Budget Cuts in Italy: Experienced and Expected Changes in Academic Institutions
This post will focus on the responses we received from professionals in Italy. Of those who responded to our survey, 81% reported working in universities, 11% in banks, 6% in think tanks and the remaining 2% in the government. This breakdown included more responses from university employees than any country other than Spain. The results from each of these countries therefore specifically reflect the academic reality more so than the general reality for researchers and other professionals. Although the number of respondents reporting budget cuts for 2013 was incredibly high, the rates of expected cuts for fiscal year 2014 were lower across the board. This indicates that while Italy is still suffering in all areas from the recession, there is some positive outlook to be taken note of. Moreover, the percentage of respondents saying their general budget would not be affected by cuts in 2014 (23%) was significantly higher than those who claimed to have not been affected by general budget cuts in 2013 (11%). This indicates that even if budgets are not being expanded, cuts are becoming less widespread. This trend is particularly visible amongst marketing budgets, which aligns with a global tendency.
Last year, we conducted a global survey of nearly 800 academics, asking questions about budget cuts at their respective institutions for fiscal year 2013, and their expectations for 2014. We wanted to get a sense of the climate around the world in terms of who is still being affected by the economic downturn, and to what extent, in order to better grasp the daily reality for both employers and job seekers.
Budget Cuts in France: Experienced and Expected Changes in Academic Institutions
In this post we will be examining responses from researchers and others working in France. Of those who took part in our survey, 83% reported working in a university, 6% in an international or aid organization, 6% in a private company or consultancy and 5% in a bank. This was one of the strongest representations of university employees of any country taking part in the survey. It is perhaps because of the very high number of university respondents that the expected budget cuts for 2014 were generally not lower, and in the case of recruitment budgets even higher than those reported for 2013. Yet, it is important to note that the percentage of people reporting general budget cuts for 2013 (67%) was already lower than in the UK (74%), and much lower than hard hit countries such as Italy (81%) and Spain (94%). The continued expectation for budget cuts in 2014 is also tempered by a sharp increase in expected increases for general budgets (from 6% in 2013 to 17% expected for 2014). Furthermore, while no one reported increases in marketing budgets for 2013, 6% of respondents said they anticipated increases in their marketing budgets for 2014. These reported increases offer some positive outlook for researchers and others working in France.
Erasmus Master’s Programs: Economics, Law and Policy 2014
Erasmus Mundus programs are a very attractive option for students who want to have an international education experience. Although it mainly covers opportunities in European universities; affiliate partners from all over the world can access the advantages of the network. Thinking about the importance of making informed choices, we have prepared a series of articles about the topic, listing the most popular Erasmus programs per discipline and offering information about funding according to region. In this first part, we would like to provide you a short list of popular Erasmus Mundus Master Courses (EMMCs) in the areas of economics, law and policy making. The following list does not follow any ranking criteria; it serves to inform interested students about the possibility of studying in an Erasmus Master’s program in the above-mentioned disciplines in the European Union, North America, Latin America and Asia. EMIN – Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Economics and Management of Network Industries – Spain, France, Belgium, United States, Brazil EMLE – European Master in Law and Economics – Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, India, Israel EPOG – Master’s Course – Economic Policies in the age of Globalisation : knowledge, finance and development – France, Italy, Germany, UK, South Africa, Brazil MEDEG – Economic Development and Growth – Spain, UK, Sweden MEGEI – MA Economics of Globalisation and European Integration – Belgium, Italy, France, Spain, UK, Brazil, China, Czech Republic QEM – Models and Methods of Quantitative Economics – Spain, Germany, France, Italy CoDe – Joint European Master in Comparative Local Development – Hungary, Slovenia, Germany, Italy MUNDUS MAPP – Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Public Policy – Spain, Netherlands, UK MA LLL – European Masters in Lifelong Learning: Policy and Management – Denmark, UK, Spain, Australia MESPOM – Master of Science in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management – Sweden, UK, Greece, United States, Canada Keep an eye out for the second post in this series, in which we will cover the important issues of scholarships and general funding for those interested in Erasmus programs! Photo credit: Trey Ratcliff
The Erasmus Mundus program is a well-known cooperation program between European universities and the rest of the world. Through partnerships, projects, funding and joint programs, it gives students around the globe the opportunity to access high-quality education, while also encouraging student mobility.
