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#pragma · 11-23-2006, 09:39 AM

I'm finishing up a masters in economics and am seriously considering pursuing a phd thereafter. However, I'm finding myself less and less enamored with the neoclassical approach. My question is: is it possible to attend a top 20 PhD program and still specialize in a field that is a little off the beaten path?

I know that behavioral economics has gained a lot of acceptance (maybe it's a misnomer calling it heterodox anymore) and places like Berkeley and University of Chicago (or at least its business school) are great for that (although extraordinarily difficult to get into). Does anyone have any vague idea of what the top schools are good for behavioral?

I suppose I was also wondering about things like evolutionary economics and institutional economics (or even new-institutional although I guess this isn't really heterodox). Are any top programs strong in these fields?

Would it be worthwhile trying to get into a top program if I am looking to conduct research that is a little heterodox in flavor (excluding behavioral and new-institutional)? Or is it a better idea to go to a specifically heterodox program or try to get a Phd in Business, where I gather there is a bit more diversity.

shootermcgavin7 · 11-23-2006, 01:23 PM

I think he moved from the Econ dept to the business school a few years ago; but if I'm not mistaken Robert Frank at Cornell does a lot of behavioral stuff.

Antichron · 11-23-2006, 04:05 PM

The evolutionary game theory approach used to be much more widespread than it is now. It sorta fell out of favor and is now being used primarily by biologists. David Levine who is now at WUSTL seems pretty sympathetic to this approach, so WUSTL might be worth considering.

For behavioral, Caltech would be a great place to be. There are also a lot of people at Harvard doing behavioral, so that might be worth considering as well.

There is a professor at UCLA, Earl Thompson, (http://www.econ.ucla.edu/thompson/) who does a lot of non-mainstream work in economics. He has a lot of unpublished papers that he is compiling into a three volume collection. As long as Earl doesn't retire in the next few years, UCLA could be a solid choice for you.

In any case, good luck!

economicus · 11-23-2006, 04:18 PM

University of New York has a program in austrian economics.

poleringer · 11-24-2006, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #pragma

I'm finishing up a masters in economics and am seriously considering pursuing a phd thereafter. However, I'm finding myself less and less enamored with the neoclassical approach. My question is: is it possible to attend a top 20 PhD program and still specialize in a field that is a little off the beaten path?

I know that behavioral economics has gained a lot of acceptance (maybe it's a misnomer calling it heterodox anymore) and places like Berkeley and University of Chicago (or at least its business school) are great for that (although extraordinarily difficult to get into). Does anyone have any vague idea of what the top schools are good for behavioral?

I suppose I was also wondering about things like evolutionary economics and institutional economics (or even new-institutional although I guess this isn't really heterodox). Are any top programs strong in these fields?

Would it be worthwhile trying to get into a top program if I am looking to conduct research that is a little heterodox in flavor (excluding behavioral and new-institutional)? Or is it a better idea to go to a specifically heterodox program or try to get a Phd in Business, where I gather there is a bit more diversity.

when people say U chicago gsb is good for behavioral, which dept are they talking about specifically? the econ group? the finance group? management and org.? i'm applyin there cause I want to do behavioral econ, is their econ dept the way to go?

#pragma · 11-24-2006, 10:18 AM

Sorry poleringer, I really don't know, but that's a good question. I only mentioned University of Chicago's business school because Richard Thaler is there along with the Center for Decision Research. Then again maybe you can get him as an advisor even if you're in the normal econ phd program...

Tycho · 11-27-2006, 06:45 AM

If you haven't yet read the article "Taking on Rational Man" in the Chronicle of Higher Education, then definitely take a look:

http://chronicle.com/free/v49/i20/20a01201.htm

The program in sociological economics at Cornell might be just the thing you're looking for, if you decide your tastes run too far towards the heterodox to be easily included within traditional economics departments. And their placement record looks quite good.

http://www.soc.cornell.edu/research/...ociology.shtml

11-23-2006, 09:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
#pragma Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 10	heterodox economics and top 20 phd programs I'm finishing up a masters in economics and am seriously considering pursuing a phd thereafter. However, I'm finding myself less and less enamored with the neoclassical approach. My question is: is it possible to attend a top 20 PhD program and still specialize in a field that is a little off the beaten path? I know that behavioral economics has gained a lot of acceptance (maybe it's a misnomer calling it heterodox anymore) and places like Berkeley and University of Chicago (or at least its business school) are great for that (although extraordinarily difficult to get into). Does anyone have any vague idea of what the top schools are good for behavioral? I suppose I was also wondering about things like evolutionary economics and institutional economics (or even new-institutional although I guess this isn't really heterodox). Are any top programs strong in these fields? Would it be worthwhile trying to get into a top program if I am looking to conduct research that is a little heterodox in flavor (excluding behavioral and new-institutional)? Or is it a better idea to go to a specifically heterodox program or try to get a Phd in Business, where I gather there is a bit more diversity.

11-23-2006, 04:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Antichron TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 607	The evolutionary game theory approach used to be much more widespread than it is now. It sorta fell out of favor and is now being used primarily by biologists. David Levine who is now at WUSTL seems pretty sympathetic to this approach, so WUSTL might be worth considering. For behavioral, Caltech would be a great place to be. There are also a lot of people at Harvard doing behavioral, so that might be worth considering as well. There is a professor at UCLA, Earl Thompson, (http://www.econ.ucla.edu/thompson/) who does a lot of non-mainstream work in economics. He has a lot of unpublished papers that he is compiling into a three volume collection. As long as Earl doesn't retire in the next few years, UCLA could be a solid choice for you. In any case, good luck! _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ MIT Economics, class of 2011

11-27-2006, 06:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tycho Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1	heterodox approaches If you haven't yet read the article "Taking on Rational Man" in the Chronicle of Higher Education, then definitely take a look: http://chronicle.com/free/v49/i20/20a01201.htm The program in sociological economics at Cornell might be just the thing you're looking for, if you decide your tastes run too far towards the heterodox to be easily included within traditional economics departments. And their placement record looks quite good. http://www.soc.cornell.edu/research/...ociology.shtml

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11-23-2006, 01:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
shootermcgavin7 Within my grasp! Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 498	I think he moved from the Econ dept to the business school a few years ago; but if I'm not mistaken Robert Frank at Cornell does a lot of behavioral stuff.

11-23-2006, 04:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
economicus TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 664	University of New York has a program in austrian economics.

11-24-2006, 10:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
#pragma Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 10	Sorry poleringer, I really don't know, but that's a good question. I only mentioned University of Chicago's business school because Richard Thaler is there along with the Center for Decision Research. Then again maybe you can get him as an advisor even if you're in the normal econ phd program...

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