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Hi folks: Please help out a PoliSci fella here. I'm doing a regional analysis but have provincial data. What is the way to aggregate provincial data into regional data? For example: I've GDPPC of 27 provinces from 1980 - 2000. However, I'm looking to aggregate GDPPC of 27 provinces into two regions: Coastal and Land-locked, for each year. How should I proceed? My colleague proposed taking the mean. But there has to be a better approach. Thanks!

I know for a fact that UNDESA, UNCTAD, and UNDP have incorporated it in their research program. But then again, UN has gradually shifted away from the neoclassical synthesis.

How receptive are central banks and top journals to agent-based computational economics as a modeling methodology? I understand there is still heavy reliance on DSGE, but is ACE making any inroads in the policy circles and professional journals?

I understand that we're allowed one member outside the department to serve on the dissertation committee, when appropriate. I have someone I'm contemplating but not sure on how to approach him. What's the proper etiquette? How long do I need to be in contact with him before I request him to serve on my committee? Thanks!

I arrived to the program under-prepared relative to my peers, so their assistance throughout the year was instrumental in getting me through the qualifiers. If it weren't for collective action, I probably would not have survived the first-year.

Apologies for resurrecting this thread. I made a C in my Micro I the first semester, but ended up passing the qualifiers. Should I repeat the course to augment my GPA? Would you?

Thanks for that. Does anyone how the academic market would be for the Heterodox economists? And could you get a job at the World Bank or UN?

Hi Friends, I am considering a fully-funded offer from a Heterodox Dept., hence the department is on the tail-end of the rankings in Economics (Top 100-150). My research interests are in open-market macroeconomics. Is anyone aware of the job-market opportunities in five years for heterodox graduates? I also have an unfunded offer from UIUC for MS. in Policy Economics. So, I'm trying to gauge if it would be better for me to go do a MS and apply in the next admissions cycle to a higher ranked school. Any thoughts? Also, the PhD program that I'm considering recently placed their students at institutions like U. of Denver, U. of Wisconsin- Green Bay, etc. Does anyone know what would be the expected starting salary at those places?

Thanks for the replies, guys. @HeyNomad: I enjoy Heterodox, but really I'm quite open. I have had a more pluralistic approach to economics in my undergraduate. I have talked to the faculty at Utah, and they say that it does close some doors but it opens many doors as well. I'm also considering doing two years at Utah and then maybe applying to higher ranked schools? Not sure how feasible that option is.

So, I have been accepted at the University of Utah PhD in Economics with full funding; $17k + tuition + health insurance. However, I have also been offered an admission for the MPP degree at the University of Chicago. The offer is unfunded; so I would have to take out an approx. loan of $100,000 for two years. My ultimate goal is to do a PhD in Economics. I have asked around the faculty at Chicago, and they say many students have gone on to do a PhD later. I need some advice- my gut reaction is Chicago, but that is a lot of $$$. Thanks! Accepted: Michigan MPP, Chicago MPP, Utah PhD ($), American PhD, and GW PhD.

So, I have a "reach" school on my list and my research mentor is a graduate of that same school. I requested his recommendation, since some of the faculty served on his dissertation committee. He agreed to write a strong letter but prefaced that with "...you should also look for programs that you could fall back on" and "I'll email my dissertation chair (from the same dept.) and see what other programs he would recommend." Now, I was wishing he would say something like 'I'll let that faculty member know that you're applying to that school' or something a bit more definitive. I'm not sure what to make out of it. Should I apply to his alma mater or not? Does he think I should or not? And just to add a bit more detail: He actually was the person who told me to look at that school in the first place. And now he sounds a bit ambiguous, at least from the quotations I cited. Also, could anyone speak to the issue of getting a doctorate from the same institution as your undergrad? How much of a problem is it? Thanks

Thank you for the response. I'm not particularly confined to academia but would like to pursue policy career at a think tank or non-profit.

Hi all, My profile is very weak because I just recently decided to apply for Economics PhD programs. I'm certainly not targeting Top 50. So here it goes: -Top 50 Public University -Economics and Political Science -UGPA: 3.7 -Econ GPA: 3.8 -GRE: TBD (practice scores haven't been remarkable) -Math: Calc I (A), Calc II (A), Calculus-based Stats (Fall), Linear Algebra (Spring), Calc III (Spring) -Econ Classes: Stats and Probability (A), Econometrics (A) and others -Research Experience: Have worked on two papers under faculty mentorship; labor economics and development economics -Interests: Development Economics -Have been working at a market research firms- running hypothesis testing So, I really need help in identifying programs where I have a reasonable shot. Thanks

The offer from U of Colorado-Boulder is funded. My eventual career objective is to work for a governmental or international organization, e.g. US Gov't, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, etc. My emphasis is Development Economics. I'm trying to evaluate my decision on which academic path would be best suitable for such a career. I do not plan on seeking a career in academia. Also, could anyone speak to the the fact that attaining a PhD from your undergraduate institution is undesirable in the labor market? I ask this question because U of C is my undergraduate institution. I have also received a funded offer from University of Utah. And yes, money is a legitimate concern. If I go to Duke, it's preordained at least in my case to accumulate debt. Thank you all for your feedback! Accepted: U of Colo (PhD $$$), U of Utah (PhD $$$), Northeastern U (PhD $$), Duke (MA), American U (MA), USC (MA) Declined: U of Rochester (PhD), NYU (MA)

I have recently been accepted at a Masters program at Duke and a PhD program at University of Colorado-Boulder. My eventual objective is to attain a PhD in Economics. My undergraduate quantitative background was weak on the standards of Top 30 Schools, so I decided to apply to the Masters instead. Thanks