Public Economics & Economic Policy (JEL H)
Looking at the findings of the INOMICS Job Market Report (which is available for free download here) we clearly see difference in wage levels across academics in different part of the world. This post is dedicated to Italy, the country with one of the lowest reported salaries in Europe (followed only by Spain). As can be seen from the graph, the salaries are not very high in the beginning of the path and although they increase with advancements (22% increase between positions on average), Full Professors earn 55,000 US$ per year on average. According to the INOMICS Job Market Report – Italy, the first significant increase in salary happens after working for 3 years (+70% on average), and then another 72% on average is added when you reach the level of 5 years of experience. Such relatively low reported salaries can be explained by different factors, including, among others, the young age of the respondents (65% are below 34 years old). In order to get more information about the Job Market in Italy and also see the methodology, you can download the full report here.
Many believe that once one decides to follow an academic career path there is no way out. Working at a university is not only said to bring you respect and stability, but also a gradually increasing income. How high the latter might get obviously depends on many factors, such as your qualifications and the institution you graduated from, as well as the country where you are teaching.
These include both very famous and not so well known blogs, all of which we think are of interest to finance students and professionals alike, or indeed anyone else with a pronounced interest in the world of finance and business. The focus of these blogs ranges from household finances to global monetary policy to investment strategies. Since we already devoted a post to Top Economics Blogs, we tried not to overlap and thus left off certain well-respected finance blogs with a heavy econ focus. The list below does not reflect specific preference, but is instead simply arranged in alphabetical order. Above the Market A Dash of Insight Alt-Market Beat the Press (CEPR) Boom Bust Blog Business Insider Calculated Risk Consumerist Credit Writedowns Crossing Wall Street Dealbook Dealbreaker Finance Trends Matter Financial Rounds Financial Samurai Freakonomics Free Exchange FT Alphaville Grasping Reality Guru Focus iMFdirect Infectious Greed Institutional Investor’s Alpha IntelligentHQ Kid Dynamite’s World Marc to Market Megan McArdle Money Under 30 Naked Capitalism Next New Deal Of Two Minds Planet Money Quintessential Robert Reich Seeking Alpha SINletter The Aleph Blog The Big Picture The Conscience of a Liberal The Epicurean Dealmaker The Money Illusion The Psy-Fi Blog The Research Puzzle The Street Sweeper The Telegraph Finance The Wealth Report Turnkey Analyst Value Walk World Beta Zero Hedge Photo credit: Dirk Knight
While we of course hope you find our own blog to be a great and engaging resource, we recognize that there are copious noteworthy blogs out there focusing specifically on the world of finance. For this post, we’ve gathered a list of 50 Finance related blogs for you to peruse.
Top Think Tanks and Social Science Research Institutes in Spain and Latin America
With this list we hope to highlight prominent institutions undertaking important research on diverse topics within the broad fields of politics, economics and international relations. Whether you’re interested in a job or internship or just want sources for top-notch analysis, this list is a great place to start. Argentine Council for International Relations, Argentina Freedom Foundation, Argentina Center for Public Studies (CEP), Chile Freedom and Development, Chile Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLASCO), Costa Rica Center for Research and Teaching of Economics (CIDE), Mexico Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE), Peru Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), Spain Foundation for International Relations and Foreign Dialogue (FRIDE), Spain Foundation for Analysis and Social Studies (FAES), Spain We recognize that these three posts only covered certain regions, leaving out hundreds of highly respected institutes in areas including Asia and Africa. To take a look at the many other institutions with jobs, conferences and other listings on offer, head to the INOMICS website here. Additionally, please share your experiences with others by leaving a review on the INOMICS website for any institute where you have worked, studied or interned! Photo credit: David Berkowitz
This blog post is the third in a series of entries highlighting top think tanks around the globe. Last week we posted a list of top institutes in Europe, and yesterday we offered you a list of think tanks in the United States. Today we’ll focus on the Spanish-speaking world, with a list of top think tanks and research institutes in Spain and Latin America.
Economic Development, Innovation and Growth (JEL O)
Top Think Tanks and Social Science Research Institutes in the U.S. 2013
This list is not exhaustive, but rather selective in its representation of think tanks from both sides of the political aisle, as well as many in the middle. The fifteen institutes listed below offer valuable job and internship opportunities and produce work that can be instrumental for students, professionals, politicians and the general public. Each of these institutes, listed in alphabetical order, is located in Washington, D.C., except for the Council on Foreign Relations, Human Rights Watch and the World Policy Institute, which are located in New York City, the Foreign Policy Research Institute, which is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the East-West Center, which is located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Brookings Institution Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Cato Institute Center for American Progress Center for Economic and Policy Research Center for Strategic & International Studies Council on Foreign Relations East-West Center Foreign Policy Research Institute Freedom House Heritage Foundation Human Rights Watch Pew Research Center Urban Institute World Policy Institute Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s post on Top Think Tanks and Social Science Research Institutes in Spain and Latin America! To take a look at the many other institutions with jobs, conferences and other listings on offer, head to the INOMICS website here. Additionally, please share your experiences with others by leaving a review on the INOMICS website for any institute where you have worked, studied or interned! Photo credit: thisisbossi
Following up on last week’s list of Top Think Tanks and Social Science Research Institutes in Europe, this post is dedicated to top institutions in the United States. Although the U.S. is home to hundreds of research institutes, focusing on a vast array of disciplines and issues, there is a certain degree of consensus regarding which are the most respected. In the list below, we chose to highlight top think tanks working in the broad areas of politics, economics and international relations.
