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number of items: 20
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item list element: How to Search for a PhD Program
item list element: What my Finance Internship Taught me about Economics
item list element: How to be an Effective Peer Reviewer in Economics
item list element: The Path to Tenure - In Discussion with Victoria Vanasco
item list element: Why I Didn’t Use AI for my PhD Application
item list element: How to Write a Research Proposal
item list element: Applying for a PhD: Should you do a Master of Research?
item list element: Economist Earnings by Job Title and Degree in 2023
item list element: What makes a successful economist?
item list element: How to Make a Resume for Economics Jobs
item list element: Tips to Survive Your First Job
item list element: Is an Economics PhD Worth It? The PhD Pay Premium
item list element: Professional Trainings as a Means of Increasing Your Employability
item list element: Insights into Central Banking Careers with Dr. Gómez-Pineda
item list element: Which economists are paid the most, and where?
item list element: Why are top management consulting firms increasingly hiring Economics PhDs?
item list element: Succeeding in the European Job Market for Economists
item list element: The Top Free Online Econometrics Courses
item list element: A Post-PhD Career in Research: Jack of all Trades, Master of Some
item list element: How to balance your PhD and your social life
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How to Search for a PhD Program
type: Article
title: How to Search for a PhD Program
description: 1. Understand what type of PhD you want Perhaps surprisingly, there are different ways to acquire a PhD, and some of them are very likely to appeal to you more than others. There are American-style PhD programs and European-style PhD programs, each of which can suit different applicants better than others; further, there are research assistant positions that can lead into PhDs, Master’s programs that can lead to PhDs, and even Master’s programs that are considered part of a larger PhD program. For more detail about these different avenues, be sure to check out our article on the Master of Research (MRes) and our article on American vs. European-style PhD programs. Once you’ve got a good idea of which type of program interests you, next comes the difficult task of identifying the specific institutions you’re interested in. But the first step to doing this is often looking inward, first. 2. Think about your research interests and location preferences You are unique and have your own interests and skills, which unfortunately means that there’s no easy and quick way to discover which economics departments are the most interesting or best fit for you. While there are many places where you can begin your search, it really helps to have an understanding of what you want first. Your research interests are probably the single most important factor determining which economics departments will be a good fit for you. Even if you don’t have any strong research interests (yet!), you still very likely have general areas of economics that interest you more than others. If macroeconomics courses always excited you, you should naturally look for universities with a strong focus on macroeconomic research, and avoid programs with more of a microeconomics focus. If identifying your own interests seems daunting or overly prescriptive, here’s a great way to start narrowing it down: think about the research papers you’ve been exposed to before. If you’ve read any research papers that intri…
disambiguating description: Economists often need PhDs to reach their career goals. According to INOMICS’ Salary Report data — and as Figure 3 in our PhD pay premium article shows — the vast majority of professional economists earn a PhD at some point in their careers. Academic economists are expected to acquire one in order to do research, while a PhD can often be a prerequisite for high-level industry economist jobs. But no matter how experienced, all PhD economists, at one point, were mere students searching for a good place to study. While important, how to search for the right place to study is seldom discussed…and there are thousands of universities with great economics departments out there. Feeling overwhelmed, and curious for some tips for your own search? Read on!
date posted: 2025-10-08T07:49:28Z
date modified: 2025-12-02T13:46:32Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: PhD in Economics
keywords: How to Find an Econ PhD
keywords: PhD Application
keywords: PhD Applications
keywords: INOMICS PhD
type: advice
disciplines: politics
disciplines: othereconomics
disciplines: labordemographiceconomics
disciplines: economicdevelopmentgrowth
disciplines: healtheducationwelfareeconomics
disciplines: economicsystems
disciplines: macroeconomicsmonetary
disciplines: laweconomics
disciplines: agriculturalenvironmentaleconomics
disciplines: generaleconomics
disciplines: businesseconomics
disciplines: economicthoughtmethodology
disciplines: industrialorganization
disciplines: microeconomics
disciplines: internationaleconomics
disciplines: publiceconomicspolicy
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: datascience
disciplines: urbanruraltransportationeconomics
disciplines: economichistory
disciplines: economics
disciplines: financialeconomics
disciplines: econometricsstatisticsquantitative
disciplines: finance
disciplines: statistics
discipline labels: Politics
discipline labels: Other Special Economics Topics (JEL Z)
discipline labels: Labor and Demographic Economics (JEL J)
discipline labels: Economic Development, Innovation and Growth (JEL O)
discipline labels: Health, Education, and Welfare (JEL I)
discipline labels: Economic Systems (JEL P)
discipline labels: Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics (JEL E)
discipline labels: Law and Economics (JEL K)
discipline labels: Agricultural and Environmental Economics (JEL Q)
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)
discipline labels: Business Economics (JEL M)
discipline labels: Economic Thought & Methodology (JEL B)
discipline labels: Industrial Organization (JEL L)
discipline labels: Microeconomics (JEL D)
discipline labels: International Economics (JEL F)
discipline labels: Public Economics & Economic Policy (JEL H)
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: Data Science
discipline labels: Urban, Rural and Transportation Economics (JEL R)
discipline labels: Economic History (JEL N)
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Financial Economics (JEL G)
discipline labels: Econometrics, Statistics and Quantitative Methods (JEL C)
discipline labels: Finance
discipline labels: Statistics

What my Finance Internship Taught me about Economics
type: Article
title: What my Finance Internship Taught me about Economics
description: 1. Finance is a rich area of research…and the industry can be artificially complex Finance is not primarily concerned with the stock market, although that’s what most people immediately think of. TIAA-CREF stands for “Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America-College Retirement Equities Fund”. It’s a massive firm that began when US entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie decided to create a not-for-profit pension service for academic professors in 1918. He later created a board of governors to allow educators themselves to help run the non-profit. Even within this one single firm, I was blown away by the sheer amount of different things that existed. Products and services across this huge firm were varied and sometimes had little to do with each other. TIAA has dozens upon dozens of financial products: annuities, IRAs, HSAs, guaranteed and variable lifetime income vehicles, and more. I could scarcely wrap my head around them all…but that’s, I suspect, a natural result of how the finance industry has evolved. For example, if finance was easy to navigate, anyone would be able to plan and execute a sufficient retirement plan for themselves. Choosing the right investment vehicles or the right mix of assets would be straightforward. There are other benefits that firms like TIAA could end up serving — for instance, the ability to pool money with other investors to create larger funds — but overall, from a microeconomics perspective, the finance industry is heavily disincentivized from making finance easy to understand to laypeople. That may be partly because it would cost the finance industry, or society in general, money to broadly educate the public, and partly because some firms’ services benefit from general lack of knowledge about finance. Financial advisors are a great example of this: they’re a useful and thriving service in part because many people don’t have the knowledge (or time to acquire said knowledge) that would let them invest or pursue their financial go…
disambiguating description: Towards the end of my undergraduate degree, I had the chance to work with upper-level managers on a strategy retreat as part of a summer finance internship. The internship was at TIAA-CREF (now known as just TIAA), and the retreat intended to help the firm strategize about the direction they should take in several aspects of the company. As a Bachelor’s student specializing in consulting, it was my responsibility to help them make use of a management consulting framework and mindset while doing it. This experience was my first foray into the finance industry. As I’ve progressed in my own studies, it’s given me plenty to reflect on as I’ve encountered various economic theories of the firm. Read on for the top three things I learned about economics from my finance internship!
date posted: 2025-09-04T09:18:07Z
date modified: 2026-05-13T06:56:41Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: Economics Internship
keywords: Finance Internship
keywords: Internship
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
disciplines: finance
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)
discipline labels: Finance

