Master in Economics and Public Policy

Policy Fields of Specialization

Competition and Regulation: Competition is a fundamental force in a market economy. It provides incentives to invent, improve and excel. However, competition does not naturally arise in some markets, and firms may have incentives to act strategically to manipulate prices and quantities in their favor. In this field, we investigate threats to competition and discuss how rules can be designed to improve market outcomes. Competition is also crucial for the public domain, as political parties compete for voters and local governments for firms and taxpayers.

Environment and Energy: Environmental and energy policy has become one of the most hotly debated policy fields in industrialized countries. How do we combat climate change? Which policies and market designs can be used to facilitate the transition to renewable energy? How can we handle the side effects of an increasing demand for mobility? How we answer these questions has huge important implications for many firms and strongly influences trade patterns and international relations. Economists provide advice both to public agencies designing policies and to firms deciding on future market strategies that are influenced by these policies.

Health and Labor: Ageing populations, digitalization and the Corona pandemic have dramatic impacts on the health care system, social security systems, insurance and labor markets. How can we ensure the sustainability of the health care and pension system with increasing shares of older people? How can we cope with rapidly changing work environments? Sound answers require a profound understanding of how supply and demand of labor and health care are intertwined with public regulation.

Possible Occupational Fields

This program prepares you for positions in

• private sector companies that are subject to public policy
• public administration that elaborates and implements policy measures
• non-governmental or international organizations and political parties that develop strategies for public policy
• think tanks or policy consulting agencies that support all of the above actors

The program also serves as a preparation for a career in research and a possible academic track.

By focusing on modern methods and gaining insight into several policy fields, you will be able to work in dynamic environments where priorities often change and where interfaces between policy fields become increasingly important.