1-10 Unit.

In-depth study of an appropriate question and completion of a thesis of very high quality. Normally written under the direction of a member of the Department of Economics (or some closely related department). See description of honors program. Register for at least 1 unit for at least one quarter after your honors application is approved. Winter registration for one unit under the supervision of the Director of the Honors Program is mandatory for all honors students.

ECON 202. Microeconomics I. 2-5 Units.

(Non-Economics graduate students register for 202N.) Open to advanced undergraduates with consent of instructors. Theory of the consumer and the implications of constrained maximization; uses of indirect utility and expenditure functions; theory of the producer, profit maximization, and cost minimization; monotone comparative statics; behavior under uncertainty; partial equilibrium analysis and introduction to models of general equilibrium. Limited enrollment. Prerequisite: thorough understanding of the elements of multivariate calculus and linear algebra.

ECON 202N. Microeconomics I For Non-Economics PhDs students. 2-5 Units.

Theory of the consumer and the implications of constrained maximization; uses of indirect utility and expenditure functions; theory of the producer, profit maximization, and cost minimization; behavior under uncertainty; partial equilibrium analysis and introduction to models of general equilibrium; discussion of how assumptions and models stand up to recent developments in empirical and in particular behavioral economics. Prerequisite: understanding of basic calculus and some familiarity with writing basic proofs.

ECON 203. Microeconomics II. 3-5 Units.

(Non-Economics graduate students register for 203N.) Non-cooperative game theory including normal and extensive forms, solution concepts, games with incomplete information, and repeated games. Externalities and public goods. The theory of imperfect competition: static Bertrand and Cournot competition, dynamic oligopoly, entry decisions, entry deterrence, strategic behavior to alter market conditions. Limited enrollment. Prerequisite: ECON 202 .

ECON 204. Microeconomics III. 3-5 Units.

Social Choice, including Arrow's theorem, the Gibbard-Satterthwaite theorem, and the Vickrey-Clarke-Groves mechanism. The theory of contracts, emphasizing contractual incompleteness and the problem of moral hazard. Incentive regulation. Competition with imperfect information, including signaling and adverse selection. Competitive equilibrium and the core. Limited enrollment. Non-Econ students need permission of instructor to enroll. Prerequisite: ECON 202 and 203.

ECON 206. World Food Economy. 5 Units.

The economics of food production, consumption, and trade. The micro- and macro- determinants of food supply and demand, including the interrelationship among food, income, population, and public-sector decision making. Emphasis on the role of agriculture in poverty alleviation, economic development, and environmental outcomes. Grades based on mid-term exam and group modeling project and presentation. Enrollment is by application only and will be capped at 25, with priority given to upper level undergraduates in Economics and Earth Systems and graduate students (graduate students enroll in 206). Application found at https://economics.stanford.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/forms. Same as: EARTHSYS 106 , EARTHSYS 206 , ECON 106 , ESS 106 , ESS 206

ECON 209. Economic, Legal, and Political Analysis of Climate-Change Policy. 5 Units.

This course will advance students understanding of economic, legal, and political approaches to avoiding or managing the problem of global climate change. Theoretical contributions as well as empirical analyses will be considered. It will address economic issues, legal constraints, and political challenges associated with various emissions-reduction and adaptation strategies, and it will consider policy efforts at the local, national, and international levels. Specific topics include: interactions among overlapping climate policies, the strengths and weaknesses of alternative policy instruments, trade-offs among alternative policy objectives, and decision making under uncertainty. Prerequisites: ECON 50 or its equivalent. Same as: EARTHSYS 159 , ECON 159 , PUBLPOL 159

ECON 210. Macroeconomics I. 2-5 Units.

Dynamic programming applied to a variety of economic problems. These problems will be formulated in discrete or continuous time, with or without uncertainty, with a finite or infinite horizon. There will be weekly problem sets and a take-home final that will require MATLAB programming. Limited enrollment.

ECON 211. Macroeconomics II. 3-5 Units.

Dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models using dynamic programming methods that are solved with MATLAB. Growth models (neoclassical, human capital, technical change) using optimal control theory. Limited enrollment. Prerequisite: ECON 210 .

ECON 212. Macroeconomics III. 3-5 Units.

Real business cycle and new Keynesian models: business cycle fluctuations, inflation dynamics, the effects of monetary and fiscal policy, and optimal policy. Models of heterogeneity: search models of the labor market; precautionary savings and general equilibrium with incomplete markets; constrained efficiency; endogenous market incompleteness and recursive contracts; optimal taxation and redistribution. Limited enrollment. Prerequisites: ECON 203 , ECON 210 , ECON 211 .

ECON 214. Development Economics I. 3-5 Units.

This course uses microeconomic theory and empirical analyses to understand barriers to human and economic development in lower income countries, as well as how public policies are formulated and their effectiveness at alleviating poverty. Topics include institutions and governance; human capital accumulation; productivity; inequality; poverty traps. Prerequisites: 202 or 202N, 270.

ECON 215. Development Economics II. 3-5 Units.

This is a course focusing on macro development research. It will cover dynamic models of growth and development, with a focus on migration; technological change; the functioning of financial markets; barriers to agricultural productivity; informal financial systems (savings, credit, and insurance); and public finance in less developed countries. Prerequisites: 202 or 202N, 270.

ECON 216. Development Economics III. 3-5 Units.

This course focuses on savings, credit, informal insurance, the expansion of microfinance, social networks, social learning and technology adoption, public finance and firm organizations. Prerequisite: 202, 203, 204, 210, 211, 212, 270, 271, 272.

ECON 220. Political Economy I. 3-5 Units.

Introduction to empirical and theoretical research in political economy. This course focuses on issues in democracies, while Political Economy II focuses on issues in non-democracies. Topics may include institutional foundations, social choice, electoral competition and candidate positioning, accountability, voter behavior, polarization, media and political communication, redistribution, special interests and lobbying, collective action, immigration, and populism. Prerequisite for Econ PhD students: ECON 202 and 270 or permission of instructors. Prerequisites for Political Science PhD students: POLISCI 450A , POLISCI 450B , and POLISCI 356A . Same as: POLISCI 460A

ECON 221. Political Economy II. 3-5 Units.

Continuation of ECON 220 / POLISCI 460A . Preparation for advanced research in political economy. This quarter will focus on topics related to culture, institutions, political and economic development, historical evolution, nondemocratic politics, conflict and cooperation. We will cover both empirical and theoretical work. Prerequisite for Political Science PhDnstudents: POLISCI 356A . Same as: POLISCI 460B

ECON 226. U.S. Economic History. 2-5 Units.

The role of economic history as a distinctive approach to the study of economics, using illustrations from U.S. history. Topics include: historical and institutional foundations of the U.S. rise to world economic preeminence; economic causes and consequences of slavery; the American national system of technology; the Great Depression of the 1930s and the policy response; inequality and intergenerational mobility; the growth of social insurance. Intended for graduate students.

