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odinzs · 07-06-2008, 01:29 PM

I realise most threads are about phds in the US or Europe. There is little on those in Australia.

I am interested in international trade and development economics and I am thinking of applying to Australian National University (ANU) and Adelaide Uni (because it has an Int'l Econ research centre and Kym Anderson is there).

What are your opinions of these programs? Would I be able to get placements in US or Europe Unis?

Also, I noticed that there is very little representation from Australian Unis in the US or European econs faculties. Do you think it is because the US or European faculties prefer their local Unis?

Thanks.

mpleportals · 07-06-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odinzs

I realise most threads are about phds in the US or Europe. There is little on those in Australia.

I am interested in international trade and development economics and I am thinking of applying to Australian National University (ANU) and Adelaide Uni (because it has an Int'l Econ research centre and Kym Anderson is there).

What are your opinions of these programs? Would I be able to get placements in US or Europe Unis?

Also, I noticed that there is very little representation from Australian Unis in the US or European econs faculties. Do you think it is because the US or European faculties prefer their local Unis?

Thanks.

One of the top econometricians in the world has done his Phd in ANU

Peter ROBINSON

odinzs · 07-06-2008, 04:30 PM

Thanks mpleportals.
But Robinson did his Phd in ANU in the 70s. That is a long time ago. I wonder if there are other prominent economists in US/EU faculties from ANU?

asianeconomist · 07-07-2008, 08:29 AM

ANU has a centre for macroeconomics and policy, so that might come in handy. Also, why aren't you considering Melbourne ? They're right along side ANU in terms of faculty and publications.

Chicunomics · 07-07-2008, 09:48 AM

Former University of Melbourne undergrad here.

I would say that the reason Australian universities these days struggle when compared to other top european or US PhD programs is that the coursework is probably a weakness, and we probably aren't attracting that many top students. Also, the departments are not as grad student focussed as others overseas...at least this is the vibe I'm getting. In general, I know UoM doesn't place spectacularly, but I dare say that could be because of the students, not the program. But there are good ones here too: Mr. Econphd.net, Christian Roessler was here up until recently, and he was excellent. I think that if you have the ability, you can definitely excel. The faculty here are excellent, they are prepared to give you heaps of attention, and the recent hiring has also been outstanding. We seem to hire almost exclusively from inside the world top 40 these days.

I had lunch with one of my recommenders the other day, and ANU came up. Apparently the funding there is getting worse (funding for hiring faculty and such, I mean), but that is possibly just a relative measure. Recent rankings I've seen put Melbourne #1 in Australia and that's before these new hires start producing good stuff.

But then, of course, interests and fit are also very important. I would say Melbourne's strength is experimental economics (we just nabbed Tom Wilkening from MIT, and regularly have Charlie Plott, Charlie Holt, Charles Noussair out here). After that I would say micro theory (Nobel Laureate Jim Mirrlees visits a few months a year) and econometrics -- both in applied fields like labour and development -- and theory (Nobel Laureate Clive Granger visits a few months a year also). We definitely have a good covering, so there are no massive holes, but probably not going to be as good as ANU at international eco. Development we have Lisa Cameron, Lata Gangadharan, Catherine De Fontenay (she's awesome, both professionally and otherwise) and a new hire from Berkeley, Manisha Shah. That's off the top of my head, there may be others who dabble.

sonicskat · 07-07-2008, 03:05 PM

Also on the experimental econ, one of Charlie Holt's advisee's is coming down to oz on a post doc. I can't exactly remember which university in Sydney it was, but I think it might have been UNSW.

Anyways, got to go to australia in undergrad...can't wait to get back their sometime...the country is incredible.

odinzs · 07-07-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asianeconomist

ANU has a centre for macroeconomics and policy, so that might come in handy. Also, why aren't you considering Melbourne ? They're right along side ANU in terms of faculty and publications.

Acutally, my undergrad is from Melb Uni but I contacted a prof there and he advised not to go to Uni Melb. As my interest was in international eco, there is really no one at Uni Melb who can supervise my thesis if I choose to go there. But then taking what Chicunomics said, I will have to take a look at the faculty in intl econ research again. But admittedly, ANU still has more pp focused on int'l econs.

Canuckonomist · 07-07-2008, 05:10 PM

Frank Milne of Queen's University got his Ph.D from ANU, but again, I believe so in the 70s. He's a well-published and highly respected Queen's Economist. He also did his initial placement and Rochester, I believe.

asianeconomist · 07-08-2008, 04:12 AM

I do not intend to create a controversy here, but according to the placement performance of ANU (ref: Ranking Economics Deparments Worldwide on the Basis of PHD Placement: R. Amir and M. Knauff), it is ranked at 43 (above Queen's, UCD, UfT....).