Top Think Tanks and Social Science Research Institutes in Europe 2013
In addition to offering possible job opportunities, the work currently undertaken by these top-notch research institutes can be extremely helpful for students and professionals alike. Often think tanks produce the kind of poignant, up-to-date research not to be found in either mass media or peer-reviewed journals. As with most of our lists, this is by no means an exhaustive account of all the praiseworthy institutes across Europe. We aim to offer a compact yet diverse list of well-renowned institutions from across the continent, arranged alphabetically by country rather than according to any kind of ranking. Center for Applied Political Research, Austria Bruegel, Belgium Centre for European Policy Studies, Belgium Egmont Institute, Belgium European Policy Centre, Belgium Danish Institute for International Studies, Denmark European Union Institute for Security Studies, France French Institute for International Relations German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Germany German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)), Germany Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), Ireland Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis (RCEA), Italy Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO), Norway Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russia Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Sweden Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), Turkey The Global Policy Institute, UK Chatham House, UK International Institute for Strategic Studies, UK European Council on Foreign Relations, UK To take a look at the many other institutions with jobs, conferences and other listings on offer, head to the INOMICS website here. Additionally, please share your experiences with others by leaving a review on the INOMICS website for any institute where you have worked, studied or interned! Photo credit: Andrea Ciambra
Whether you’re looking for a summer internship, your first postgraduate job or a change in career, gaining experience in a think tank or research institute is always a good way to go. While some think tanks engage in highly specialized research on specific topics, many span a broad range of issues, particularly in the fields of politics, economics and international relations. We’ve decided to dedicate three distinct blog posts to top think tanks around the world, beginning with this list of European institutions. Keep an eye out for upcoming posts on U.S. and Latin American institutions.
Life as an Economist in France - Salary and Working Conditions
French President Francois Hollande’s strategies for moving the country back towards a growth economy have diverged from his party’s platform, however, being met with varying levels of skepticism. Hollande has promoted both tax and public spending cuts in the name of stimulating job growth. He claims that he will go ahead with these planned economic reforms despite poor results for his party in Sunday’s elections. One outspoken critic of Hollande’s policies over the past years has been French economist Thomas Piketty, of the Paris School of Economics. While already well known in France, the recent publication of his book, “Capital in the 21st Century,” has cast Piketty squarely in the international spotlight. Though of course not every economist is likely to earn such esteem as Thomas Piketty, France seems to be a desirable country to set up shop as an academic or analyst, despite (or perhaps because of?) ongoing economic turbulence and political uncertainty. Amongst the economists who responded to the Economics Job Market Report 2013: France published earlier this year, 52% said they’d come to France from another country, meaning France a relatively high percentage of foreign economists. Even in the current economy, salaries amongst economists working in France are fairly competitive, particularly for those with more than three years of experience. According survey respondents, Full Professors earn an average of $75,000 USD per year, while Analysts earn about $73,000. Salary was listed as only the fifth most important factor when choosing a place of employment, however, with friendly working environment, time to conduct research, flexible working hours and institutional reputation topping the list. Thus, it may not be the salary that’s drawing economists to France, but rather the working atmosphere itself. Whatever the conditions that are prompting economists to seek employment in France, well-known professionals like Thomas Piketty make it clear that it’s possible to make them work in your favor. More details on the results and methodology of the Economics Job Market Report can be found on the INOMICS site.
While it was the UMP, France’s conservative opposition party, that won the majority of votes in Sunday’s first round of town hall elections in France, the far-right Front National also made decisive gains, particularly in areas that used to be bastions of the left wing. The ongoing difficulties in the French economy are often cited as one of the key reasons for this redrawing of the political landscape and the losses for the ruling Socialist Party.