ECON 229. Topics in Economic History. 3-5 Units.

Topics in Economic History: covers topics in Economic History such as the industrial revolution, the demographic transition, the great divergence, the importance of institutions, the diffusion of knowledge, the causes and consequences of income inequality, and immigration over the last two centuries. The course will highlight the roles of economic history in modern economics, the use of economic theory in guiding hypothesis testing, and the construction of new datasets and the execution of empirical analysis. The course is open to PhD students only.

ECON 233. Advanced Macroeconomics I. 2-5 Units.

Topics in the theory and empirics of economic growth. For PhD-level students.

ECON 234. Advanced Macroeconomics II. 3-5 Units.

This is an advanced class on monetary economics. We cover empirical evidence, neoclassical models, recent advances in New Keynesian models, monetary policy with heterogeneous agents and financial frictions, alternative models of price setting and other topics. Students enrolled in MGTECON 612 take the class for 4 units. Students develop a research proposal and present it to the instructors as the final exam. Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the economics department's core macro requirement or consent of the instructors.

ECON 236. Financial Economics I. 3-5 Units.

This course will cover research topics at the boundary between macroeconomics and finance. Topics may include the study of macroeconomic models with financial frictions, conventional and unconventional monetary policy, its transmission mechanism and the term structure of interest rates, sovereign debt crises, search frictions and segmentation in housing markets, (over)leveraging by households, heterogeneous expectations, excess volatility, financial bubbles and crises. Prerequisites: 210, 211, 212.

ECON 237. Financial Economics II. 3-5 Units.

This Ph.D. course will cover research topics at the boundary between macroeconomics and finance. Topics will include the study of macroeconomic models with financial frictions, the term structure of interest rates, conventional and unconventional monetary policy, sovereign debt crises, search frictions and segmentation in housing markets, (over)leveraging by households, heterogeneous expectations, excess volatility, financial bubbles and crises. Student presentations and course paper requirement. Designed for second year PhD students in economics or finance. Same as: MGTECON 617

ECON 239D. Directed Reading. 1-10 Unit.

ECON 241. Public Economics I. 2-5 Units.

Design of tax systems, transfers intended to alleviate poverty, the effect of taxes on earnings, fees intended to internalize externalities like pollution, school finance and other forms of fiscal federalism, local public goods such as schools, policy evaluation with behavioral decision makers. Students will learn to apply sophisticated applications of frontier applied econometric techniques including synthetic controls, regression discontinuity, advanced instrumental variables methods. Prerequisites: ECON 202 -204, ECON 210 , ECON 270 , ECON 271 , or equivalent with consent of instructor.

ECON 242. Public Economics II. 3-5 Units.

This course will explore the rationale for and economic effects of social insurance programs including but not limited to social security, unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and public health insurance. The course will also include four lectures on behavioral public economics. The focus of these lectures will be on developing a framework for conducting welfare analysis in settings with behavioral consumers, and then on applying that framework to issues in public economics, starting with optimal commodity taxation (including ¿sin taxes¿), followed by policies affecting personal saving, as well as the taxation of earnings (including implications for social insurance). Additional topics covered in the course will include other important areas of government expenditure and regulation such as education, defense procurement, economic stimulus, and environmental regulation. Course will cover both theoretical and empirical evidence and prerequisites are ECON 202 -204 and ECON 270 -272 or similar with permission of instructor.

ECON 243. Public Economics III. 3-5 Units.

The first part of the course concerns inequality and the design of social insurance. We also explore questions in the intersection of public and family economics such as the unit of taxation, and the interaction between social insurance and intra-family insurance. The second half of the course covers local public policy and urban economics, and includes topics such as spatial equilibrium, placed-based policies and housing policy. Prerequisites: ECON 202 , 203 , 204 , 210 , 270 , 271 , or equivalent with consent of instructor. Recommended: ECON 241 .270, 271, or equivalent with consent of instructor. Recommended: ECON 241 and 242.

ECON 244. Market Failures and Public Policy. 3-5 Units.

Market failures are the classic justification for government intervention in private markets. This course will focus on a small number of economically important markets where market failures are thought to be important: credit, health care, innovation, and insurance. For each of these markets, we will discuss theory and evidence on the existence and magnitude of market failures, and theory and evidence on the efficiency of public policy interventions designed to address those market failures. Prerequisites: ECON 202 -204, ECON 270 , ECON 271 , or equivalent with consent of instructor.

ECON 246. Labor Economics I. 2-5 Units.

Topics in current applied microeconomic research including intertemporal labor supply models, public policy, program evaluation, job search, migration, consumption behavior. Student and faculty presentations.

ECON 247. Labor Economics II. 3-5 Units.

Recent topics in applied micro, focusing on papers from top journals (QJE, AER, JPE, Econometrica and REStud) over the last ten years. Broad overview of current topic and techniques in applied-micro research. Topics include inequality, polarization and skill-biased technical change, discrimination, technology adoption and the spread of information, management practices, field experiments, peer effects and academic spillovers. Combination of student and faculty presentations. Additional sessions on general presentations, paper writing and research skills to prepare for job market. Typically also run a class trip to the NBER West-Coast labor meetings at the San Francisco Fed.

ECON 248. Labor Economics III. 3-5 Units.

This course focuses on household decision making, the economics of discrimination, and the economics of migration. We will examine unitary, cooperative and non-cooperative models of the household, the collective model, dynamic extensions of the collective model with frictions. We will then discuss empirical applications of these models to labor supply, retirement behavior, human capital accumulation, division of labor within the family and migration decisions.

ECON 249. Topics in Health Economics I. 3-5 Units.

Course will cover various topics in health economics, from theoretical and empirical perspectives. Topics will include public financing and public policy in health care and health insurance; demand and supply of health insurance and healthcare; physicians' incentives; patient decision-making; competition policy in healthcare markets, intellectual property in the context of pharmaceutical drugs and medical technology; other aspects of interaction between public and private sectors in healthcare and health insurance markets. Key emphasis on recent work and empirical methods and modelling. Prerequisites: Micro and Econometrics first year sequences (or equivalent). Curricular prerequisites (if applicable): First year graduate Microeconomics and Econometrics sequences (or equivalent). Same as: HRP 249 , MED 249

ECON 250. Environmental Economics. 3-5 Units.

Theoretical and empirical analysis of sources of and solutions to environmental problems, with application to local pollution challenges and global environmental issues such as climate change. Topics include: analysis of market failure, choice of environmental policy instruments, integrating environmental and distortionary taxes, environmental policy making under uncertainty, valuing environmental amenities, and measuring /promoting sustainable development.

ECON 251. Natural Resource and Energy Economics. 2-5 Units.