I am honestly a bit surprised to find ANU being placed so high. Does it mean that is has been slipping its Grads to relatively good places for a long time without us knowing nothing about it....

odinzs · 07-08-2008, 02:22 PM

Hey, thanks asianeconomist for pointing the rankings out. I am also surprised that ANU is placed so high.

One thing though, what's with the caveat of not intending to create controversy? Is there something with this article by Amir and Knauff?

07-06-2008, 01:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
odinzs Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5	PhD in Australia I realise most threads are about phds in the US or Europe. There is little on those in Australia. I am interested in international trade and development economics and I am thinking of applying to Australian National University (ANU) and Adelaide Uni (because it has an Int'l Econ research centre and Kym Anderson is there). What are your opinions of these programs? Would I be able to get placements in US or Europe Unis? Also, I noticed that there is very little representation from Australian Unis in the US or European econs faculties. Do you think it is because the US or European faculties prefer their local Unis? Thanks.

07-07-2008, 09:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Chicunomics It's Over! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 161	Former University of Melbourne undergrad here. I would say that the reason Australian universities these days struggle when compared to other top european or US PhD programs is that the coursework is probably a weakness, and we probably aren't attracting that many top students. Also, the departments are not as grad student focussed as others overseas...at least this is the vibe I'm getting. In general, I know UoM doesn't place spectacularly, but I dare say that could be because of the students, not the program. But there are good ones here too: Mr. Econphd.net, Christian Roessler was here up until recently, and he was excellent. I think that if you have the ability, you can definitely excel. The faculty here are excellent, they are prepared to give you heaps of attention, and the recent hiring has also been outstanding. We seem to hire almost exclusively from inside the world top 40 these days. I had lunch with one of my recommenders the other day, and ANU came up. Apparently the funding there is getting worse (funding for hiring faculty and such, I mean), but that is possibly just a relative measure. Recent rankings I've seen put Melbourne #1 in Australia and that's before these new hires start producing good stuff. But then, of course, interests and fit are also very important. I would say Melbourne's strength is experimental economics (we just nabbed Tom Wilkening from MIT, and regularly have Charlie Plott, Charlie Holt, Charles Noussair out here). After that I would say micro theory (Nobel Laureate Jim Mirrlees visits a few months a year) and econometrics -- both in applied fields like labour and development -- and theory (Nobel Laureate Clive Granger visits a few months a year also). We definitely have a good covering, so there are no massive holes, but probably not going to be as good as ANU at international eco. Development we have Lisa Cameron, Lata Gangadharan, Catherine De Fontenay (she's awesome, both professionally and otherwise) and a new hire from Berkeley, Manisha Shah. That's off the top of my head, there may be others who dabble. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Last edited by Chicunomics : 07-08-2008 at 01:29 AM.

07-07-2008, 03:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
sonicskat Within my grasp! Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 239	Also on the experimental econ, one of Charlie Holt's advisee's is coming down to oz on a post doc. I can't exactly remember which university in Sydney it was, but I think it might have been UNSW. Anyways, got to go to australia in undergrad...can't wait to get back their sometime...the country is incredible. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ UVA-- A first year, no longer

07-07-2008, 05:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Canuckonomist Loving the Ivory Tower Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kingston, Canada Posts: 245	Frank Milne of Queen's University got his Ph.D from ANU, but again, I believe so in the 70s. He's a well-published and highly respected Queen's Economist. He also did his initial placement and Rochester, I believe. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Attending Queen's University Ph.D comics by Jorge Cham... Now I can actually say they relate.

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07-06-2008, 04:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
odinzs Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5	Thanks mpleportals. But Robinson did his Phd in ANU in the 70s. That is a long time ago. I wonder if there are other prominent economists in US/EU faculties from ANU?

07-07-2008, 08:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
asianeconomist Loving the game Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Where the grass is greener Posts: 849	ANU has a centre for macroeconomics and policy, so that might come in handy. Also, why aren't you considering Melbourne ? They're right along side ANU in terms of faculty and publications.

07-08-2008, 04:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
asianeconomist Loving the game Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Where the grass is greener Posts: 849	I do not intend to create a controversy here, but according to the placement performance of ANU (ref: Ranking Economics Deparments Worldwide on the Basis of PHD Placement: R. Amir and M. Knauff), it is ranked at 43 (above Queen's, UCD, UfT....). I am honestly a bit surprised to find ANU being placed so high. Does it mean that is has been slipping its Grads to relatively good places for a long time without us knowing nothing about it....

07-08-2008, 02:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
odinzs Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5	Hey, thanks asianeconomist for pointing the rankings out. I am also surprised that ANU is placed so high. One thing though, what's with the caveat of not intending to create controversy? Is there something with this article by Amir and Knauff?

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