How to be an Effective Peer Reviewer in Economics
type: Article
title: How to be an Effective Peer Reviewer in Economics
description: Initial considerations before accepting a peer-review assignment Before accepting a peer-review assignment, consider whether you are a good match to review the submitted manuscript. Do you know the journal and the kinds of articles it usually publishes? Are you familiar with the literature and methods of the paper? Can you complete the review by the assigned deadline, or do you need to request additional time? It's also essential to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, such as personal or professional relationships with the author, that could impact your objectivity. If you must decline the invitation, it is always helpful to suggest colleagues who would be a better fit. Evaluating the paper: Key aspects Your job as a reviewer is to provide a clear and decisive recommendation to the editor. To do this, start by evaluating whether the paper aligns with the journal’s aims and scope. Assess the paper’s contribution and whether it is sufficiently important to merit publication in that particular outlet. Since journal standards vary widely, it’s essential to understand the guidelines of the one you're reviewing for. Next, examine the content of the paper itself. Does it have a clear conceptual framework and development of hypotheses? Gauge whether the data is described in enough depth and if the empirical specification is appropriate, current, and well-grounded in prior literature. Are there additional robustness checks that should be done to make the analysis more convincing? You should also determine whether the writing requires substantive revision to improve clarity and coherence. Editors often suggest professional proofreaders to help refine language and style, and you may want to suggest that option too. Be specific Recommending a “revise and resubmit” implicitly conveys to the editor that the paper makes a meaningful contribution, but it is not publishable in its current form. However, with successful revisions, it may be acceptable for publication. In th…
disambiguating description: Publishing journal articles in economics can be slow and challenging, and effective peer review plays a critical role in shaping the efficiency and fairness of the process. Despite its importance, many researchers receive little guidance on how to be a constructive peer reviewer. In this article, I provide advice on how to approach peer review thoughtfully and professionally, with the goal of improving the experience for both authors and reviewers.
date posted: 2025-05-21T08:04:15Z
date modified: 2026-06-29T14:10:17Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: Sahar Milani
keywords: Economics Career Advice
keywords: Peer Review
keywords: How to be a peer reviewer
type: advice
disciplines: politics
disciplines: othereconomics
disciplines: labordemographiceconomics
disciplines: economicdevelopmentgrowth
disciplines: healtheducationwelfareeconomics
disciplines: economicsystems
disciplines: macroeconomicsmonetary
disciplines: laweconomics
disciplines: agriculturalenvironmentaleconomics
disciplines: generaleconomics
disciplines: businesseconomics
disciplines: economicthoughtmethodology
disciplines: industrialorganization
disciplines: microeconomics
disciplines: internationaleconomics
disciplines: publiceconomicspolicy
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: datascience
disciplines: urbanruraltransportationeconomics
disciplines: economichistory
disciplines: economics
disciplines: financialeconomics
disciplines: econometricsstatisticsquantitative
disciplines: finance
disciplines: statistics
discipline labels: Politics
discipline labels: Other Special Economics Topics (JEL Z)
discipline labels: Labor and Demographic Economics (JEL J)
discipline labels: Economic Development, Innovation and Growth (JEL O)
discipline labels: Health, Education, and Welfare (JEL I)
discipline labels: Economic Systems (JEL P)
discipline labels: Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics (JEL E)
discipline labels: Law and Economics (JEL K)
discipline labels: Agricultural and Environmental Economics (JEL Q)
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)
discipline labels: Business Economics (JEL M)
discipline labels: Economic Thought & Methodology (JEL B)
discipline labels: Industrial Organization (JEL L)
discipline labels: Microeconomics (JEL D)
discipline labels: International Economics (JEL F)
discipline labels: Public Economics & Economic Policy (JEL H)
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: Data Science
discipline labels: Urban, Rural and Transportation Economics (JEL R)
discipline labels: Economic History (JEL N)
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Financial Economics (JEL G)
discipline labels: Econometrics, Statistics and Quantitative Methods (JEL C)
discipline labels: Finance
discipline labels: Statistics

The Path to Tenure - In Discussion with Victoria Vanasco
type: Article
title: The Path to Tenure - In Discussion with Victoria Vanasco
description: CN: You received tenure in 2023 at CREI, having worked there for around five years previously as a Junior Researcher. When did you decide that a tenured position was a career goal? VV: Most research positions are of the tenure-track form, but this is not a promise of tenure, and typically if you do not get tenure by a given date you have to leave. For most people working in Academia, tenure is a career goal, as without it we have to leave the institution where we are (and sometimes the city or country), when our tenure is denied. Ideally, you get tenure at a place you like. I was lucky to get tenure at a place I REALLY like. The question was then ¨when to go up for tenure¨, and when professional activities started demanding a lot of my time (referee reports, participation in scientific committees, conference organization, seminar invitations, etc), I felt it was time. "Fate was involved in the decision, as I did not get some jobs I would have found very attractive." Victoria Vanasco CN: You grew up in Argentina, before looking abroad to continue your academic journey. Was this a tough step to make? VV: It was hard to decide whether I wanted to pursue the PhD abroad vs look for a good job locally. Fate was involved in the decision, as I did not get some jobs I would have found very attractive. I decided to take it step by step. First, what do I need to do now to apply for a PhD in a year? A Masters in Economics, so I started with that. In the meantime, I got a job as a Junior Professional Associate at the World Bank in the Buenos Aires office. This position lasted only two years, as the World Bank encourages juniors to pursue their academic endeavours. That really helped. By the time I was done with my Masters and with my two years at the World Bank I was excited about pursuing a PhD. It was also hard to leave Argentina, but once again, step by step. I could always come back if I did not like it. I liked it so much, I never came back. CN: What factors influenced your…
disambiguating description: Victoria Vanasco is a Senior Researcher at CREI (Centre de Recerca en Economia Internacional) in Barcelona, Spain, as well as Adjunct Professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and and Affiliated Professor at Barcelona School of Economics. As a newly tenured economist, she talks to Christopher Nash, Managing Director of INOMICS, about her career path. For readers currently working in academia with an ambition to achieve tenure, her experience offers valuable insight.
date posted: 2025-05-07T11:44:44Z
date modified: 2025-05-13T11:00:39Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: Path to Tenure
keywords: Interview with an Economist
keywords: INOMICS Interview
keywords: Victoria Vanasco
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
disciplines: finance
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)
discipline labels: Finance