Economic theory and empirical analysis of non-renewable and renewable natural resources, with considerable attention to energy provision and use. Topics include: exhaustible resources; renewable resources; and energy industry market structure, pricing, and performance. Prerequisites: 202, 203, 204, 271, and 272, or equivalents with consent of instructor.

ECON 252. The Future of Finance. 2 Units.

This 2-credit course will examine vast changes driven by innovation both from within traditional finance and from new ecosystems in fintech among others. Breathtaking advances in financial theory, big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational capability, IoT, payment systems (e.g. blockchain, crypto currencies), new products (e.g. robo advising, digital lending, crowd funding, smart contracts), new trading processes (e.g. algorithmic trading, AI-driven sales & trading), and new markets (e.g. ETFs, zero-cost products), among others are changing not only how financial and non-financial firms conduct business but also how investors and supervisors view the players and the markets. nWe will discuss critical strategy, policy and legal issues, some resolved and others yet to be (e.g. failed business models, cyber challenges, financial warfare, fake news, bias problems, legal standing for cryptos). The course will feature perspectives from guest speakers including top finance executives and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs on up-to-the-minute challenges and opportunities in finance. nWe will discuss slowing global growth against the backdrop of ongoing intervention and wildcards in the capital markets of the U.S., Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, India, Japan, the Middle East and Latin America. We will look forward at strategic opportunities and power players appearing and being dethroned in the markets to discuss who is likely to thrive ¿ and not survive ¿ in the new global financial landscape. nnPrerequisites: If you are an undergraduate wishing to take this course, apply by completing the course application and provide a brief bio here: https://forms.gle/9BGYr8brdYwPS8Cu8. Same as: ECON 152 , PUBLPOL 364

ECON 254. Economics of Digitization. 3-5 Units.

Examines the transformation of the economy enabled by digital technologies, including AI, networks, and the digitization of information, goods and services. Topics include the economics of information, two-sided networks and platforms, power laws, intangible assets, organizational complementarities, incomplete contracts, labor economics, growth theory, and design of empirical studies. Extensive reading and discussion of research literature with relevant guest speakers. Students will complete a final research paper and presentation. Primarily for doctoral students.

ECON 255. Economics of Communication. 2-5 Units.

This course will cover theoretical and empirical work on the provision of information in markets. Likely topics include: theory of strategic communication; persuasion; media; advertising and brands; financial analysis and disclosure; political communication; text analysis using machine learning and natural language processing methods. Prerequisites: ECON 202 and 210 (or equivalent).

ECON 257. Industrial Organization 1. 2-5 Units.

Theoretical and empirical analyses of the determinants of market structure; firm behavior and market efficiency in oligopolies; price discrimination; price dispersion and consumer search; differentiated products; the role of information in markets, including insurance and adverse selection; auctions; collusion and cartel behavior; advertising; entry and market structure; market dynamics; strategic behavior.

ECON 258. Industrial Organization IIA. 3-5 Units.

Topics may include theoretical and empirical analysis of bargaining, dynamic models of entry and investment, models of household borrowing, models of markets with asymmetric information, advertising, brands, and markets for information, and research at the boundaries between IO and neighboring fields such as trade, behavioral economics, and household finance. Prerequisite: ECON 257 .

ECON 260. Industrial Organization III. 3-5 Units.

Course combines individual meetings and student presentations, with an aim of initiating dissertation research in industrial organization. Prerequisites: ECON 257 , ECON 258 . Enrollment by non-Econ PhD students requires instructors' consent.

ECON 266. International Trade I. 3-5 Units.

The first part of this course covers Ricardian, factor-proportions and monopolistic-competition models of international trade. The second part of the course covers commercial policy, with an emphasis on the economics of trade agreements. Students are expected to develop and present a research proposal. Prerequisites: ECON 202 or permission of instructor.

ECON 267. International Trade II. 2-5 Units.

The course will cover quantitative and empirical work in trade, trade policy, and related subjects.

ECON 268. International Finance and Exchange Rates. 3-5 Units.

Benchmark open economy models. Solution methods for macroeconomic models. Analysis and evaluation of quantitative macroeconomic models. Main applications: Sovereign debt and default; Financial crises and sudden stops; Hedging, interest parity relationships, and the determination of exchange rates; Liability dollarization.

ECON 269. International Finance and Exchange Rates II. 3-5 Units.

This is the second half of the international finance sequence. Part I: intertemporal approach to the current account, international real business cycle models, international risk-sharing, gains from financial integration, global imbalances, and exchange rate determination. Part 2: open-economy monetary models and currency unions. Part 3: international finance policy, capital controls and foreign exchange interventions. Part 4: sovereign debt. . Prerequisites: ECON 210 , 211 , 212 and 268.

ECON 270. Intermediate Econometrics I. 2-5 Units.

Probability, random variables, and distributions; large sample theory; theory of estimation and hypothesis testing. Limited enrollment. Prerequisites: math and probability at the level of Chapter 2, Paul G. Hoel, Introduction to Mathematical Statistics, 5th ed.

ECON 271. Intermediate Econometrics II. 3-5 Units.

Analysis of Randomized Experiments, Linear Regression Model, Instrumental Variables, Methods for Causal Effects. Prerequisite: ECON 270 or MGTECON 603 or permission of instructor.

ECON 272. Intermediate Econometrics III. 3-5 Units.

Simultaneous equation models, nonlinear estimation and testing, linear time series analysis, structural modeling. Prerequisites: ECON 271 or permission of instructor.

ECON 273. Advanced Econometrics I. 3-5 Units.

Possible topics: parametric asymptotic theory. M and Z estimators. General large sample results for maximum likelihood; nonlinear least squares; and nonlinear instrumental variables estimators including the generalized method of moments estimator under general conditions. Model selection test. Consistent model selection criteria. Nonnested hypothesis testing. Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Nonparametric and semiparametric methods. Quantile Regression methods.

ECON 274. Advanced Econometrics II. 3-5 Units.

(Formerly 273B); Possible topics: nonparametric density estimation and regression analysis; sieve approximation; contiguity; convergence of experiments; cross validation; indirect inference; resampling methods: bootstrap and subsampling; quantile regression; nonstandard asymptotic distribution theory; empirical processes; set identification and inference, large sample efficiency and optimality; multiple hypothesis testing; randomization and permutation tests; inference for dependent data.

ECON 275. Economics-Based Econometrics. 3-5 Units.

This course presents methods for constructing econometric specifications and systems directly based on economic models. One such approach formulates stochastic economic models that give rise to empirically implementable econometric models. The discussion will cover methods for estimating, diagnostic testing, and drawing inferences about the underlying economic primitives, including both parametric and non-parametric identification of economic structures. Applications include models from all fields of empirical microeconomics Industrial Organization, Labor, Public Finance, and Energy and Environmental Economics. Examples include: consumer demand models integrating corner solutions, intertemporal models of household and firm behavior, and dynamic models of single and multi-agent interactions with complete and incomplete information. These include auction markets, oligopolies, regulator-firm interactions, and nonlinear pricing.. The major theme of the course is to present a general framework for economic theory-based empirical research that allows researchers to recover the underlying economic primitives driving observed outcomes of an economic environment. Prerequisites: ECON 202 , 203 , 204 , 270 , 271 , 272 .

