alecvolkman

Is anyone familiar with a coherent economic theory and model that integrate financial and real sectors in an essential way that can be used to analyze both sectors meaningfully either in a descriptive or prescriptive mode? Thanks!

All: I am considering requesting a second-year assistant professor to serve as my dissertation chair. The reason being that he is more empathetic and more in tune with my research interests. He also has an active research program and is churning out publications at a decent pace. He is currently serving on a couple of committees as member but this would be his first-time chairing a committee. I understand it is generally discouraged to pick a junior faculty as your chair. So, I would be grateful if you folks could share your thoughts and experiences. Thanks!

All: I am a PhD student contemplating development economics and financial economics as my two required field courses! Is this combination palatable? My primary interest is development economics; and that is where my dissertation would come from as well. I ask this question because I haven't come across any material where these two fields intersect. Thanks!

All: I'll be teaching an undergraduate class on American economic history next year. I've been shopping for possible textbooks. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

@OneArmedEcon: I'm thinking that they might not be familiar with it. That's primarily why I would like to communicate that, however I'm struggling to find the words.

Hello, I'm a first year PhD student applying for a summer internship. However my first semester GPA is woefully low (2.9) primarily because I had to face a steeper learning curve to compensate for my lack of quantitative background. I'm wondering if there is anything else I could add which would better explain the cause of a low GPA? Thanks!

The placement is mostly in the academic job market. I inquired about it, and was told that the majority of the students prefer jobs in academia. I maybe know a couple of people who have gone on to work in regional policy think tanks. I would also like to add that the faculty I talked to were recent hires (1-2 years ago) and are fairly young academics. Also, the dept. is nominating a new chair- who was my research mentor and tried to sell the program to me. The alternative I have is a NYU/ Duke MA and that has considerable price-tag attached to it.

I was talking to a faculty from the school where I received a funded offer. The school is on the tail-end of the rankings but tout development economics as their strength. He mentioned how most of the jobs at places like the UNDP, ILO, WB, etc. are obtained via networks. He, of course, added that the faculty in the program maintains a strong network at those places despite the low-ranking of the program. Most of the faculty in the program is development econ. oriented and have worked in some capacity in those organizations. So, I'm wondering how much does network matter when applying for those jobs? Would it be able to compensate for the relatively low-ranking of the program? I'm also considering an unfunded offer from NYU MA and Duke MA- even though I would be placed at a much better program by the end of it- the price tag seems steep. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks

Thanks! Well, I would like to work in research whether in an academic or non-academic setting. I'm interested in Development Economics. I would like to go and get a MPP but I'm not certain if the rate of returns would justify the accumulation of that much debt. I'm also interested in my potential salary.

Who earns more by the time they graduate? Would you go to a Top 5 MPP program ($100,000 in debt) over a fully-funded PhD program in Economics (Top 90-100)? I understand both programs are different, but I'm trying to evaluate it on a dollars & cents basis with other variables constant. Thanks.

I apologize. I mean PhD in Applied Economics.

Hi friends, I have been accepted in the MS program at Minnesota (unfunded) and a PhD program at the University of Oregon (funded). My ultimate goal is to pursue a PhD in Economics. I have talked to the director of the graduate studies of the PhD in Applied Econ. at the Minnesota and she assured me that the PhD program takes in quite a few students from the MS and MPP program. In the meanwhile, I'm fielding a funded PhD offer from the U of Oregon and Wyoming. I would obviously want to go to a higher ranked school at the end of the day, but I'm wondering if it's worth going in debt for a couple of years and pursuing a MS? Any help would be appreciated, especially from the students or alumni from Minnesota. Thanks. *For those who are not familiar with Minnesota, they require a Masters level degree for a PhD in APPLIED Economics (different from Economics). Also, I have been accepted to a dual degree program at Minnesota- MPP/ MS in Economics. Also, I would approx. take out 70,000-80,000 in loans for my two-years MS/MPP.

Hi, I'm in a bit of conundrum. I am fielding funded offers from two universities (both Top 40-50). One of those university is my undergraduate school. Both schools offered similar funding package, but the cost of living around my undergraduate school is quite low. So, I'm wondering if it's frowned upon to get your PhD from the same school as your bachelors? Am I going to be at a disadvantage as far as placement opportunities go? Thanks. P.S. Also, has anyone heard from UMass-Amherst yet? I'm still awaiting the decision on my application.

So, I accidentally sent GRE scores to wrong departments; should I send corrections or it shouldn't be a cause for concern? Thanks

Here is my $0.02: Apologize to the professor for damage control! If the professor reports this to your undergraduate institution, you're in serious peril to be expelled.