Why I Didn’t Use AI for my PhD Application
type: Article
title: Why I Didn’t Use AI for my PhD Application
description: However, as a member of INOMICS’ editorial board, I found that AI tools back then lacked the ability to write a thorough, in-depth, and engaging article about economics topics such as how corruption can affect economic growth or the pros and cons of focusing on “mesoeconomics”. We decided to not use AI tools in our article-writing or editing process. Similarly, I decided not to use AI tools at all when I was applying for PhD programs. That’s not to say that I think these models can’t ever be helpful – I’ve found that AI LLM models are very helpful for one thing in particular: generating ideas. However, I’m serious about becoming a PhD economist, and was determined to submit the very best of my own writing for my applications. Further, there’s always a concern that using AI tools would be considered a form of plagiarism. I think not using AI tools at all for my application was the right choice, and I think it’ll be the right choice for you, too. What’s more, even if AI models become incredibly capable “economists” on their own, I think eschewing them will still be the right choice for your application process. Without further ado, let’s explore the reasons why. First: hallucination adds extra work, and relying on AI delays you from building your own expertise AI models are known to hallucinate. That means, when using them for an important purpose, checking the AI’s output for accuracy is critically important – but that adds work that I didn’t feel was worth it for my application. I felt that the effort I’d have needed to spend studying each aspect of the AI model’s output (to ensure it was accurate) would have been inefficient. Instead, I spent time reading the economics literature myself, seeing what interested me, and reading about how other economists in the space structured their research. This was very helpful, especially as I began to outline my own phd research proposal. Think of it this way: if you want to be a successful PhD student, you’ll need to understan…
disambiguating description: AI tools have become widespread since news of ChatGPT-3.5 prompted me, in early 2023, to make an OpenAI account. I remember sitting in a coffee shop, sipping on a latte, and holding a half-dozen “conversations” with the newly released model. I asked it a series of math questions. I asked it about politics and about poetry. I asked it to write me a short story. I even asked it questions about niche topics like Settlers of Catan to see if it “understood” strategy in the context of a game. And, of course, I asked it about economics.
date posted: 2025-04-28T12:39:00Z
date modified: 2025-04-30T10:07:54Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: AI Applications
keywords: PhD Application
keywords: AI in Economics
keywords: Research Proposal
keywords: AI in Academia
type: advice
disciplines: politics
disciplines: othereconomics
disciplines: labordemographiceconomics
disciplines: economicdevelopmentgrowth
disciplines: healtheducationwelfareeconomics
disciplines: economicsystems
disciplines: macroeconomicsmonetary
disciplines: laweconomics
disciplines: agriculturalenvironmentaleconomics
disciplines: generaleconomics
disciplines: businesseconomics
disciplines: economicthoughtmethodology
disciplines: industrialorganization
disciplines: microeconomics
disciplines: internationaleconomics
disciplines: publiceconomicspolicy
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: datascience
disciplines: urbanruraltransportationeconomics
disciplines: economichistory
disciplines: economics
disciplines: financialeconomics
disciplines: econometricsstatisticsquantitative
disciplines: finance
disciplines: statistics
discipline labels: Politics
discipline labels: Other Special Economics Topics (JEL Z)
discipline labels: Labor and Demographic Economics (JEL J)
discipline labels: Economic Development, Innovation and Growth (JEL O)
discipline labels: Health, Education, and Welfare (JEL I)
discipline labels: Economic Systems (JEL P)
discipline labels: Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics (JEL E)
discipline labels: Law and Economics (JEL K)
discipline labels: Agricultural and Environmental Economics (JEL Q)
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)
discipline labels: Business Economics (JEL M)
discipline labels: Economic Thought & Methodology (JEL B)
discipline labels: Industrial Organization (JEL L)
discipline labels: Microeconomics (JEL D)
discipline labels: International Economics (JEL F)
discipline labels: Public Economics & Economic Policy (JEL H)
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: Data Science
discipline labels: Urban, Rural and Transportation Economics (JEL R)
discipline labels: Economic History (JEL N)
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Financial Economics (JEL G)
discipline labels: Econometrics, Statistics and Quantitative Methods (JEL C)
discipline labels: Finance
discipline labels: Statistics

How to Write a Research Proposal
type: Article
title: How to Write a Research Proposal
description: Take a deep breath, read this article, and start brainstorming! Step 0: Understand What a Research Proposal is For The main purpose of your research proposal is to give the admissions committee an idea of two things: your ability to conduct quality research in economics, and your suitability for the program itself. Because of its importance, it’s also highly advisable to start this process as early as possible – ideally several months before application deadlines. Your proposal should indicate to the admissions committee that you understand the field and are capable of (with the right training and supervision) producing quality economics research. The topic you choose, the initial literature review you conduct, your intended methodology, and more: all of these will signal to the admissions committee that you either understand what it takes to conduct serious research, or that you do not. But even if the committee believes your research proposal is excellent, you may not be admitted. That’s because the second purpose of the proposal is to show that your research interests are a good fit for that specific economics department’s work. Remember, to earn your PhD, there must be a faculty member at that school who’s willing to supervise your research! You could have an absolutely amazing research proposal on microfinance, yet be rejected by the program on the grounds that none of their economics faculty are interested in microfinance. That’s why the next two steps in the process are critically important. Step 1: Identify your Research Interests Before you start writing your proposal, you obviously need a topic. It’s important to identify what you’re most interested in, especially since – if you’re accepted – research in this area will become your life for the next several years! The field of economics is vast, and there are a wide variety of papers being published. If you’re unsure where to start, first consider the economics classes you’ve enjoyed most in the past. Do yo…
disambiguating description: If you’re applying for a European-style economics PhD or Master’s of Research program, it’s highly likely that you’ll be asked to submit a research proposal. This is a document where you’ll describe the original research project you intend to pursue if you’re accepted into the economics program. This is going to be a fairly intense process. While not legally binding, this document is a major part of your application, and it’s extremely important to write a convincing and high-quality proposal. Giving yourself as much time as possible to work on it can only help you. However, if you’re applying to PhDs for the first time, this is also most likely your first time writing an economics research proposal. So, what to do?
date posted: 2025-03-13T08:40:00Z
date modified: 2026-05-18T14:05:17Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: Economics Research Proposal
keywords: PhD Application
keywords: Economics PhD Application
keywords: Research Proposal
type: advice
disciplines: politics
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: datascience
disciplines: generaleconomics
disciplines: finance
disciplines: statistics
discipline labels: Politics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: Data Science
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)
discipline labels: Finance
discipline labels: Statistics

