In PRACTICAL terms, getting into a top management PhD program, and into a top Econ program is minimally different. The student enrolled at the management PhD program can take courses offered by the econ department, attend the seminars, have members of the econ department in his committee, etc. (vice-versa for the econ Phd students). The only practical difference are the required courses... Management PhD students normally do not have to take macroeconomics, BUT MAY do so. Econometrics/statistics ...