Top 20 Political Science Departments Worldwide 2013
We therefore appreciate the significance of such rankings, but also think it’s important to recognize that there are well-respected institutions across the world, offering great programs to a vast diversity of students. For this reason, the list below includes a mix of top-ranked and hand-selected political science departments located at schools around the globe. While nearly all of the departments listed here fall within the top 200 QS rankings, we’ve arranged them geographically, rather than just by rank. InstitutionLocation Harvard UniversityUnited States Yale UniversityUnited States Stanford UniversityUnited States University of TorontoCanada Universidade de São Paulo (USP)Brazil Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileChile The University of TokyoJapan National University of Singapore (NUS)Singapore Peking UniversityChina University of Hong KongHong Kong Australian National UniversityAustralia The University of AucklandNew Zealand London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)United Kingdom University of OxfordUnited Kingdom Trinity College DublinIreland Sciences Po ParisFrance Leiden UniversityNetherlands University of CopenhagenDenmark Aarhus UniversityDenmark University of MannheimGermany Although this list offers a wide range of schools from around the world, please do check out our more comprehensive list of courses on offer here. Moreover, if you’re on the fence about whether or not you’d like to earn a higher degree in political science, take a look at our post Should I Pursue a PhD in Political Science? for some tips and information on the discipline. Photo credit: Hammerin Man
While plenty of people both within and outside of academia hold strong opinions regarding which institutions have the best political science departments, there are some schools that stand at the top of everyone’s list. Whether you agree or disagree with rankings, the reality is that they matter for students and professionals alike. As of 2013, 20% of political science professors in the United States earned their PhDs at one of four institutions (note that there are nearly 3,000 universities in the U.S.), which happen to hold the top four spots in U.S. News and World Report Rankings.
St. Patrick’s Day is historically a Catholic holiday celebrating the day that St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, died in 461. It has since been officially recognized as a feast day by other Christian denominations and adapted as a secular holiday, generally focusing on parades, parties and Irish-related kitsch. Wearing and displaying the color green is a big part of St. Patrick’s Day, and many cities in the U.S., Ireland, Britain and elsewhere put green dye in their biggest rivers to celebrate the holiday, a trend that began in Chicago in 1962. This year, the city dumped 130 large containers of dye into the water to achieve a glowing green effect. In recent years, governments across the world have joined the fun and will cast a green glimmer on numerous major monuments today, including the Great Wall of China, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and South Africa’s Table Mountain. But the biggest event for many people is the celebration itself, and all of the purchases that come with it. Last year, according to the National Retail Federation, the average person in the U.S. spent $35.27 on green clothing and décor, as you can see compared with the average total spent monthly on games, hobbies and toys. Nationwide, the overall tab for the holiday grew to $4.7 billion. Much of this is due to alcohol sales, particularly things like beer and whiskey. The forecasted total for beer sales in the U.S. was upwards of $255 million. The beer leading the pack is of course Guinness, which has been brewed in Dublin since 1759. While we already devoted a full post to Beeronomics, we did not mention that it was in fact in a Guinness brewery in 1900 that the statistical technique called the t-test was first invented. A mathematically-minded brewer named William Sealy Gosset devised a way to evaluate the effects of diverse barley varieties on the beer using a relatively small sample size. He published his findings in a paper titled “The probable error of a mean”, thereby forever altering statistical methodology and solving a brewing conundrum for Guinness. So, if you’re among those waiting in line to order a pint of this famous stout tonight, remember that it’s statistics that allowed for its global success. And with that, happy St. Patrick’s Day!
While today might just be another Monday for most of us around the world, for the nearly 37 million claiming Irish ancestry (more than 8 times the current population of Ireland), for many living on the Emerald Isle and for those who might just be interested in donning some green and downing a Guinness, St. Patrick’s Day is a beloved holiday. Following in the vein of such posts as Christmas Economics and Halloween Economics, we wanted to get in on the St. Paddy’s fun, but of course with an economics twist.