Applying for a PhD: Should you do a Master of Research?
type: Article
title: Applying for a PhD: Should you do a Master of Research?
description: Introducing the Master of Research<o:p></o:p> The Master of Research (or MRes) is an advanced post-graduate degree that is considered a stepping-stone towards PhD study. Often, and perhaps confusingly, this type of degree requires applicants to have a Master’s degree in the relevant subject area already. Importantly, the two types of Master’s are often differentiated: a Master of Science in Economics is often referred to as a “taught” Master’s, while an MRes is referred to as a “research” Master’s. However, an MRes is still a Master’s degree and not a PhD-level certification.<o:p></o:p> These degrees can go by several different names, and are most commonly available in the UK, Australia, Ireland, Singapore, and Hong Kong. These programs may also be listed as MPhil/PhD programs (standing for Master of Philosophy/PhD), or “Master of Letters”, abbreviated M.Litt programs (typically in Ireland). Although this type of degree can be very helpful as a stepping-stone to a PhD, they can be little-known outside of the countries that offer them.<o:p></o:p> MRes programs aim to prepare their students for serious academic research work, and expect that students come already equipped with significant subject matter knowledge – hence why many outright require applicants to already hold a taught Master’s degree. These programs typically last one to two years and are rarely longer. Most programs also require students to write a Master’s thesis (even if you’ve already written one before!). After completing an MRes in economics, students will have training not only in economics subject matter, but in conducting economic research as well, something that Master of Science programs often don’t have much time for. Many MRes programs – as evidenced by the MPhil/PhD moniker – often expect their students to continue into a PhD program immediately afterward.<o:p></o:p> Is an MRes right for you?<o:p></o:p> Pursuing an Economics MRes (or equivalently, an MPhil/PhD or MLitt program) could be an …
disambiguating description: There are many paths to preparing for an economics PhD. Most students apply for PhD programs soon after finishing their Master’s degree. Some even apply directly after their Bachelor’s degree. Others work first, for example as a research assistant before applying. There are benefits to all of these approaches, and depending on your academic accomplishments and personal goals, some paths may suit you better than others. In this article we look in depth at the merits of a Masters of Research (MRes) as an option for PhD hopefuls. We also compare the MRes path with a direct application for a PhD after your studies, or with a year or two of work experience before applying for a PhD.<o:p></o:p>
date posted: 2025-02-10T08:58:21Z
date modified: 2026-05-18T13:17:01Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: MRes
keywords: PhD Application
keywords: MRes PhD
keywords: Advice for PhD Application
keywords: PhD
type: advice
disciplines: politics
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: datascience
disciplines: generaleconomics
disciplines: finance
disciplines: statistics
discipline labels: Politics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: Data Science
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)
discipline labels: Finance
discipline labels: Statistics

Economist Earnings by Job Title and Degree in 2023
type: Article
title: Economist Earnings by Job Title and Degree in 2023
description: We begin by examining the average earnings of economists by various job titles around the world. Figure 1: global average salaries by job title (global data, PPP-adjusted) Average salaries for economists follow a clear trend globally. Unsurprisingly, there is an increase in earnings as academic economists are promoted from Lecturer/Assistant Professor level to Associate Professor and finally full Professor status. Similarly, industry economists continue to earn more as they rise from Junior Level Positions to Middle Level Positions and finally Senior/Executive Level Positions. Consultant and Researcher/Analyst roles out-earn Middle Level Positions, and earn less than Senior/Executive positions. Note that these numbers are slightly different than what can be found in the INOMICS Salary Report’s Figure 12 (for example). This is because Figure 1 is a simple average rather than a cross-segment average, which the Salary Report utilizes. One surprising result from Figure 1 is that academic economists out-earn industry economists by a substantial margin. Regionally, however, this pattern does not always hold true; in the INOMICS Salary Report we find that academic economists typically earn less than industry economists until they are promoted to a full Professor of Economics, at which point they tend to earn as much as the highest-paid industry earners. This phenomenon can be seen in the Salary Report’s “Regional Analyses of Academic and Industry Economist Salaries by Job Title” subsection. Here, in Figure 1, the reason academic economists out-earn their industry counterparts is due to the geographic distribution of survey respondents in worldwide data; 45% of the survey respondents in academic roles are from the high-paying “Global West” region while only 30% of industry respondents are from this same region, skewing the results downward for industry roles compared to academic (the “Global West” region is defined below). Nevertheless, this global data paints an excellent …
disambiguating description: Aspiring economists may be curious to know: how much do economists earn in different types of jobs? The INOMICS Salary Report contains a wealth of data about economist pay by job title and region (among many other factors). This article takes Salary Report data on salaries by job title and analyzes it from a new angle, including highest degree earned, which will help younger economists to plan their career path.
date posted: 2024-06-25T21:45:11Z
date modified: 2026-06-19T12:12:40Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: Salary Report
keywords: economics salaries
keywords: INOMICS Salary Report
keywords: Sean McClung
keywords: economist earnings
keywords: PhD earnings
keywords: economist salaries
keywords: economist careers
keywords: economics careers
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)