ECON 278. Behavioral and Experimental Economics I. 2-5 Units.

This is the first part of a three course sequence (along with ECON 279 & 280-formerly 277) on behavioral and experimental economics. The sequence has two main objectives: 1) examines theories and evidence related to the psychology of economic decision making, 2) Introduces methods of experimental economics, and explores major subject areas (including those not falling within behavioral economics) that have been addressed through laboratory experiments. Focuses on series of experiments that build on one another in an effort to test between competing theoretical frameworks, with the objects of improving the explanatory and predictive performance of standard models, and of providing a foundation for more reliable normative analyses of policy issues. Prerequisites: 204 and 271, or consent of instructor.

ECON 279. Behavioral and Experimental Economics II. 3-5 Units.

This is part of a three course sequence (along with ECON 278 & 280-formerly 277) on behavioral and experimental economics. The sequence has two main objectives: 1) examines theories and evidence related to the psychology of economic decision making, 2) Introduces methods of experimental economics, and explores major subject areas (including those not falling within behavioral economics) that have been addressed through laboratory experiments. Focuses on series of experiments that build on one another in an effort to test between competing theoretical frameworks, with the objects of improving the explanatory and predictive performance of standard models, and of providing a foundation for more reliable normative analyses of policy issues. Prerequisites: 204 and 271, or consent of instructor.

ECON 280. Behavioral and Experimental Economics III. 3-5 Units.

Economics 280 (formerly ECON 277) is a course primarily directed at graduate students in the Economics department writing dissertations with behavioral or experimental components. Economics 280 is the third part of a three course sequence (along with ECON 278 & 279). The first two quarters, which are taught primarily in lecture format, have two main objectives: 1) examining theories and evidence related to the psychology of economic decision making; 2) introducing methods of experimental economics, and exploring major subject areas (including those not falling within behavioral economics) that have been addressed through laboratory experiments. Focuses on series of experiments that build on one another in an effort to test between competing theoretical frameworks, with the objectives of improving the explanatory and predictive performance of standard models, and of providing a foundation for more reliable normative analyses of policy issues. This third quarter is a practicum, focused on students who have taken (at least one of) the first two quarters and who are now preparing an experimental or behavioral study of their own. Prerequisites: Non-Econ Phd students must complete 204 and 271, or have consent of instructor.

ECON 282. Contracts, Information, and Incentives. 3-5 Units.

Basic theories and recent developments in mechanism design and the theory of contracts. Topics include: hidden characteristics and hidden action models with one and many agents, design of mechanisms and markets with limited communication, long-term relationships under commitment and under renegotiation, property rights and theories of the firm.

ECON 283. Theory and Practice of Auction Market Design. 2-5 Units.

This class will focus on several topics in auction market design and related areas. It is an advanced course, intended as a sequel to the more basic market/mechanism/auction design courses offered at the Economics department and the GSB. Students are expected to be familiar with the material in those courses. We will briefly review some basics of auction theory, but the main goal of the class is to bring students closer to doing independent research and introduce them to recent contributions and currently active research areas. Specific topics may include: multi-item and combinatorial auctions; robust auction design; applied auction design with practical applications; matching and pricing on the Internet; radio spectrum auctions; securities markets; commodities; complex procurements. Grading based on presentation, assignment, and term paper.

ECON 284. Simplicity and Complexity in Economic Theory. 3-5 Units.

Technology has enabled the emergence of economic systems of formerly inconceivable complexity. Nevertheless, some technology-related economic problems are so complex that either supercomputers cannot solve them in a reasonable time, or they are too complex for humans to comprehend. Thus, modern economic designs must still be simple enough for humans to understand, and must address computationally complex problems in an efficient fashion. This topics course explores simplicity and complexity in economics, primarily via theoretical models. We will focus on recent advances. Key topics include (but are not limited to) resource allocation in complex environments, communication complexity and information aggregation in markets, robust mechanisms, dynamic matching theory, influence maximization in networks, and the design of simple (user-friendly) mechanisms. Some applications include paired kidney exchange, auctions for electricity and for radio spectrum, ride-sharing platforms, and the diffusion of information. Prerequisites: ECON 203 or equivalent. Same as: CS 360

ECON 285. Matching and Market Design. 2-5 Units.

This is an introduction to market design, intended mainly for second year PhD students in economics (but also open to other graduate students from around the university and to undergrads who have taken undergrad market design). It will emphasize the combined use of economic theory, experiments, and empirical analysis to analyze and engineer market rules and institutions. In this first quarter we will pay particular attention to matching markets, which are those in which price doesn't do all of the work, and which include some kind of application or selection process. We will also cover some of the basics of auction theory, with a particular emphasis on its connections to matching. In recent years market designers have participated in the design and implementation of a number of marketplaces, and the course will emphasize the relation between theory and practice, for example in the design of labor market clearinghouses for American doctors, school choice programs in a growing number of American cities (including New York and Boston), the allocation of organs for transplantation, online advertising auctions, and the market for transportation. Various forms of market failure will also be discussed. Assignment: One final paper. The objective of the final paper is to study an existing market or an environment with a potential role for a market, describe the relevant market design questions, and evaluate how the current market design works and/or propose improvements on the current design.

ECON 286. Game Theory and Economic Applications. 3-5 Units.

Aims to provide a solid basis in game-theoretic tools and concepts, both for theorists and for students focusing in other fields. Technical material will include solution concepts and refinements, potential games, supermodular games, repeated games, reputation, and bargaining models. The class will also address some foundational issues, such as epistemic and evolutionary modeling.Prerequisite: 203 or consent of instructor.

ECON 287. Mechanism and Market Design. 3 Units.

Primarily for doctoral students. Focus on quantitative models dealing with sustainability and related to operations management. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit. Same as: MS&E 365

ECON 289. Advanced Topics in Game Theory and Information Economics. 2-5 Units.

Topics course covering a variety of game theory topics with emphasis on market design, such as matching theory and auction theory. Final paper required. Prerequisites: ECON 285 or equivalent. ECON 283 recommended.

ECON 290. Multiperson Decision Theory. 3 Units.

Students and faculty review and present recent research papers on basic theories and economic applications of decision theory, game theory and mechanism design. Applications include market design and analyses of incentives and strategic behavior in markets, and selected topics such as auctions, bargaining, contracting, and computation.

ECON 291. Social and Economic Networks. 3-5 Units.

Synthesis of research on social and economic networks by sociologists, economists, computer scientists, physicists, and mathematicians, with an emphasis on modeling. Includes methods for describing and measuring networks, empirical observations about network structure, models of random and strategic network formation, as well as analyses of contagion, diffusion, learning, peer influence, games played on networks, and networked markets.

