Economics & Public Policy Programs

[tm_guru]

I see a lot of chatter on the forum about heterodox institutions. I certainly don't want a heterodox education but I do enjoy policy and policy debates.

I know CMU has a specific Econ and Public Policy PhD. Are there any other programs like this in the north-east of America in top50 schools?

I think I'd have a comparative advantage at these programs as my Master's degree was policy focused. Any thoughts?

[claphands]

Michigan has a joint degree, but you have to both be accepted to the policy school AND the econ program. It's very small.
Georgia State and Claremont too I think (not top 50 though)

Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford all have PhDs in "Political Economy"

[Gecko]

Originally Posted by claphands

Michigan has a joint degree, but you have to both be accepted to the policy school AND the econ program. It's very small.
Georgia State and Claremont too I think (not top 50 though)

Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford all have PhDs in "Political Economy"

I think its even harder to get into their political economy program than the normal econ~

[hulk86]

Originally Posted by Gecko

I think its even harder to get into their political economy program than the normal econ~

anyone know the advantages/disadvantages to getting a Ph.D. in Political Economy rather than getting a Ph.D. in econ with political economy as a field? (assuming the applicant wants to pursue research in political economy)

[tm_guru]

I think political economy and economic policy often get thrown together but they aren't all that similar.

Journal articles on Political Economy often consider voting, the ideals of democracy, electoral division issues, the concept of government, the conflict between what's the right decision and what will get a politican re-elected, etc.

Economic policy focuses on education, healthcare, social welfare programs, externalities, and many concepts in public economics. There are obvious common links but they are very different fields.

Personally, I'd rather take a slow boat to hell than study political economy. I'm not enough of an idealist. Give me some meaty issue about who gets subsidised heating in winter, or the value of the Cash for Clunkers program and I'm much happier.

[hulk86]

Originally Posted by tm_guru

I think political economy and economic policy often get thrown together but they aren't all that similar.

Journal articles on Political Economy often consider voting, the ideals of democracy, electoral division issues, the concept of government, the conflict between what's the right decision and what will get a politican re-elected, etc.

Economic policy focuses on education, healthcare, social welfare programs, externalities, and many concepts in public economics. There are obvious common links but they are very different fields.

Personally, I'd rather take a slow boat to hell than study political economy. I'm not enough of an idealist. Give me some meaty issue about who gets subsidised heating in winter, or the value of the Cash for Clunkers program and I'm much happier.

I don't think political economy is any more idealistic than other fields in economics. Insofar as it is the study of how political processes and institutions provide constraints on decision-making ability that influence economic outcomes, we might say it's more realistic than some other fields in econ...

[tm_guru]

Originally Posted by hulk86

I don't think political economy is any more idealistic than other fields in economics. Insofar as it is the study of how political processes and institutions provide constraints on decision-making ability that influence economic outcomes, we might say it's more realistic than some other fields in econ...

Absolutely, but I find that to study such topics you need to enjoy contemplating a lot of political 'ideals' (for want of a better word). I'm much more into tackling issues, than debating ideals. Which is what I meant by not being an idealist.

[jsi10]

At Harvard, the difference between the Political Economy and Government Program (Economics Track) and the regular Economics PhD is virtually non-existent in terms of research, placement outcomes and student quality.

[hulk86]

Originally Posted by jsi10

At Harvard, the difference between the Political Economy and Government Program (Economics Track) and the regular Economics PhD is virtually non-existent in terms of research, placement outcomes and student quality.

so why have two programs? i find this intriguing.

[jsi10]

Originally Posted by hulk86

so why have two programs? i find this intriguing.

in theory the people admitted to the PEG program should be the ones who are focusing on political economy issues and would benefit from courses in both economics and government. this manifests itself in program requirements, committee allocation rules, etc. in practice, the type of research produced by graduates of this program spills over to all kinds of subfields of economics, not just political economy.