What makes a successful economist?
type: Article
title: What makes a successful economist?
description: This quote from the famous economist Keynes raises a number of areas that help us begin to answer the question of how to succeed as an economist. Reading the quote, an economics student may ask: in the modern age, what are the necessary skills one must possess in order to become a “successful” economist? The answer is, of course, hugely subjective. It may also fluctuate as one’s own career goals change. Here, we will identify some of the age-old must-haves – as well as some of the new skills economists ought to acquire in the age of climate change, globalization, and AI. Before we begin: the need for economists The present age is a remarkable time, probably among the most exciting and challenging times ever to enter the field. Many economic models and presumptions of the past are continually showing themselves to be outdated and in need of theoretical improvements. This has much to do with the new challenges facing our generation. Whether it’s in confronting climate deterioration, demographic change, the rise of AI and automation, wealth inequality, or even incorporating basic realism into textbooks, there is room for increasingly advanced economic models that can more accurately account for the complexities of real life. Beyond the need for improved economic models, though, is a societal and political need. In handling many of these emerging challenges – some of which were wrought by an inability to regulate our own activities – the ailing neoliberal orthodoxy has found itself ill equipped. To borrow the words of economist Howard Reed: “until we ditch the old textbook, we’ll never face up to the challenges of the modern world”. So far, there has been little sign of this happening any time soon; as Prospect editor-in-chief Tom Clark has observed of most Western governments, “out-dated frameworks still inform policy prescriptions”. In fact, searching for alternative solutions may partly explain why there’s been a resurgence of nationalist and even fascist sentiment a…
disambiguating description: The following article first appeared in the INOMICS Handbook 2024. Download the INOMICS Handbook “The master-economist must possess a rare combination of gifts. He must reach a high standard in several different directions and must combine talents not often found together. He must be mathematician, historian, statesman, philosopher…He must study the present in the light of the past for the purposes of the future. No part of man's nature or his institutions must lie entirely outside his regard. He must be purposeful and disinterested in a simultaneous mood; as aloof and incorruptible as an artist, yet sometimes as near the earth as a politician.” – John Maynard Keynes
date posted: 2019-09-26T10:28:04Z
date modified: 2026-06-29T14:18:23Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: skills
keywords: INOMICS Handbook
keywords: study advice
keywords: handbook
keywords: economist
keywords: William Pearse
keywords: Sean McClung
keywords: successful
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)

How to Make a Resume for Economics Jobs
type: Article
title: How to Make a Resume for Economics Jobs
description: You may be wondering how to make a strong resume for economics jobs that you’re interested in. Resume tips abound online, and many of them are quite good for your economics job application, too. In this article, we share some of the best ones, as well as economics-specific advice to help make your application stand out and ensure your resume gets noticed and read. Keep in mind that this article will focus on resume tips for an industry job application. If you’re more interested in applying for a PhD or academic jobs, check out our PhD application infographic or academic cover letter examples. You may also be interested in professional cover letters, or even highlighting your study abroad experience to your future employers. Now on with the tips! Formatting, formatting, formatting Realistically, the most important part of your resume is the formatting. That’s because the majority of recruiters and hiring managers will take only 6-7 seconds to “read” your resume (according to Indeed)! Applications submitted to job postings number in the hundreds on average (according to Zippia), and can be much higher. This incentivizes recruiters to spend as little time as possible skimming their massive stack of resumes to pick out potential leads. Although AI-assisted algorithms are increasingly being used to pick out the best applications for hiring managers, you need to ensure that your resume is formatted well so that when it is seen by a human, it isn’t tossed out immediately. So what makes for good formatting? Important information in bold (your name, job titles you’ve held, section headings, etc.) Use a clear, professional font, and use the same font throughout the entire document (like Arial, Cambria, or Times New Roman, etc.) Font size no smaller than 11pt Consistent margins, spacing, and font size Very little color; black-and-white should be sufficient Prioritizes readability and logical flow over creative design Clearly labeled, skimmable sections for Education and Profes…
disambiguating description: Completing an economics degree course is hard enough. But after you’ve earned your degree, you may very well begin to look for a job in economics, which is a whole new type of challenge!
date posted: 2024-06-03T19:57:20Z
date modified: 2026-06-26T12:28:11Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: resume
keywords: economics jobs
keywords: economist jobs
keywords: job application
keywords: economics resume
keywords: Sean McClung
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)

Tips to Survive Your First Job
type: Article
title: Tips to Survive Your First Job
description: After high school, you got the economics degree. At great emotional and financial cost, you got it. Three years of diligent work, complete. Never to be repeated, either; your liver feels permanently weakened, you continually explain to people that your degree had nothing to do with the stock market, and you’ll never hear the word “incentive” quite the same way. You then finished the internship. Though it was lengthy, unpaid, and involved minimal compensation, it was likely worthwhile because everyone strongly encouraged you to do it, and you complied. It served one important purpose at least. Brought up-to-date, with the font size adjusted to 24, your CV finally ran to a full page of A4, now ready for new job opportunities. Emboldened, you began the job search. 14 months later, self-esteem long gone, your persistence paid off, the application process, the long-awaited interview, vindication. You remained calm under pressure, outperformed tough competitors through four rounds of interview questions, and impressed your hiring managers with your commitment to working weekends. Contract signed, you now sit at the computer, nervously, waiting for adulthood to begin in this first step into the working world. <11an>limit:3;categories:Postdoc;disciplines:Economics</11an> Now, don’t get fired! And the nerves are there for a reason. Work is no walk in the park. Indeed, resting on your laurels now would be unwise. The 9-to-5 can be a cruel master, ruling with an iron fist, and is particularly prone to nepotism and other office politics. To survive its tumult and built-in bias, one must be smart, savvy and alert - things they don't teach at college, yet things you’ll need asap. Complacency on any of these fronts and, well, expect disappointing results. But let’s remain positive! You can prepare. Follow these tips to reduce the risk of floundering and increase your chances of experiencing success. Together, they make up the INOMICS guide to surviving your first entry level job. …
disambiguating description: It’s your first day at work and you’re nervous, naturally. You decide to quickly remember the journey that brought you to the computer screen you are now looking at. Many INOMICS readers will relate to this journey.
date posted: 2020-06-09T12:35:24Z
date modified: 2026-05-18T14:11:32Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: economics
keywords: first job
keywords: tips
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
disciplines: businesseconomics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)
discipline labels: Business Economics (JEL M)

