Phd in IO + msc in business studies?

[economicus]

Hey,

Do you think that a master degree in business studies (e.g. marketing, strategy&organization) would be a beneficial addition to a PhD in economics for someone doing IO and planning to pursue academic carerier in combination with private consulting (e.g. in free time or so). I'm currently doing my Phd in economics (3rd year) and during the time to the final year it would be possible (cheap) for me to do a masters at the same university. Some courses in Msc in business studies sound interesting (quite connected to IO field) but the main question is whether a formal msc degree would somehow help me later on considering my goals. What do you think? Or maybe MBA would be better..though it seems the later would perhaps require just too much time currently that could be better spent on phd reserach. For msc I would just need to take a few (6 or so) classes and write a thesis...which maybe could be just one paper for my phd (if I'm not mistaken here). (Note that I already have a msc and MRes/MPhil degree in economics)

[walt526]

It will be the terminal degree that employers will care about, i.e. the PhD not a Masters. If the courses are generally applicable to your research and the opportunity cost isn't too high, then do as many as you want up to and including earning the formal degree. But it's marginal benefit on the job market will likely be zero.

[rogueeconomist]

Yep, absolutely zero marginal benefit for any higher tier academic job application where the only thing that matters is your job market paper and your advisor recommendations. By the way, consulting on the side is a good way to not make tenure, so I wouldn't expect to be able to do it until about 6-10 years out.

[Gecko]

I would feel that an MBA would be a more useful networking tool

[economicus]

I see.... thanks guys!