ECON 292. Quantitative Methods for Empirical Research. 3-5 Units.

This is an advanced course on quantitative methods for empirical research. Students are expected to have taken a course in linear models before. In this course I will discuss modern econometric methods for nonlinear models, including maximum likelihood and generalized method of moments. The emphasis will be on how these methods are used in sophisticated empirical work in social sciences. Special topics include discrete choice models and methods for estimating treatment effects.

ECON 293. Machine Learning and Causal Inference. 3 Units.

This course will cover statistical methods based on the machine learning literature that can be used for causal inference. In economics and the social sciences more broadly, empirical analyses typically estimate the effects of counterfactual policies, such as the effect of implementing a government policy, changing a price, showing advertisements, or introducing new products. This course will review when and how machine learning methods can be used for causal inference, and it will also review recent modifications and extensions to standard methods to adapt them to causal inference and provide statistical theory for hypothesis testing. We consider causal inference methods based on randomized experiments as well as observational studies, including methods such as instrumental variables and those based on longitudinal data. We consider the estimation of average treatment effects as well as personalized policies. Lectures will focus on theoretical developments, while classwork will consist primarily of empirical applications of the methods. Prerequisite: Prior coursework in basic observational study methods for causal inference, including instrumental variables, fixed effects modeling, regression discontinuity designs, etc. Students should be comfortable reading and engaging with empirical research in economics and related fields.

ECON 299. Practical Training. 1-10 Unit.

Students obtain employment in a relevant research or industrial activity to enhance their professional experience consistent with their degree programs. At the start of the quarter, students must submit a one page statement showing the relevance of the employment to the degree program along with an offer letter. Submit this documentation to the Econ professor, who has agreed to the student enrolling in their ECON 299 section. At the end of the quarter, a three page final report must be supplied documenting work done and relevance to degree program. May be repeated for credit.

ECON 300. Third-Year Seminar. 3-10 Units.

Restricted to Economics Ph.D. students. Students present current research. May be repeated for credit.

ECON 310. Macroeconomic Workshop. 1-10 Unit.

ECON 315. Development Workshop. 1-10 Unit.

ECON 325. Economic History Workshop. 1-10 Unit.

ECON 335. Experimental/Behavioral Seminar. 1-10 Unit.

Field seminar in experimental and behavioral economics.

ECON 341. Public Economics and Environmental Economics Seminar. 1-10 Unit.

Issues in measuring and evaluating the economic performance of government tax, expenditure, debt, and regulatory policies; their effects on levels and distribution of income, wealth, and environmental quality; alternative policies and methods of evaluation. Workshop format combines student research, faculty presentations, and guest speakers. Prerequisite: ECON 241 or consent of instructor.

ECON 345. Labor Economics Seminar. 1-10 Unit.

ECON 354. Law and Economics Seminar. 2-3 Units.

This seminar will examine current research by lawyers and economists on a variety of topics in law and economics. Several sessions of the seminar will consist of an invited speaker, usually from another university, who will discuss his or her current research. Representative of these sessions have been discussions of compensation for government regulations and takings, liability rules for controlling accidents, the definition of markets in antitrust analysis, the role of the government as a controlling shareholder, and optimal drug patent length. Contact the instructor listed for the class to request permission to enroll. Cross-listed with the Law School (Law 7506 and Law 7507).

ECON 355. Industrial Organization Workshop. 1-10 Unit.

Current research in the field by visitors, presentations by students, and discussion of recent papers. Students write an original research paper, make a formal presentation, and lead a structured discussion.

ECON 365. International Trade Workshop. 1-10 Unit.

ECON 370. Econometrics Workshop. 1-10 Unit.

ECON 391. Microeconomic Theory Seminar. 1-10 Unit.

ECON 400. Ph.D. Dissertation. 1-15 Unit.

Pre-TGR dissertation research.(Staff).

ECON 801. TGR Project. 0 Units.

ECON 802. TGR Dissertation. 0 Units.

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Welcome to our returning majors and potential majors!

Economic Majors have diverse interests. To provide guidance, we have grouped courses into  Focus Areas:  Behavioral & Experimental, Finance, International & Development, Government Policy Analysis, Quantitative Methods, Business Strategy and Regulation. Students can focus on a specific area or take a range of courses to meet the following requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (80 units).

The Department encourages students to complete the core courses before undertaking the upper division courses, and if possible by the end of the sophomore year.

• Econ 1 (5 units). This is the only Econ core course that may be double-counted .  
• Econ 102A (5 units): it is recommended that students satisfy this basic statistics requirement before proceeding with the rest of the program. Prerequisite: Math 20 or equivalent. Please note: results from the Math Department placement diagnostic exam cannot serve as a substitute for completion of the math prerequisite.**  
• Econ 50 (5 units): basic price theory. Prerequisite: Econ 1 and Math 51 (or CME 100 or CME100A)**.  Students planning to take ECON 50 in Fall 2024 or later should review the updated prerequisites.    
• Econ 51 (5 units): intermediate micro. Prerequisites: Econ 50.  
• Econ 52 (5 units): intermediate macro. Prerequisites: Econ 50.  
• Econ 102B (5 units): econometrics. Prerequisites: Economics 102A.

The material in Econ 102B is used in a number of field courses. Students are advised to take Econ 102B early in their program.

**Students interested in receiving transfer credit or AP score waivers for Math prerequisites should submit the Econ Math Requirements Waiver Petition. 

* Students may only count units from one of the following towards their major as the courses are too similar in content: Econ 141, Econ 140, or Econ 135.

**Students may count toward the econ field course requirement Econ 160, Econ 167G, or 180. The others may count as electives.

***Students enrolled in the Econ BAH may take up to 10 units of 199D. The successful completion of an honors thesis and at least five units of credit in Econ 199D may replace the requirement for Economics 101 (WIM). The remaining units of ECON 199D may be used to meet the minimum field requirements for the major, as long as the number of units for the BAH is at least 85.

Choose from any Econ courses taken for a letter grade.  Up to 10 units of this requirement may be fulfilled by upper division math, statistics and computer science courses. Approved courses include: MATH 113, 114, 115, 118, 120, 136, 151, 161, 171, 172, 175 and STATS 200, 202, 206, 207, 208, 209, 209A, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 237, 240, 315B and CS 161, 221, 224M, 227B, 228, 229, ACCT 152, GSBGEN 336 and PoliSci 110C. Click here for a full list of Approved Course Petitions

• A maximum of 10 elective units may be made up of some combination of the following: transfer credit, Econ 139D: Directed Reading, approved non-econ courses, or approved BOSP/SIW/SINY courses.
• Suitable transfer credit must be approved in writing by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• Students may only count Econ 135 or 140 toward major requirements because they are very similar.
• Students may only count Econ 143 or 148 toward major requirements because they are very similar.
• Students may count only Econ 160 or 180 toward field requirements, the other may be counted toward elective requirements.
• Advanced undergraduate majors with strong quantitative preparation may enroll in graduate (200-level) courses with the permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the course instructor.
• The department does not give credit for internships. Thus Econ 139D: Directed Reading, cannot be used to obtain credit for internships.