Is an Economics PhD Worth It? The PhD Pay Premium
type: Article
title: Is an Economics PhD Worth It? The PhD Pay Premium
description: Perhaps unsurprisingly, the typical PhD in economics earns more than the typical economist with “only” a Master’s degree. But how much more? Is doing an economics PhD program worth it in the long term? <11an>limit:3;categories:PhD Programs;disciplines:Economics</11an> The short answer: yes. INOMICS Salary Report data shows that in 2023, economics PhDs earned on average 96% more than economists with a Master’s degree. These are worldwide statistics taken from the full breadth of the INOMICS Salary Survey data. The benefit to doing a PhD in economics varies by region. Figure 1 compares the “earnings premium” that an economics PhD has over economists with a Master’s degree across the world, using 2023 INOMICS Salary Survey data. Figure 1: Regional Premiums in economics PhD pay compared to a Master’s Clearly, in most regions acquiring a PhD in economics offers quite the premium. Some results may stand out as surprising, however. First, in North America in particular, the premium for earning a PhD in economics seems smaller than expected. If a PhD only earns an economist an extra 36% increase in wages, ignoring a PhD and continuing to work might seem like a preferred option in this high-wage region. In the Caribbean, South & Central America and Africa, PhD earnings are below Master’s earnings. This unexpected result appears to be the case due to the distribution of survey respondents. In both regions, the amount of industry economist respondents is much larger than academic respondents, and Master’s-degree-holding economists outnumber PhD economists in Government, Central & International Bank, and private business roles. These three categories of employer tend to pay more highly than others. This suggests that in these two regions, acquiring a PhD may not be necessary to have a well-compensated industry career. Further, it seems more realistic for Master’s-degree-holding economists to attain high-paying roles in these sectors without a PhD, as opposed to many other regio…
disambiguating description: Economics students may often wonder if doing a PhD is the right move for them. After all, you can still get a good job in economics with just a Master’s degree. We’ve covered different angles of this topic before with helpful advice about what degree you’ll need as an economist, asking whether you should do a PhD, and even asking what kinds of economists are paid the most. Thanks to INOMICS Salary Report 2023 data, we can look more closely at the pay benefit for an economics PhD in today’s job market. This will help you decide if doing an economics PhD will be worth it for your own career.
date posted: 2024-02-13T13:39:56Z
date modified: 2026-05-13T20:08:07Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: economist pay
keywords: economics PhD
keywords: economics jobs
keywords: economics degree
keywords: economist jobs
keywords: INOMICS Salary Report
keywords: Sean McClung
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)

Professional Trainings as a Means of Increasing Your Employability
type: Article
title: Professional Trainings as a Means of Increasing Your Employability
description: Naturally then, you might wonder how you can further your skills beyond just graduating with your latest degree. Or, you may have encountered situations or job opportunities where you wish you’d had more time to study a particular topic. Professional development courses or skills training are one great method to do so. What is a professional skills training for economists? Professional trainings for economists may be offered by a university or by other organizations, including private companies. Usually for a modest tuition fee, you can take a class that lasts anywhere from a single day to a few weeks. Some of these economics trainings are only offered in person and on-site, but many course providers are increasingly offering online courses so that anyone around the world can join in. These trainings are usually focused around a particular topic, and are designed to give either an introduction to a specific area of economics (for example, macroeconomic forecasting), a useful tool for economists (such as R or Python), or a related field (like data science). Because these courses are designed to help economists advance their skills, some knowledge of economics is usually required. Many courses require participants to already have an advanced degree in economics, or some related field. This is important as the learning environment can be fast-paced, offering an introduction or advanced training in a complicated topic in as little as one week. Common topic areas for trainings There are a number of areas in which economists (particularly fresh Master’s or PhD graduates) can further hone their skillset through these types of opportunities. The following are a few major areas you may consider taking a training course in after your degree: Advanced micro- or macroeconomics: Although every economics degree comes with introductory and advanced micro- and macroeconomics coursework, it’s easy to forget much of this knowledge once you pick a major or specialization within your d…
disambiguating description: Economics is a massive field with many sub-disciplines, and it’s impossible to master the whole lot of it from just one Master’s degree or even a PhD.
date posted: 2024-02-12T06:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-06-29T14:23:32Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: professional training
keywords: economist skills
keywords: economics skills
keywords: Sean McClung
keywords: Professional skills training
keywords: skill training
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)

Insights into Central Banking Careers with Dr. Gómez-Pineda
type: Article
title: Insights into Central Banking Careers with Dr. Gómez-Pineda
description: This includes advice about which skills aspiring economists should learn, the differences between research and policy economists, topics that prospective central bankers should focus on in their studies, and more. Any serious student of economics – and indeed, many curious economists – will benefit from hearing Dr. Gómez-Pineda’s advice. Javier G. Gómez Pineda is Senior Economist (Investigador Principal) at Banco de la República (the central bank of Colombia). He also teaches Monetary Economics at Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá. His research interests are in Monetary Economics and International Economics; he is author of the textbook Dinero, banca y mercados emergentes, los países emergentes en la economía global, 2010, Ed. Alfaomega; and he holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago. Are you an economist already working in the field? You, like Dr. Gómez-Pineda, have a chance to assist INOMICS’ economist job market research. Simply fill out our anonymous, 3-5 minute Salary Survey and help us research the state of the economics job market in 2023. Without further ado, read on for the interview! Sean McClung: How did you become an economist – was it always your plan? Javier G. Gómez-Pineda: Choosing a career can be challenging. In the beginning I was not very sure about my career choice, I considered at least two alternatives, but in the end I decided to study economics. I think what ultimately led me to this choice was perhaps the idea that what is important in choosing a career is not how you earn an income, but how you will spend the rest of your life in a way that contributes and serves others. Later, you discover that in order to serve others, you need to know how to be useful, to have a good command of your field, your techniques and your work. At the end of my undergraduate studies, I worked as a research assistant (RA) for Professor Lauchlin Currie. It was he who encouraged me: “if you want to be a good economist, you have to study abroad.” At …
disambiguating description: Dr. Javier G. Gómez-Pineda, our interview guest for the 2023 INOMICS Handbook, graciously agreed to return for a second interview. This time, the INOMICS team prepared some career-related questions for the central banker. With his answers, Dr. Gómez-Pineda shares his wisdom about central banking and economist careers in general with you, our readers.
date posted: 2023-10-09T06:00:00Z
date modified: 2024-07-15T20:50:33Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: INOMICS Handbook
keywords: Colombia
keywords: central banking
keywords: Javier G. Gomez-Pineda
keywords: Sean McClung
keywords: INOMICS Salary Survey
keywords: industry economist
keywords: policy economist
keywords: central bank
keywords: economist careers
keywords: economics careers
type: advice
disciplines: politics
disciplines: publiceconomicspolicy
disciplines: economics
disciplines: macroeconomicsmonetary
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
disciplines: finance
discipline labels: Politics
discipline labels: Public Economics & Economic Policy (JEL H)
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics (JEL E)
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)
discipline labels: Finance