Top European Master’s Programs in Economics
So as you’re weighing your options and searching for a Master’s program that’s right for you, we hope that a look through this list will help you narrow your choices and jumpstart your application process! Program Name Institution Location MSc in Financial Economics University of Oxford, Saïd Business SchoolUnited Kingdom MSc in Economics LSE – London School of Economics and Political ScienceUnited Kingdom Scottish Graduate Programme in Economics University of EdinburghUnited Kingdom MSc in Economics/Econometrics/Finance University of SouthamptonUnited Kingdom MSc in Economics University of Barcelona, Faculty of Economics and BusinessSpain Master in Applied Research in Economics and Business (MAREB) Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Spain Master in Economics: Empirical Applications and Policies University of the Basque Country UPV/EHUSpain Master in Economics and Public Policy Sciences Po, Department of EconomicsFrance Advanced Master in International Development Economics University of NamurBelgium MA Development Studies (Economics of Development Major) International Institute of Social Studies – Erasmus University RotterdamThe Netherlands MSc in Econometrics and Operations Research with a specialisation in Econometrics Maastricht UniversityThe Netherlands MSc in Economics & Business Administration – Applied Economics and Finance Copenhagen Business SchoolDenmark MSc in Economics University of MannheimGermany MSc in EconomicsHEC Lausanne, Faculty of Business and EconomicsSwitzerland Master in Economics LMEC University of BolognaItaly While this list offers many top programs from across the continent, feel free to browse our broader list of courses and programs found here. Photo credit: Meagan
As admissions season for Master’s programs in Europe gets underway, we thought we would help you narrow your search by posting a list of 15 Top Master’s Programs in Economics, grouped by country. Back in January we posted the Top Research Institutions in Europe, based on RePEc rankings. The list below moves beyond rankings to include personally selected institutions from across Europe that offer highly acclaimed Master’s programs in a range of disciplines and specializations.
Women in Economics: Bridging the Gender Gap
When examining the specific field of economics, women are quite underrepresented, and the gap has widened over the past decades. In the United States, there are nearly 3 male economics majors for every female, which is a significantly greater proportion than 20 years ago, as can be seen in the graph above. Following the research of Dr. Claudia Goldin, the Henry Lee Professor of Economics at Harvard University, it seems that this gender gap has nothing to do with ability and everything to do with confidence, perceptions and career goals. Women tend to be more discouraged than men by low grades in introductory economics courses, and tend to be less confident with a similar level of ability. Furthermore, female students are often under-informed about the wide range of career paths available to economics graduates, including research and policy positions in issues ranging from social inclusion to the environment to migration and development. Yet, with Janet Yellen joining the ranks of female central bank leaders of countries including Russia, Israel and South Africa, the number of women in high-level economics positions is growing, and their potential for impact is great. Dr. Goldin points out, however, that the gender gap at the top will remain broad if more women don’t start to close it at the university level. In order to begin this process, Dr. Goldin encourages a re-framing of the field itself – moving away from the perception that economics is all about hard numbers and towards a recognition of the human element inherent within the discipline. Moreover, open conversations regarding the work/life balance can help women feel more confident as they traverse the difficult road towards professorships and other careers. According to our own Economics Job Market Report from 2013, work/life balance was ranked second out of 13 factors economists from around the world consider when choosing a job, underscoring the importance of this issue for everyone, and highlighting the usefulness of frank discussions on this topic. As a way to support the many burgeoning and established women economists who might be reading this blog, we wanted to provide a few links to resources relevant to you and your career. Please peruse these links and feel free to add more in the comments section! American Economics Association Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession (CSWEP) European Economic Association Standing Committee on Women in Economics (WinE) CSWEP Mentoring Materials Top Ranked Female Economists International Association for Feminist Economics Diversifying Economic Quality: A Wiki for Instructors and Departments A Bloomberg series profiling Women in Economics The graph at the top of this post was created by INOMICS using data from the OECD study published in 2011.
As of 2011, significantly more women than men completed secondary education in an astounding 32 of the 34 OECD member countries, according to a study by OECD researchers. On average, women accounted for 58% of graduates overall, though the range between countries is quite great. Moreover, the numbers vary tremendously across disciplines, with the areas of health & welfare and arts & humanities still heavily female, while math & science remain overwhelmingly male.
