PhD in MANAGEMENT
Purdue’s Daniels School offers a PhD in Economics which develops core competencies in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, while allowing you to choose a specialized study in a variety of different fields. The Economics PhD is well-suited for those interested in rigorous application of mathematical tools to better understand decisions made by individuals and firms, and to evaluate economic policies.
By collaborating with renowned faculty in the areas of econometrics, experimental and behavioral economics, industrial organization, international trade, labor economics, macroeconomics, and public economics, you could go on to conduct frontier research at leading universities, shape public policy, or influence business strategy.
Grounded in a strong methodological and quantitative orientation, our PhD program broadens your understanding of economic issues, provides an opportunity for individualized research and specialization, and sharpens critical thinking skills.
The Economics PhD program at Purdue’s Daniels School of Business combines rigorous analytical training with a culture of close faculty mentorship. Purdue offers doctoral students deep methodological preparation in economic theory, econometrics, and applied microeconomics, while maintaining cohorts that foster individualized guidance.
As a land-grant, research-1 university with science, technology and engineering in its DNA, Purdue provides the resources of a world-class institution and a commitment to accessible, high-impact education. At the Daniels School of Business, this means pairing rigorous research training with a supportive community — ensuring our doctoral students have the mentorship, tools, and momentum to thrive as scholars.
The department’s research strengths span macroeconomics, labor, public economics, experimental economics, international trade, and econometrics. Faculty are actively engaged in high-impact research published in leading journals, and students are integrated into seminars, workshops, and collaborative projects that connect economics to business, technology, and innovation.
We intentionally foster a collegial and supportive environment where students are both challenged and encouraged to excel. Our program emphasizes close collaboration with faculty and peers, creating a scholarly community that is rigorous, engaged, and future-oriented. You’ll develop as a researcher within a learning environment designed to prepare you for a long, success, and resilient career in academia.
Purdue Economics PhD graduates are placed in research universities, policy institutions, and private-sector research roles where analytical rigor and independent thinking are valued. The program’s culture emphasizes intellectual ambition, professional development, and collegiality, preparing students not only to contribute to frontier research, but to shape the future direction of the discipline.
Explore our Research publications >>
Timothy Bond, Jillian Carr, Analisa Packham and Jonathan Smith (2021), “Hungry for success? SNAP timing, high-stakes exam performance, and college attendance,” American Economic Journal: Policy.
Timothy Cason, Lata Gangadharan and Philip Grossman (2022), "Gender, Beliefs and Coordination with Externalities," Journal of Public Economics (forthcoming).
Joshua Chan and Xuewen Yu (2022), "Fast and Accurate Variational Inference for Large Bayesian VARs with Stochastic Volatility," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control.
Mohitosh Kejriwal, Pierre Perron and Xuewen Yu (2021), "A Two-Step Procedure for Testing Partial Parameter Stability in Cointegrated Regression Models," Journal of Time Series Analysis.
Joe Mazur, Sophia Li, Yongjoon Park, James Roberts, Andrew Sweeting and Jun Zhang (2021), “Repositioning and Market Power After Airline Mergers,” The RAND Journal of Economics.
Victoria Prowse, David Gill and Eduardo Fe (2022), "Cognitive Skills, Strategic Sophistication, and Life Outcomes," Journal of Political Economy (forthcoming).
I chose to attend Purdue University because of its reputation for producing economists who make a large impact on their field. As a graduate student at Purdue University, I learned cutting-edge skills that are still relevant many years after graduation. Additionally, the collaborative environment at Purdue allowed me to develop coauthorships that have been invaluable to my career. I couldn't imagine a better place for a researcher to start their career.”
Stanton Hudja
Assistant Professor of Business Analytics and Strategy - Illinois Institute of Technology
Economics graduates have gone on to sercure research-focused faculty, postdoc (marked with asterisk) and industry positions at the following institutions/organizations...
The Economics PhD program requirements are:
The curriculum consists of:
For detailed descriptions of the courses, please visit Purdue’s online Course Catalog.
If you have questions about doctoral study in Economics, feel free to contact our PhD Coordinator, Dr. Cathy Zhang, at cmzhang@purdue.edu.
For questions about the admissions process or other PhD programs at the Daniels School of Business, email businessphd@purdue.edu and an Admissions Specialist will connect you with the appropriate department representative.