Which economists are paid the most, and where?
type: Article
title: Which economists are paid the most, and where?
description: Around the world, economists are paid well compared to other occupations. This may not be a surprise, but how much economists are paid, how different employers compare in terms of pay, and other factors (such as “is an economics PhD worth the pay increase?”) may be less clear to burgeoning economists. This article will shed some light on these questions and more using our data from the 2022 INOMICS Salary Report. Read on to learn more about which employers pay economists the most, regional differences in economist salaries, and more. This article will discuss both academic and non-academic (or “industry”) economists. If you’re curious about the differences between these two general types of economists, you should read our article written by an economist who has worked in both spheres, “Policy or academic economist: which should I become?”. Regardless of an economists’ chosen path, how much can one expect to earn, and which economists earn the most? An Overview of Economist Salaries Globally As mentioned above, many organizations value the specialized skills that economists bring to the table. The below graph constructed from our 2022 Salary Report data shows how average economist pay varies by these different types of employer around the world: Figure 1: Regional average salaries by employer type (USD, PPP-adjusted, thousands) Figure 1 shows average economist salaries by each type of employer in different regions around the world (note that a handful of series are excluded due to sample size issues, i.e. NGO in East Asia & Australasia). Two things stand out from this figure. First, average pay in North America is very high, while average pay in Western Europe & Scandinavia and East Asia & Australasia are the next highest on average. The other regions of the world are more comparable with each other (we will explore each region individually later on in the article). Second, central banks appear to pay economists the most on average. Readers might be interested in the…
disambiguating description: The following article first appeared in the INOMICS Handbook 2023. Download the INOMICS Handbook
date posted: 2023-06-30T16:52:07Z
date modified: 2026-06-30T07:43:12Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: economist pay
keywords: INOMICS Handbook
keywords: INOMICS Salary Report
keywords: Sean McClung
keywords: economist salaries
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)

Why are top management consulting firms increasingly hiring Economics PhDs?
type: Article
title: Why are top management consulting firms increasingly hiring Economics PhDs?
description: Every Economics PhD student has contemplated a career outside academia at least once. There are multiple alternative options available to trained economists, and the INOMICS Salary Report shows that about 30% eventually opt for the private sector (though the true number may be higher, as INOMICS has a high proportion of academic users). In recent years, top consulting firms (such as the “Big 4”: KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, and EY) have increasingly been hiring Economics PhDs, many through specifically designed advanced degree pipelines – a trend that may surprise some. But why are these firms seeking out economists for their consulting teams, and what benefits do economists bring to the table? I spoke with a human resources manager from one of the Big 4 firms to learn more on the matter, and to help thousands of Economics PhDs like myself know our options better. First, it's important to reiterate what an Economics PhD entails to figure out why these students are in demand. Economics is the study of how societies allocate scarce resources to satisfy unlimited wants and needs. An Economics PhD program involves advanced coursework in microeconomics (the study of individual decision-making) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole), as well as training in statistics, econometrics (the application of statistical methods to economic data), and mathematical modeling. PhD students also typically conduct independent research, which requires them to develop analytical skills, conceptual thinking, and the ability to identify patterns and trends in large amounts of data. Management consulting firms are known for their ability to help businesses solve complex problems and achieve their strategic objectives. Therefore, the interview process typically includes several rounds with at least one case interview; this type of on-the-spot analysis isn’t a skill that’s traditionally taught in economics courses. So why are they interested in hiring Economics PhDs? Here are a few …
disambiguating description: The following article first appeared in the INOMICS Handbook 2023. Download the INOMICS Handbook
date posted: 2023-06-21T18:52:50Z
date modified: 2023-07-07T13:12:12Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: recruiting economics phds
keywords: management consulting
keywords: INOMICS Handbook
keywords: economics phd
keywords: consulting
keywords: Hanna Sakhno
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)

Succeeding in the European Job Market for Economists
type: Article
title: Succeeding in the European Job Market for Economists
description: These institutions include European universities and research institutes in academia, but also many consulting firms, tech companies, think tanks, governments, and government agencies (such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and central banks). The EJME can appear chaotic with applicants and recruiters constantly in a frenzy of interviews, offers, rejections, ambitions, hopes and disappointments. But by coordinating the timing of recruitment activities, there is more opportunity for candidates and institutions to meet each other and to make the most advantageous matches. Finding the right job can be a life-defining moment for individuals, and the performance of institutions depends crucially on the people they employ. Each year, around 1000 candidates and 200 institutions from Europe and beyond join the EJME, devoting enormous amounts of time and energy to get these matches right. The EJME calendar The EJME recruiting season starts in September/October when recruiters advertise their job openings for the next academic year. At the same time, candidates put together their job market ‘packages’ including their CV, research output (usually in the form of a specific job market paper [JMP]), reference letters and, increasingly, a personal website. Candidates apply for (usually many) posts throughout the autumn and, having reviewed their documentation, recruiters invite candidates for first-round interviews. In pre-Covid times, these were face-to-face and took place in a European city, but they have been online over the last couple of years. This will be the case again in 2022. Whether online or face-to-face, the first round of interviews takes place over a few days in mid-December so that there is some coordination in the timing of decisions being made by candidates and recruiters. A typical university department might interview as many as 30-40 candidates in this first round. Around seven or eight of these candidates might then be invited for “fly-outs” wher…
disambiguating description: The European Job Market for Economists (EJME) takes place annually. It aims to ensure that economics students who are about to complete (or have recently completed) their PhD make the best possible job match with institutions recruiting research economists.
date posted: 2022-10-07T12:59:32Z
date modified: 2026-07-06T10:18:04Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: economics jobs
keywords: inomics
keywords: Economics Network
keywords: economics job market
keywords: EJME
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)

