Economics Concentration

Ph.D. in Management

Offered by the Economics Department of Rutgers-Newark, this program prepares students for scholarly research and teaching. Primary areas of interest are labor, gender and migration economics, international trade, development economics, urban and transportation economics, and applied microeconomics.

Requirements

Additional enrollments may be required:

  • Students are sometimes required to enroll in non-degree courses to improve their English or their writing. They may also need to enroll in the non-degree course Teacher Training Seminar as part of their preparation for teaching. These enrollments require payment of tuition, but they do not count towards the 72 credits required for the degree.
  • Students must enroll in 26:220:689 every semester until they have defended a dissertation proposal. This registration requires their attendance in the Economics Department's weekly seminar. A grade is given, but the enrollment is for zero credits and no tuition is charged. Applicants and potential applicants are also welcome in the weekly departmental seminar.

During the first two years, students are expected to take at least three courses for degree credit each semester. They should then take the qualifying examination in May at the end of their second academic year. The last two years of the program should be devoted primarily to completing the dissertation, though students may be advised to take some additional courses. For more details concerning rules and requirements that apply to all doctoral students in the Ph.D. in Management Program, see Policies and Procedures.

Course Information

Methodology requirement (4 courses)

  • 26:220:551 or 26:711:561 Mathematics for Economists
  • 26:220:507 or 26:223:554 Econometrics - Cross Sectional
  • 26:223:655 Advanced Econometrics - Time Series
  • 26:960:575 Introduction to Probability

Students may substitute other methodology courses for courses in this list that can be waived on the basis of previous work.

Major (5 courses)

  • 26:220:501 Microeconomic Theory
  • 26:220:502 Macroeconomic Theory
  • 26:223:685 Game Theory

Two additional doctoral courses in economics approved by the adviser, doctoral coordinator, and program director.

Minor (3 courses)

The minor must include at least three additional doctoral courses approved by the adviser, departmental coordinator, and program director. Normally they should be chosen to form a coherent program of study that supports the student's dissertation. Some possible areas of concentration for the minor, together with some appropriate courses, are listed below.

Global Economics

  • 26:220:518 International Trade
  • 26:220:519 International Economics II
  • 26:220:685 Development Economics

Financial Economics

  • 26:390:571 Investments
  • 26:390:572 Corporate Finance
  • 26:390:685 Floating Finance Seminar

Methodology

  • 26:198:621 Electronic Commerce
  • 26:960:685 Modern Statistics
  • 26:960:577 Introduction to Statistical Linear Models
  • 26:198:622 Machine Learning
  • 26:198:644 Data Mining
  • 26:620:685 Survey Research
  • 26:834:609 Qualitative Methods
  • 26:830:545 Research Design

First early research requirement (equivalent to one course): Write a paper (usually a literature review) with a faculty member, to be presented to the department during the fall semester.

Second early research requirement (equivalent to one course): Write a paper (ideally a dissertation proposal) with a faculty member, to be presented to the department during the fall semester.

Other rules and requirements: For details of rules and requirements that apply to all doctoral students in RBS, see Policies and Procedures.

Course Descriptions

26:220:552 - Microeconomic Theory

Students may substitute 26:220:501. Either 26:223:552 or 26:220:501 is offered every fall.

Surveys and applies elements of marginal analysis, capital theory, utility, and risk analysis to problems in demand analysis, production, cost and distribution, market structure and pricing, and capital budgeting.

26:220:553 - Macroeconomic Theory

By arrangement for majors

Models, with attention to empirical work, of aggregate demand and supply and their components, i.e., investments and consumption; supply and demand for money and other financial assets; capital and labor markets. Determinants of the price level and of inflation; rates of interest, employment, and income; and international macroeconomic relations. Reviews major issues in the evaluation of monetary policy.

26:223:554 - Econometrics

Students may substitute 26:220:507. Either 26:223:554 or 26:220:507 is offered every spring.

Statistical techniques for the analysis of models applicable to economic data and their application to management problems. Prerequisite: 26:960:577.

26:223:655 Advanced Econometrics

Fall 2006 and every fall thereafter.

Simultaneous equation models, seemingly unrelated regressions, autocorrelation, ARIMA models, and nonlinear estimation. Applications of such techniques to theoretical and empirical problems. Prerequisites: 26:223:552 and 26:223:554.

26:223:657 - Advanced Microeconomics

Not offered in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. Students may wish to consider 26:711:685 Procurement Auctions, offered in Spring, 2007

An advanced theoretical treatment of major topics in micro-economics, including alternative models of consumer demand and the demand for the factors of production; the theory of market equilibria, their existence and stability; and the concepts of perfect competition, monopoly, and other market imperfections. Prerequisites: 26:223:552 and 26:960:577.


  • 26:223:685 Special Topics in Applied Economics
  • 26:223:686 First Early Research Seminar in Applied Economics
  • 26:223:687 Second Early Research Seminar in Applied Economics
  • 26:223:688 Independent Study in Applied Economics
  • 26:223:799 Dissertation Research in Applied Economics

Please note: Links to recent syllabi are provided where possible. In some cases, the link goes to the web site for the individual faculty member, where the syllabus is maintained. In other cases, the link allows you to download the syllabus. Other syllabi are available in the Program Office.

These syllabi are provided as information to potential applicants. They should also help current students make their individual study plans. But they are subject to change. Students should not buy books or make other plans related to a course until they have confirmed with the instructor that they have an up-to-date syllabus for the semester in which they are taking the course.