How to Apply to a Summer School: Selecting, Applying and Getting In
Perhaps you’re unsure of how to choose a program that’s right for you, or more importantly, how to get into a summer school at all. In order to keep the application process from being another item on your list of winter woes, we’ve put together a basic guide on how to apply for summer schools in either economics and finance or business and management. Here are some key things to consider: 1. Timing Courses taking place earlier in the summer often have correspondingly earlier application deadlines, so think about when is best for you and scan through offers that work with your schedule. Both of our posts on Econ and Business and Management schools were written according to deadline, and a broader list of programs sorted by approaching deadlines can be found here. 2. Specialization What are you hoping to get out of summer school? If you know precisely which course/s you need, then searching for a program based on its strengths in that area is your best option. As you peruse possible schools, you will notice a wide range of offerings, from financial crises to health economics to urban segregation. Knowing where you’d like to focus will help you find the best fit for you, and making your motivation clear in your application will help secure your spot. 3. Location and reputation If you’re not looking for a specific course but rather a boost to your CV or your academic repertoire, choosing a program based on location or reputation might be more appropriate. If it’s a top school you’re seeking, a quick look through various rankings from around the world can help hone your list of choices. Be sure to plan ahead though, as programs at schools such as Harvard, LSE or Cambridge are guaranteed to fill up quickly. If what you really want is proximity to a gorgeous beach or good nightlife, The University of Crete fulfills both of these options while also offering a rigorous syllabus. Both the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics and the University of Barcelona offer well-renowned programs in one of the most beautiful seaside cities in Europe.CNRS in Nice, France, also combines a fantastic location with a forward-looking focus on economic development. 4. Cost and funding When it comes to cost, summer schools often come with a hefty price tag. If your home institution can’t offer you funding, there are many possibilities for securing outside stipends. For North Americans, here’s a list of options put together by the American Economic Association. For those looking to take courses in Europe, the many scholarships offered through sources such as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or Erasmus can be quite helpful. Otherwise, don’t forget to look outside your own department for institutional grants or scholarships offered university wide. 5. The application itself When it comes to tackling the application itself, first think about what you want from the program, then what you can offer them. Treat each application individually, making sure to avoid any silly copy and paste mistakes. Be clear, concise and don’t hesitate to talk yourself up. Familiarize yourself with the professors or theorists you’d like to work with, and show how well your work fits with theirs, and how you can mutually benefit from your attendance in their program. Finally, if you feel you need a reminder about why you’re slogging through the summer school application process in the first place, head to The Thesis Whisperer for a post on how summer school can boost productivity, offer unique opportunities for interdisciplinary crossover and stimulate great discussion. Photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/17033616@N08/2752095700/in/photolist-5ccdaS-8NC9YZ-9gHL4Z-55cnD8-6CRjmH-7NdJXk-5SSuXb-5MiEkA-6KynsY-6eyAsF-3VjiS-4Fsms9-4SDT63-c26WXC-7FJ8tr-6WBHiy-dWEzvc-4SDTqm-95Wyhe-5DGzBE-5rYvAf-4spf5m-3ewyv7-HNSE-hdCxL-AkFvY-58FPeC-cvVnhj-7HNhwv-kNWuP-6eyAXg-6y8Vo2-77isY3-dKmGF3-9v1rcD-8pmcDE-a6upuW-6ef59F-52QjAb-uNPdg-63Bh9m-etRbv4-4SzENn-hkiEBs-5i93Ee-9PyBT3-ejUkFx-bkkJtp-ef2Lqw-4PE6Bn-j9rJcP">Isaac Bowen
Over the past few weeks we’ve posted lists of Top Summer Schools in Economics and Top Summer Schools in Business and Management. While we are happy to promote the many great programs out there, we also understand that wading through the sea of options might leave you feeling a little overwhelmed.
Popular Fields in Economics – Which Conference Topics are Most Relevant?
Many interesting comparisons can be drawn with this data, particularly regarding which fields of specialization are most popular in each country, and what percentage of survey respondents continue to work in their areas of study. In the above chart it can be seen that Macroeconomics & Monetary Economics are at the top overall, with 12% of respondents having specialized in this field during their studies. While 10% of all respondents chose Other, International Economics and Financial Economics were each chosen by 9% of respondents across the globe. In Spain, Microeconomics was the top field of specialization (13%), while Germany, Switzerland & Austria reflected the global trend, with 12% of respondents citing Macroeconomics & Monetary Economics as their field. Interestingly, Latin America showed an even higher percentage, where 16% of respondents chose this popular field, while in North America Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics, Environmental and Ecological Economics and Financial Economics were each most chosen. When examining the percentage of respondents who remained within their field of specialization when moving on to a job or a higher degree, quite a range can once again be seen across countries, though overall more than a third (35%) of respondents changed specializations. This level of flexibility reflects a high degree of adaptation amongst academics today, indicating a willingness to gain new expertise while also putting old skills to use. Such data could be of great use when planning conferences in various countries, potentially targeting both those areas where certain specializations are strongest and also those most diverse. For specific information about fields of specialization in countries such as Spain, Germany, Switzerland & Austria or the United States & Canada, download full reports here. You can also download the Worldwide Overview, which contains more details on this and many other subjects.
With the release of the Spanish report this week in the worldwide series of INOMICS Job Market Reports, more information has been added to the wealth of data regarding the interests and experiences of economists across the globe.
