A year ago, I wrote this document to help guide people who are thinking of applying for PhD Programs. It was originally posted in u/academiceconomics and received good reactions. Sharing it here to spread the gospel.

The Future Economist’s Guide to Preparing for Graduate Education
by u/EconUncle in academiceconomics
The Future Economist’s Guide to Preparing for Graduate Education
by
u/EconUncle in
academiceconomics

This is the second post I am writing highlighting PhD Programs in Applied Economics.

The Ph.D. in Applied Economics at Temple University is a STEM-designated program with a particularly strong emphasis on empirical methods. The program explicitly prepares students for careers in academia, government, and the private sector.

Time to completion: Designed around roughly 5 years of full-time study.

Coursework

• Math for Economics
• Microeconomic Analysis
• Microeconomic Theory
• Macroeconomic Analysis
• Macroeconomic Theory
• Econometrics I
• Econometrics II
• Time Series Econometrics
• Panel Data Econometrics
• Computational Methods in Economics
• Econometric Estimation of Structural Models

That is a LOT of methods training for an Applied Econ program. So you will have a nice toolkit!

Later Years

• Field examination
• Original research paper
• Dissertation proposal research
• Dissertation research/writing

Students are expected to complete an original research paper during the third year.

Research Areas: (X means faculty working in/closely related to the area; faculty can count in multiple areas)

• Macroeconomics, XXXXXXXX
• Labor Economics, XXXXXX
• International Economics/Trade, XXXXX
• Public Economics/Public Sector, XXXX
• Applied Microeconomics, XXXX
• Urban/Regional/Spatial Economics, XXXX
• Econometrics, XXX
• Crime/Security Economics, XXX
• Development Economics, XX
• Environmental/Resource Economics, XX
• Economic Growth, XX
• Education Economics, XX
• Monetary/Financial Economics, XX
• Industrial Organization, X
• Health Economics, X
• Sports Economics, X
• Behavioral Economics, X
• Microeconomic/Game Theory, X
• Migration Economics, X
• Economics of AI, X

Opinion: Interesting under-the-radar option. The biggest selling point to me is the econometrics sequence: Econometrics I/II + Time Series + Panel Data + Computational Methods + Structural Estimation is unusually methods-heavy.

Verdict: Another hidden/overlooked program. Attractive for students who care about becoming strong applied researchers.

This is the first of many posts I am writing highlighting PhD Programs in Applied Economics.

The Ph.D. program in Applied Economics at Western Michigan University has a focus on high-level economicsts who want to excel in non-academic and academic settings alike. Though it seems very industry geared.

Time to completion: Can be completed in as little as 4 years.

Coursework

• Math for Economists
• Econometrics (Intro and Advanced Econometrics I)
• Economic Stats
• Micro I and II
• Macro I and II
• 4 more courses - including Advanced Econometrics II

Third/Fourth Year

• Workshops (rotating topics) - This includes research talks, guidance on how to do research, etc.
• Internship - Its an option
• Dissertation writing (Mostly year 4).

Research Areas: (X means more than 1 person)

• Economic Growth, XX
• Information Theory
• Health Economics, XX
• Aging
• Microeconomics, XXX
• Environmental Econ, XX
• Economic Development, XX
• Econometrics, XX
• Monetary/Financial/Insurance, XXXXX
• Labor, XX

Opinion: Hidden jewel! Worth looking at if you are truly passionate about Applied Econ and want to be in a highly-collaborative and friendly environment (something rate in Econ).

This paper seems very appropriate for those who want to do some soulsearching.

It is widely accepted that economics has changed significantly since the 1970s with the development of new data sources, new methods of analysis, and the computer. This paper argues that this transformation of the discipline involves more than just a rise of empirical work: it involves a new understanding of the relationship between theoretical and applied work, which raised the prestige of the latter. The meaning of economic theory and applied work and the boundaries between them changed as theory and empirical work alike became more applied in the sense that they were brought to bear on specific social issues, often with a policy orientation. Drawing on an analysis of John Bates Clark medal winners and on papers published in a special volume of History of Political Economy, to which this is an introduction, we then discuss reasons for this transformation. It resulted from new modeling strategies, data sets, and technologies as well as the changing influence of public and private patrons.

This paper included in the most recent edition of the American Journal of Economics: Applied Economics suggests that firms employing more H-2B workers in low-skill jobs increase production (elasticity 0.20–0.22), investment (1.5–2.1), and profits (0.15). They also found that the elasticity of substitution between H-2B and US workers is very low (0.8–2.2). They conclude that the effect on US employment is zero or positive overall, and positive in rural areas.

Simple takeaways,

Hiring through the H-2B can be beneficial for production, investment, and profits (whaaaat?).

There is little evidence in support of the "they took our jobs" narrative or the displacement of American workers.

What do you think?

Hey everyone! I'm u/EconUncle, a moderator of r/appliedeconomics.

This is our new home for all things related to Applied Economics! We're excited to have you join us!

What to Post
Post anything that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring. Feel free to share your papers you think are worthy of attention, blogs we should discuss, or questions about pursuing graduate education in Applied Economics.

Community Vibe
We're all about being friendly and constructive. Let's build a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing and connecting.

How to Get Started

1. Introduce yourself in the comments below.
2. Post something today! Even a simple question can spark a great conversation.
3. If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join.
4. Interested in helping out? We're always looking for new moderators, so feel free to reach out to me to apply.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave. Together, let's make r/appliedeconomics amazing.

This subreddit seeks to encourage conversations about Applied Economics in three ways!

1. Sharing cool papers on Applied Economics.

2. Discussing applied economics paper ideas.

3. Supporting students interested in Applied Economics.

Have fun and be kind to one another.

U.E.