Econ 101 (5 units). This course fulfills the Writing in the Major requirement. Any WIM course for Economics may be taken only after completing Econ 51, 52, 102B and at least two field courses.

The Economics Capstone is comprised of two parts: 

1. During their junior year, declared Econ students will be required to complete an ePortfolio of their work in the major. They will then need to meet with their advisor to discuss their ePortfolio and receive a grade for their work. More information about this requirement is available in the ePortfolio Student Guide.

2. Graduating seniors are required to enroll in ECON 101 as their final capstone course. This class fulfills the WIM requirement, as well as completing the Capstone project. Enrollment in ECON 101 is by permission only. Students who anticipate that they will be graduating in the following year will be asked to submit their preferences for the ECON 101 sections in late Spring-Early Summer of the year before. Preference forms will be available on the Economics Department Website, and students will be notified by email when they are available. 

More information and form links can be found under the Capstone Page of the Economics Department Website.

The  Economics Common Syllabus  explains econ course management policies.

• At least 55 of the 80 units required for the major must be taken at Stanford in California.  
• No courses receiving Department of Economics credit under the preceding requirements may be taken CR/NC.
• Math 51 (or CME 100 or CME100A) is a prerequisite for an Economics degree. It may be taken for credit to meet the Econ 50 prerequisite.
• Students scoring a 5 on both the advanced placement (AP) microeconomics and macroeconomics tests or a score of 7 on International Baccalaureate (IB) higher level economics test may petition the Director of Undergraduate Studies to have the ECON 1 course requirement waived.  Students do not receive units credit for placing out of ECON 1.  
• A grade point average (GPA) of C= (2.0) or better must be received for all units applied toward the Major.  
• To use transfer credit in partial satisfaction of the requirements, the student must obtain written consent from the department's Director of Undergraduate Study, who will establish the amount of credit to be granted toward the department requirements.  
• The maximum time limit for satisfactory completion of a course is one year from the date a grade of incomplete ("I") is given. Instructors may require that a course is completed anytime up to the one-year time limit. Students are responsible for seeing that all grades of incomplete are cleared within the time limit. The university's rule is that a grade of incomplete that is not cleared within the time limit becomes a grade of NP.  
• Students must complete their declaration of the major no later than the last day of the quarter, one quarter before anticipated degree conferral.

You are encouraged to read the  Information Book for Econ Majors for detailed information about the program.

PhD Admissions Requirements and Procedures

Requirements.

Thank you for your interest in applying to the doctoral program offered by the Department of Statistics.

PhD in Statistics Program Summary

Contact: stat-admissions-PhD [at] lists.stanford.edu ( stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu )

All graduate applications are reviewed at the department level. Please read the following information and the Admissions FAQ page carefully. We have made extensive and ongoing efforts to provide detailed, thorough and relevant information regarding the application process and hope that it will provide answers to your questions.

APPLICATION DEADLINE - Wednesday, December 4, 2024 (11:59PM PST)

The deadline for all PhD applications to be submitted online for the Department of Statistics for matriculation in Autumn Quarter 2025 is Wednesday, December 4, 2024 . We do not matriculate students in any other quarter. The online application fee is $125 for all applicants, both domestic and international. Visit Stanford Grad Admissions for details regarding their Application Fee Waiver .

Self-reported (unofficial) test scores that could not be included with the online application should be emailed to stat-admissions-PhD [at] lists.stanford.edu (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) and must be received by the above deadline.

Recommenders must submit online recommendation letters by the above deadline.

IMPORTANT: Effective May 2024, the GRE Math Subject Test is optional. Applicants to our program are still required to take the GRE General Test.

Applicants who do not have a bachelor's degree from a university based in the US should review the information for international student eligibility to apply to graduate school at Stanford and Official Transcripts & Degree Conferral Documents (2025 Entry) . The applicant should be sure that the bachelor's degree or equivalent will be conferred before the intended program start date.

Offers of admission cannot be made without receipt of official test scores for required tests.

What do I need to submit?

Applicants can access the online application and all accompanying information beginning in mid-September. If you encounter any problems while completing or submitting the application, please contact the support team by clicking Request Application Support in the Instructions section of the application. Since the Stanford application software is not Stanford-based, we are unable to help with technical issues.

Explain the nature of your interest in one specific program in the department and reasons for wanting to study at Stanford. In the first sentence of your statement of purpose, indicate the name of the specific program to which you are applying. Include details about your preparation for this field of study, your future career plans, and any other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. Your statement should be typed, single-spaced, and no longer than two pages, ensuring that your full name and the program to which you are applying is on each page. If you are applying to Stanford together with another person (siblings, couples, etc.) and would not accept admission if both were not admitted, please let us know. Note that once your application has been submitted, we cannot accept any revised statements of purpose, résumés or transcripts.

Do not upload academic papers, theses, or dissertations as part of your statement of purpose. These items are not required. If you wish to submit them, please do so separately by uploading them in either the Experience section of the application (if applicable) or the Additional Information section. We do not accept materials submitted via email or mail.

List every post-secondary institution where you were enrolled — or are currently enrolled — in an undergraduate or graduate degree program. Your list must include the institution where you earned your bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent as defined in Stanford’s minimum education requirements for graduate study.

For each institution you list, upload your transcript. The transcripts you upload as part of your application are considered unofficial and will suffice for the review process.

If you are offered admission to Stanford AND accept the offer, you will be required to submit official transcripts/degree conferral documents. Instructions are provided on the status page immediately after accepting the offer. Y ou may also be required to submit a WES evaluation as verification of your academic credentials. For more information, refer to Official Transcripts & Degree Conferral Documents (2025 Entry) .

If you have participated in a study abroad program or transferred courses to your home institution, and the individual courses and grades are reflected on the transcript of the home institution, you do not need to submit separate transcripts for the study abroad/transfer institution.

Multiple page uploads are allowed for all transcripts. Do not send official copies of transcripts (print or e-transcripts) to the department during the application process. They are not required as part of the application and will not be uploaded to your application or acknowledged.

See the Graduate Admissions transcripts web page for additional guidance on transcripts.

GPA/Converting International GPA

GPAs of at least 3.5 are strongly recommended.

Applicants must include GPAs for all current and completed degree programs. If the applicant's school does not use any scoring system or only provides grades at the end of the degree program, please note this in the second free text field of the Academic History section of the application.

Applicants whose school's scoring system does not use the 4.0 scale should enter the original GPA and GPA scale (e.g., a scale of 1-30 or 1-100) as it appears on your transcript. Do NOT convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale if it is reported on a different scale.

