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As an outside observer of this site straddling management and economics, I thought I would post this here. https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/bolotnyy/files/bbb_mentalhealth_paper.pdf PhDs are immensely stressful and isolating. A recent study (linked above) shows that Econ PhDs at top schools are about as mentally distressed as incarcerated people and as lonely as retirees. The collective economics profession is currently going through serious soul-searching on mental health in light of recent tragic events at Harvard, Princeton, and other schools (quick google searches can provide more information). Our profession is incredibly hard, both mentally and emotionally. Unless you are steeped in an academic research environment from a young age, you often don't fully understand the rigors and challenges of research academia until you enter a PhD. As PhDs and faculty, we often tie up too much of our identity in peer recognition of our work or our status in the field. In many cases, the norms of academia lead us to be inappropriately confrontational and coarse in interacting with our peers and their work. This environment is intensely personal but often does not promote the idea that each person has intrinsic self-worth. This has to change now. We are living in extraordinary times due to COVID. Check on your cohort-mates, colleagues, and friends in academia. A little kindness goes a long way. You never know when an interaction with them will be your last.

Hi all, I'm wondering if a joint PhD program means 2 PhDs or just choosing 1? I'm specifically looking at Harvard's Economics & the joint PhD for that with Political Economy & Government. Does that mean you'd get both PhDs or you choose one and take classes in both? Thank you!

Barcelona GSE has really good placements for econ PhDs but does anyone know if their Finance program is any good for getting placed in finance PhDs in the US and Canada? My original plan was to get an econ masters from there with some finance electives and then do financial econ, but they rejected me and offered me a place on their finance program. So I'm really confused now if this program will cut it. The placements for 2015-17 are given here. There aren't many PhDs in the list but I think that could be because most people doing finance are only interested in getting jobs. Also the class size for finance is only around 25. Would really appreciate some input from you guys.