Imagine this: you're trying to solve a complex puzzle where every piece represents a different facet of economic performance. Now, imagine that the shape of some of these pieces are influenced by the quality of the institutions in place—things like governance, legal frameworks, and anti-corruption measures. As it turns out, the fit of these pieces can make or break the overall picture of economic growth. Institutions, in this sense, are not just background players; they are fundamental to how the economic puzzle comes together.

The following article first appeared in the INOMICS Handbook 2024.Download the INOMICS HandbookProfessor Marcel Fratzscher, esteemed macroeconomist and president of the DIW Berlin, once again asks questions about economics and life in general to a peer in the 2024 edition of the INOMICS Handbook Questionnaire. This time, he poses the questions to Dr. Olivier Blanchard, a prominent macroeconomist, who graciously took to the spotlight in this latest round. Thus, the back-and-forth has been dubbed Fratzscher vs. Blanchard, as is tradition. Dr. Blanchard offers us some interesting food for thought: the interview touches on the joy of conducting research with former students, the sometimes counterintuitive things we learn from economics, an analysis of Real Business Cycle Theory, and more.

This article overviews different types of economics skills training courses and discusses how course organizers and recruiters can make sure their programs get seen and attract the right talent. If you’re looking to better serve the economics alumni from your degree programs, build a pipeline of potential PhD candidates, or just attract more attention to the professional training courses you offer, keep reading for more.

Attending university can be a ton of fun, but it’s also supposed to prepare you for the next stage in your career. Normally, this involves a lot of studying. But breaks and hobbies are important to have, too.

Everyone’s heard of micro- and macroeconomics. The two terms are so deeply ingrained in the world of economics that even lay people generally know what they refer to. Almost everything economists analyze can be arguably given one of these labels.

If you're looking to choose an economics PhD program, it's important to consider options that match your research interests, career goals, and personal goals. Below is a selection of some of the best PhD programs in economics that are offered by European universities, to help you find the right postgraduate program for you.

If you're planning to study economics at a Master's level, then you may have the opportunity to pursue a concentration, sometimes also referred to as a major. While rarer, some PhD programs may also offer concentrations, though many are already specialized degrees (or require you to have your own research agenda).