IMPORTANT: Please note that it can take 2-3 weeks for your official test scores to arrive from ETS. In addition, the department cannot see or access these scores until approximately two weeks after you have submitted your online application. Finally, the test score status in your checklist (viewable after submission of the application) may take an additional 10 business days to change to " official ". Applications will be considered complete with unofficial scores, although no offers of admission can be made without receipt of official scores.

GRE General Test ( gre.org ): Applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Applicants who already hold a PhD degree from an accredited institution may request a waiver for the general test (see below).

Applicants must be able to provide at least self-reported (unofficial) test scores for the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE general test by the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. All official score reports must be sent electronically by ETS to Stanford University. Our institution code number for ETS reporting is 4704. No department number is required. Test scores may be no older than five years, dating back from the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. The GMAT is not accepted as a substitute for the GRE.

Applications will be processed using the self-reported (unofficial) test scores. If you submit your online application before you have taken the test, you may add the scores later, as long as it is still prior to the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. Offers of admission are contingent on receipt of the official scores.

While we have not established any particular GRE score necessary for admission, the average General GRE percentile scores of recently admitted applicants are Verbal 92%, Quantitative 94% and Analytical Writing 83%. If you submit results from more than one eligible test date, the highest score from each section will be considered.

If you have already earned a PhD degree, or your PhD studies are in progress when you apply and your degree will be conferred prior to your intended start quarter, you may request a GRE General Test waiver by emailing stat-admissions-PhD [at] lists.stanford.edu (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) with the following information and attaching an unofficial copy of your PhD transcript: full name, institution attended, degree earned, and degree conferral date. Use the subject heading "GRE General Test Waiver Request".

OPTIONAL GRE Math Subject Test : Effective May 2024, the GRE Math Subject Test administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) is optional. If submitted as part of the application, GRE Math Subject Test scores will be considered by the admissions committee. Applicants submitting GRE Math Subject Test scores are still required to submit GRE General Test scores. 

All official score reports must be sent electronically by ETS to Stanford University. Our institution code number for ETS reporting is 4704. No department number is required. Test scores may be no older than five years, dating back from the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. 

GRE Math Subject Test schedule

IMPORTANT: Please note that it can take 2 to 3 weeks for your official test scores to arrive from ETS. In addition, the department cannot see or access these scores until approximately two weeks after you have submitted your online application. Finally, the test score status in your checklist (viewable after submission of the application) may take an additional 10 business days to change 'official'. Applications will be considered complete with unofficial scores, although no offers of admission can be made without official scores.

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission. Applicants whose first language is not English must submit an official test score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Stanford accepts only ETS (Educational Testing Service) scores. Our institution code number for ETS reporting is 4704. No department number is required. Test scores may be no older than 24 months, dating back from the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. Scores expire after 24 months and will not be available from ETS.

We accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition if you are unable to take the traditional TOEFL iBT test in a test center. If you take the Home Edition or Paper Edition, you may be required to complete additional English placement testing prior to enrollment. We do not accept TOEFL Essentials scores or any other English proficiency test (e.g., IELTS, PTE).

Exemptions are granted to applicants who have earned (or will earn, before enrolling at Stanford) a U.S. bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States (territories and possessions excluded), or an equivalent degree from an English-language university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

You may request a waiver if you (will) have an equivalent degree from a recognized institution in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom in which English was the language of instruction. You must submit a Stanford application before submitting a TOEFL waiver request form. Note that U.S. citizenship does not automatically exempt an applicant from taking the TOEFL if the applicant’s first language is not English.

A minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet based test (iBT) is required by Stanford University for all PhD applicants. However, please note that the Graduate Admission's Required Exams webpage also states that incoming students who score below 109 on the TOEFL will likely be required to complete additional English placement testing prior to enrollment. Evidence of adequate English proficiency must be submitted before enrollment is approved by Graduate Admissions. The average TOEFL score of PhD applicants admitted to the statistics department is 112. The Test of Written English (TWE) portion of the TOEFL is not required. Stanford accepts MyBest scores but does not currently accept TOEFL Essentials test scores.

Applications will be processed using the self-reported (unofficial) test scores. If you submit your online application before you have taken the test, you may add the score later, as long as it is still prior to the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. iBT test-takers should be able to access their scores online approximately 10 days after the test date. We recommend that you take the test no later than one month prior to the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline application deadline. Offers of admission are contingent on receipt of the official scores.

Three letters of recommendation are required. Letters of recommendation are managed via an online recommendation system, which is part of the online application. Applicants will be required to register the contact information of their recommenders who will then receive an email with directions on how to proceed. Recommendations must be submitted by the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline.

We do not accept emailed or paper recommendations. However, we do accept letters submitted by your university's letter service. If this applies to you, you will still need to enter information for each recommender in the online application, including email addresses which will automatically generate the email to each recommender requesting a letter. It is your responsibility to contact them to let them know to disregard this email and to use the university's letter service. Please use stat-admissions-phd [at] lists.stanford.edu (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) when routing through the letter service.

The recommendation process now supports letters submitted via Interfolio. The applicant registers a recommender using an email address that contains "interfolio.com". Please remember that letters written specifically for your Stanford graduate program tend to be stronger than letters written for general use purposes. Furthermore, the recommendation form displayed for a recommender using Interfolio will not include the evaluation questions displayed and required for other recommenders.

Your letters should be written by those who have supervised you in either an academic or employment setting. If possible, at least one should be from a university professor familiar with your academic work. Your recommendations should directly address your suitability for admission to the Statistics department. We pay extra attention to the potential for future excellence, as indicated in letters of recommendation. The most important factors we look at are quantitative and analytic strength, communication skills in English, leadership, maturity, and focus.

Note: If you have any concerns that one of your recommenders will not be able to submit their letter by the deadline, you may want to consider requesting letters from a total of four recommenders. This will increase the likelihood that three letters will be submitted by the deadline and that your application will be marked as complete.

Applicants must upload a resume/CV into the Experience section of the application. Applicants may also upload additional papers such as samples of your academic or published works in this section. Any additional papers will be retained as part of your application, though there is no guarantee that they will be reviewed by the admissions committee. 

Applicants who indicate that they would like to be considered for the master’s program in the Program Selection section of the online application must confirm this by submitting an email request to stat-admissions-PhD [at] lists.stanford.edu (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) within three business days of receiving the PhD admissions decision notification. Note that it is not guaranteed that the MS Admissions Committee will accept your application for review. You will be notified via email whether your request has been approved.

Notification of Received Application Materials

Please refer to your application checklist on the Graduate Application Status page of your online application to determine whether any materials have yet to be received.

Financial aid

Please note that requesting financial aid on the application form will not affect your chances of being admitted to the Statistics PhD program. Prospective students should review the estimated expenses associated with graduate study at Stanford.