Salaries of Spanish Economists in the Crisis
In fact, around 78% of economists in Spain are foreigners. The top reasons they cite for seeking employment in the Iberian country flexible working hours, balance between work and personal life and opportunities for development of their own research studies. Despite being highly relevant factors, their qualitative nature leaves out points of a more quantitative nature, such as salary. Seemingly, despite the economic crisis, Spain continues to attract foreign economists. Given the importance of wages in making choices about professional life, we decided to present the average income of economists in Spain, according to their positions. Compared with other European countries, the level of wages of Spanish economists is low. Around 80% of the employed economist population earns less than $55,000 a year; however this data is based on studies with a sample of mostly young economists with limited advanced studies and work experience. Moreover, as is clear from the graph, positions of full professor and analyst/economist are well paid in the Iberian country, while researchers and PhD candidates do not receive high salaries (more information available in the full Spanish report here) In Spain, work experience and professional education have a strong impact on salary. Citing an example, the income of highly skilled and experienced analysts/economists reflect those of their colleagues in countries like Germany and UK. Based on this observation, and according to other information sources, the situation in the Eurozone particularly affects young professionals in the region, while senior economists find in Mediterranean climates more pleasant working conditions with similar incomes to their countries of origin.
Despite the uncertain outlook for the labour market in the Iberian region, the percentage of foreigners working or studying in Spanish institutions is higher than in other countries like Germany or United Kingdom (for more information access reports from other regions here). Many of these economists study or work at one of the numerous highly ranked institutions found in Spain, such as the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics or the University of Barcelona.
Should I Pursue a PhD in Political Science?
Whether you’re unsure about getting a PhD altogether or if it’s just political science you’re feeling wary of, hopefully this post will help you clear some of the doctoral application fog. 1) If you are interested in pursuing a PhD but are stuck on the dissertation proposal, try perusing some of the recent literature for concrete ideas to build off of. The rather young European Political Science Association founded the Political Science Research and Methods journal last year, while other journals such as the American Political Science Review or the British Journal of Political Science are more well-established and offer a wealth of top-notch articles. Looking through the sites of various regional associations, such as the Latin American Political Science Association, the Asian Political and International Studies Association or the African Politics Conference Group, can also help you get a better idea of current scholarship across the diverse areas within political science. 2) This post from Smoke-Filled Room, a blog written by a group of current doctoral students in political science, offers a breakdown of what to consider when choosing a poli sci PhD program. While the advice offered here is drawn from a U.S. American student population, much of it is highly transferable. 3) This list of pros and cons from the blog Outside the Beltway is based largely on what one’s aims are post-PhD. Keeping long-term career goals in mind can help you target your application in terms of schools and subject matter. 4) In this piece for Foreign Policy, international politics professor Daniel Drezner offers 5 dos and don’ts for creating a solid application. In this follow-up article, he specifically addresses post-graduates, offering concrete advice for how to put together a strong application after a few years out of university. 5) This forum, called the Grade Café, offers current, potential and former graduate students a place to discuss any and all relevant topics. In this thread, the question of American versus European political science PhD programs is debated, offering insight into personal opinions regarding the location of one’s studies. 6) Beyond the Grad Café, there are a number of other blogs and forums worth checking out, particularly those written by students and/or professors with a specific focus on political science and related fields. These include the student-centric IR Blog; The Monkey Cage, which is written by five professors and includes relevant discussion and the publication of recent articles; Democracy and Democratization, which covers an array of topics from diverse students and faculty from the Social Science Research Center Berlin and The Duck of Minerva, which offers commentary and information from a wide variety of contributors from within academia. 7) While worries about money can put the brakes on any endeavor, don’t let it be what’s keeping you from moving forward with your education. Take a look at this post from INOMICS guest blogger Laura Pennington about the many ways to finance your PhD studies. 8) Finally, this data from the American Political Science Association indicates that job openings for political scientists at universities are once again on the rise after the tailspin during the recession. While the academic job market is still highly competitive, these numbers offer hope! If you’re still unsure about which programs to apply to, however, you can find a plethora of options on the INOMICS site. To help narrow down your list, keep an eye out for our upcoming post on top political science departments! Photo credit: Elliott Brown
As another season of graduate school applications comes to a close, we wanted to offer a few diverse perspectives on the matter for any of you still on the fence, or for those of you planning ahead for next year. Although deadlines for this coming fall have already passed for most schools in North America, potential PhD candidates looking at European, Asian, African or Latin American schools may still have some time to send in an application.