The Top Free Online Econometrics Courses
type: Article
title: The Top Free Online Econometrics Courses
description: The courses listed here don't require enrollment in an institution, and are all free of charge for at least a limited time. Many of the Coursera courses allow free enrollment, but may require a fee after a certain amount of time has passed. So, no matter where you are (in your home) - at your kitchen table, armchair, or even in bed - you can have econometrics taught to you by some of the top professors, hailing from some of the world's leading universities. The courses here are all econometrics related, though some cover introductory statistics, which is a necessary prerequisite to understand econometrics. All the courses are available in English and are targeted at various different levels of study. So, no matter where you are in your studies, whether you are doing a Bachelor's or a PhD, you should find something of interest. While some are open tutorials available at any time of the year, others have opening and closing dates for participation. 1. Econometrics: Methods and Applications Course Provider: Erasmus University Rotterdam/Coursera Duration: 8 weeks Background needed: The course is suitable for (advanced undergraduate) students in economics, finance, business, engineering, and data analysis, as well as for those who work in these fields. 2. The Classical Linear Regression Model Course Provider: Queen Mary University of London / Coursera Duration: Approx. 22 hours Background needed: Introductory course, no experience required. This is the first in a series of 4 courses: Econometrics of Economists and Finance Practitioners 3. Basic Statistics Course Provider: University of Amsterdam / Coursera Duration: 8 weeks Background needed: None; this is a beginner course that will help students get familiar with statistics. This and its following course are necessary background for econometrics coursework. 4. Inferential Statistics Course Provider: University of Amsterdam / Coursera Duration: 7 weeks Background needed: Basic Statistics, the course listed just above, i…
disambiguating description: Although the shift toward online learning pre-dated the coronavirus, the pandemic caused a great proliferation in the availability and acceptance of online learning. More and more courses can now be found online, allowing students to continue with their studies or even get credit for some courses from the comfort of their own home.
date posted: 2013-08-25T22:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-06T10:20:26Z
language: en
keywords: courses
keywords: economics
keywords: MOOC
keywords: online
keywords: Econometrics
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: econometricsstatisticsquantitative
disciplines: statistics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: Econometrics, Statistics and Quantitative Methods (JEL C)
discipline labels: Statistics

A Post-PhD Career in Research: Jack of all Trades, Master of Some
type: Article
title: A Post-PhD Career in Research: Jack of all Trades, Master of Some
description: The importance of writing as communication It is indeed true that researchers like us (post-docs, research fellows, senior researchers, and so on) working in academia or in public/private/non-profit institutes spend a lot of time at their desks: writing articles, among other things. We maybe Doctors of Philosophy, but in reality, we are Masters in Writing and a few other things. This is because the demands of a researcher’s role requires us to be jacks of a lot of trades and masters in some. Writing is intrinsically connected to communication. As researchers we need to be good at communicating our thinking – what we study, why and how, and what we can (and cannot) conclude from the results – to diverse audiences. These include fellow scientists, policymakers, university administrators, and the wider public. It requires us to be as creative as the advertising professional next door. We need to learn how to crisply frame catchy titles so that articles promptly capture the attention of editors. We seek creative answers to questions such as: how do we in 200 words summarize a complex research idea that took us six months to conceptualize, test and execute? What is the next big research idea, and how will it get us a zillion citations in a few months? Developing managerial skills In addition, we also start playing managerial roles. First, we need to hone our skills in people management. Supervising students, research assistants, doctoral scholars, and entry-level post-docs is a daily activity. This throws up new challenges: how do we find a good balance between our research interests and nurturing those of our junior researchers? How do we encourage them to work hard while also ensuring that they do not get burnt out? How do we find research assistants who care as much about our research as we do? How do we incentivize the masters’ students to put in their very best in executing the research plans they have drawn up? Second, we need to develop good project management ski…
disambiguating description: Our favorite caricature of a post-doctoral researcher: a frail man (or woman) with unkempt hair, hunched in front of a computer screen, with a half-filled cup of coffee by his side. As the coffee gets colder and time flies by, he appears oblivious to his surroundings. He is happy spending long hours at his desk conceptualizing arcane theory on obscure topics the real world does not care about. He is in a state of eternal "tapasya" – meditating on his eternal love-affair with knowledge…because life is an eternal quest for knowledge! Or, so the world believes. Once the PhD has been completed, and freshly-minted researchers decide that research is what they would like to do for the rest of their lives, their friends and family might start assuming that a Doctor of Philosophy is just another armchair intellectual.
date posted: 2020-09-07T09:50:12Z
date modified: 2026-07-06T10:27:43Z
language: en
keywords: post-phd
keywords: career
keywords: research
type: advice
disciplines: economics
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: generaleconomics
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)

How to balance your PhD and your social life
type: Article
title: How to balance your PhD and your social life
description: Treat your PhD like a regular job One of the challenges of adjusting to life as a PhD student is the lack of a firm schedule or a definite structure. Although there are options for structured PhD programs, especially in the US, many PhD programs do not have required coursework or set work times. This can make it hard to know when you should be working, and conversely, when you are allowed to take time off. To help with this, where possible set some regular working hours for yourself and try not to answer emails outside of normal working hours. There can be considerable pressure from your supervisor and others to be available at all times, but waking up in the middle of the night to answer emails is not healthy. And, if you stick to regular working hours – for example, 9 to 6 from Monday to Friday – you'll have less of a need to answer late night emails. This will help to keep your evenings free for social events, both practically and mentally. <11an>limit:3;categories:PhD Programs;disciplines:Economics</11an> You need holidays and days off Similar to the advice above, when doing a PhD program there is a feeling like you should be working every spare second that you have. But no one can work 100% of the time. For the sake of your social life and your well being, it's vital that you take weekends and holidays off. Use this time to see friends and family and try not to think too much about work while you do. One good way to take vacation is to add a few days to the end of your trip when you travel to a conference. Conferences are usually held in exciting locations and you'll only need to pay for the extra days at a hotel and your daily expenses. A few days off after a busy conference can be a great way to relax with friends, co-workers, or a partner. Attend social events at your institution If you don't know many other people who are doing a PhD, you might feel very isolated and like no one understands what you're going through. A good way to get to know other people i…
disambiguating description: Doing an economics PhD can feel like an all-encompassing task, but it's important for your well-being that you have a social life during this time as well. It can be hard to balance the two, but if you don't, you may find yourself overwhelmed and not able to enjoy your time researching and writing as much. Here are tips on balancing your PhD with your social life.
date posted: 2018-09-24T09:07:10Z
date modified: 2026-07-06T10:36:02Z
employment type: onsite
language: en
keywords: study advice
keywords: free time
keywords: balance
keywords: Georgina Torbet
keywords: social life
keywords: phd
type: advice
disciplines: marketing
disciplines: economics
disciplines: education
disciplines: law
disciplines: socialscience
disciplines: business
disciplines: psychology
disciplines: management
disciplines: generaleconomics
discipline labels: Marketing
discipline labels: Economics
discipline labels: Education
discipline labels: Law
discipline labels: Economics and Social Sciences
discipline labels: Business
discipline labels: Psychology
discipline labels: Management
discipline labels: General Economics (JEL A)