Financial support

All students accepted to the Ph.D. program are guaranteed five years of 12-month funding through spring quarter of the fifth year, which includes tuition, Stanford’s Cardinal Care individual health insurance , and a salary or stipend. Financial support is typically provided through teaching and research assistantship salary and tuition allowance.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for outside scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of financial support. Students with outside support enable the department to stretch its own resources. The department will supplement outside awards to the level set for departmental support. More information about financial support.

For more information

For more information, please review the Stanford Graduate Admissions web site. If you still have questions after carefully reviewing this page and our FAQ page, please contact us at stat-admissions-PhD [at] lists.stanford.edu (subject: Admissions%3A%20LAST%20NAME%2C%20First%20Name) (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) ; type "Admissions: LAST NAME, First Name" in the subject line of your message, specifying your last and first names. We receive a large number of requests for information, and therefore appreciate your understanding if there are delays in receiving a response.

Good luck! We look forward to receiving your application.

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Study In Usa > Colleges In Usa > Stanford University > Programs > Ph.D[Economics]

Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] [Economics] From Stanford University

Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] (Economics)

Field of Study : 

₽5,329,317 /Yr

• Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.] Economics is a 5-year program.
• The program is a thesis-based.
• This program is offered as full time and delivered on-campus.
• 135 units of full-tuition residency are required for PhD students. 
• Behavioral & Experimental
• Development Economics
• Econometric Methods with Causal Inference
• Econometrics
• Economic History
• Environmental, Resource and Energy Economics
• Industrial Organization
• Macroeconomics
• Development
• Experimental/Behavioral
• Public/Environmental
• Individual courses require a letter grade of B- or better to pass unless otherwise noted.
• The student-faculty ratio at Stanford University is 5:1, and the school has 69.3% of its classes with fewer than 20 students.
• 17 Nobel laureates are currently members of the Stanford community.
• According to QS Global World Ranking, Stanford University Ranked #2.
• The average salary is 98,384 USD.

Important Dates

Tuition Fees

Other Expenses

Eligibility & Entry Requirement

Academic Eligibility:

• Students must complete a master's degree from a recognized institution.
• The average cumulative high school GPA of students admitted to Stanford is 3.96 on a 4.0 scale.
• GRE general test scores optional.

Indian Student Eligibility:

Indian students are eligible to apply if they meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Completed a graduate degree with first-class in a relevant field from a recognized institution

Along with the minimum eligibility requirements, international students hailing from non-English speaking countries need to prove English proficiency through  IELTS / TOEFL /any equivalent test to get admission to this program.

Scores Required

Avg. Score in

Required Document List

• Online Application:  Students have to submit an online application form at the official website.
• Application Fee: Students need to submit their application fees.
• Statement of Purpose:  Reasons or intentions for pursuing studies in this program, including a description of prior experience.
• 3 Letters of Recommendation:  Three letters of recommendation are required; one letter must come from an academic source, although Stanford prefer at least two. Recommendations must be submitted online. 
• Official GRE Test Scores: Students have to submit their GRE Test Scores.
• ELP Scores:  Students have to submit their English language proficiency scores like IELTS, TOEFL, or other test scores.

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The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center is part of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies

Stanford’s Asia-Pacific Research Center Invites Applications for Fall 2025 Asia Studies Fellowships

The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center ( APARC ) is pleased to invite applications for a host of fellowships in contemporary Asia studies to begin in Autumn quarter 2025.

The Center offers postdoctoral fellowships that promote multidisciplinary research on Asia-focused health policy, contemporary Japan, and contemporary Asia broadly defined, postdoctoral fellowships and visiting scholar positions with the Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab, and a fellowship for experts on Southeast Asia. Learn more about each opportunity and its eligibility and specific application requirements:

Asia Health Policy Program Postdoctoral Fellowship

Hosted by the Asia Health Policy Program at APARC, the fellowship is awarded to one recent PhD undertaking original research on contemporary health or healthcare policy of high relevance to countries in the Asia-Pacific region, especially developing countries. Appointments are for one year beginning in Autumn quarter 2025. The application deadline is December 1, 2024.

Japan Program Postdoctoral Fellowship

Hosted by the Japan Program at APARC, the fellowship supports research on contemporary Japan in a broad range of disciplines including political science, economics, sociology, law, policy studies, and international relations. Appointments are for one year beginning in Autumn quarter 2025. The application deadline is December 1, 2024.  

Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellowship on Contemporary Asia

APARC offers two postdoctoral fellowship positions to junior scholars for research and writing on contemporary Asia. The primary research areas focus on political, economic, or social change in the Asia-Pacific region (including Northeast, Southeast, and South Asia), or international relations and international political economy in the region. Appointments are for one year beginning in Autumn quarter 2025. The application deadline is December 1, 2024.   

Next Asia Policy Postdoctoral and Visiting Fellowships

The Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab (SNAPL) is committed to addressing Asia's emergent social, cultural, economic, and political challenges. Housed at Shorenstein APARC, the lab is led by Center and Korea Program Director Gi-Wook Shin.

SNAPL is offering one or two postdoctoral fellowships (two years in length) to begin in Autumn quarter 2025. There are four fellowship tracks and applicants can apply for any of them: "Talent Flows and Development,” "Nationalism and Racism," "U.S.-Asia Relations," and "Democratic Crisis and Reform." Each postdoctoral fellow will lead one thematic research group and support student programming for SNAPL alongside general research and publication activities. The deadline to apply for Autumn quarter 2025 admission is December 1, 2024.

SNAPL also offers three visiting fellow positions to researchers and professionals from Asia with a PhD or a substantial record of achievement related to the Lab's four research themes. One of these three positions will be specifically dedicated to research on the Philippines. Visiting scholar appointments are for one year, and the deadline to apply for Autumn quarter 2025 admission is March 1, 2025.

Taiwan Program Visiting Fellowship

Hosted by APARC's new Taiwan Program , the visiting fellow position is awarded to one mid-career to senior-level expert with extensive experience studying contemporary Taiwan. The fellowship research focus is on issues related to how Taiwan can meet the challenges and opportunities of economic, social, technological, environmental, and institutional adaptation in the coming decades, using a variety of disciplines including the social sciences, public policy, and business. Preference will be given to candidates from Taiwan.

The application deadline for Autumn quarter 2025 admission is March 1, 2025.

Lee Kong Chian NUS-Stanford Fellowship on Southeast Asia

The Lee Kong Chian National University of Singapore-Stanford (LKC NUS-Stanford) Fellowship on Southeast Asia provides experts on Southeast Asia the opportunity to conduct research on or related to contemporary Southeast Asia. Fellows spend three to four months at both institutions. At Stanford, APARC's  Southeast Asia Program  hosts the fellowship. Appointments will begin and end within the period from September 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026. The application deadline is January 24, 2025.    

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