Germany vs. Switzerland: Salaries of Economists & Professors in Comparison
This week we decided to look at salaries for Economists in Germany and Switzerland, and see if there is a significant difference between the two nations. As can be clearly observed in the graph, average salaries in Switzerland are higher than those in Germany for every position, both in academia and in the private sector (Analyst/Economist). The trend becomes less extreme with experience gained and at higher seniority levels: the wage differential between Full Professors in the two countries is about 20%, while salaries for a Teaching Assistant in Switzerland are more than double that of identical positions in Germany. Naturally, one has to account for different cost of living, but the gap is quite significant. It can also be observed that the wage increase in Germany is steeper than that in Switzerland: salary in the beginning of an economist’s career path is relatively low, but it triples over time. It shall be noted here that the greatest proportion of economists earning more than €73,000 (the higher salary bracket in the Survey) are employed as Full Professors or Analysts/Economists, which is why the average number contains a plus sign. The data for these findings was collected in the Economics Job Market Survey 2013, conducted by INOMICS. Other findings and the methodology of the survey can be found in the full version of each report, which are available for free download on the INOMICS site.
There are many factors affecting one’s decision when choosing a job, and as the INOMICS Economics Job Market Report showed last year, a friendly working environment, flexible working hours and time to conduct one’s own research seem to be the top three priorities worldwide. Salaries are rated fifth, but as we all know, expected remuneration can easily affect one’s career choice.
Love by the Numbers: Using Game Theory to Calculate Romantic Success
1) This Atlantic article discusses an app called Kahnoodle, which uses game theory to help couples keep a spark in their relationships. 2) In this concise piece for the Huffington Post, the author uses well-crafted anecdotes to guide you through a game theory analysis of the quandaries of dating. 3) This Science 2.0 article cites a study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology that uses game theory to explain why females opt for a long “courtship” period in order to weed out “bad” males. 4) In this paper, philosopher Mark Colyvan argues that successful long-term relationships are in fact a result of narrow self-interest, all explained by game theory. 5) In this piece for Psychology Today, evolutionary epistemologist Dr. Jeremy Sherman addresses the difficulty of a heartbreak-free breakup, and how game theory can help you achieve it. 6) This post from the blog Ready to Be Caught delves into a specific strategy within game theory labeled “tit for tat”. Using examples and a step-by-step approach, the author gives advice on the most effect strategies in the game of attraction. 7) In this post on the Mind Your Decisions blog, the author claims, “if you follow this advice, you’ll maximize your chance of finding true love.” Now there’s a reason to use game theory! 8) Daily Beast editor Paula Szuchman gets down to the nitty gritty in this article based on her book It’s Not You, It’s the Dishes. By taking game theory into the realm of marriage, Szuchman discusses how to “achieve the best results possible” in a long-term relationship. 9) Moving away from romantic love, this article from the journal Psychological Science uses game theory to suggest that “in-group love” is more likely to occur than “out-group hate” in intergroup conflict. 10) Finally, here is a video in which Yale professor Barry Nalebuff discusses the application of game theory to relationships and other aspects of life. Now that you’re armed with all of this game theory-based relationship insight, we would like to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day! Comic: http://xkcd.com/601/ (licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License)
Following up on last year’s Valentine’s Day post Would you Date an Economist?, this year we’ll tackle the next step: how to predict the potential success of your relationship – using game theory. Once again, we’ve compiled a list of authors, researchers and scholars who have attempted to crack the code of love using numbers and logic.
Top Employers for Economists in Germany, Switzerland and Austria
In this post we will offer you some highlights of the results we found, but please feel free to download the entire report in order to get the full picture. For economists across Germany, Switzerland and Austria, a friendly working environment was considered to be of greatest importance when choosing a job, followed by flexible working hours and time to conduct research. Amongst student responses, universities, research institutes, think tanks and international organizations/NGOs were listed as the preferred type of future employer. A mere 6% of respondents said they would like to work for the government, and another combined 6% said they were looking to work for a private company or consultancy. The full breakdown of responses can be seen in the table below. In contrast to the global trend, we found that only 30% of economists in Germany, Austria and Switzerland changed their field of specialization upon entering the labor force. Amongst these economists, Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics (12% of respondents) and International Economics (10% of respondents) were the most common fields of specialization. We also found that foreign students and workers accounted for 54% of economists participating in our survey, which was a comparatively high percentage and indicated an interest amongst economists from other countries to work in this market. To take a closer look at this data and much more, please download the full report here.
In this report, which was just released on the INOMICS website, we offer a detailed look at the interests and experiences of economists in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. With the participation of over 300 economists from these three countries, we gathered a broad range of data in response to questions regarding fields of specialization, international mobility, job market preferences, top employers and many other issues. While nearly a third of survey respondents were PhD candidates, researchers made up another significant portion of participants (20%) and other respondents included professors, consultants, analysts, lecturers and others.