The Department of Economics at Washington University has a strong reputation for preparing high-quality PhD students for academic positions as well as for private- and public-sector jobs. We accept qualified students from any field who possess strong analytical abilities in mathematics and statistics to complete a challenging Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Economics. The department offers students financial support while they remain in good academic standing for the duration of the program length.
The Department of Economics also offers two standalone Master of Arts (AM) programs. The Accelerated AM in Economics is available only to qualified Washington University undergraduates. The AM in Economics is available to all qualified students from any field. These programs provide students with the analytical background to prepare them for a diverse set of careers, from positions in government, business, and nonprofit organizations to further graduate studies.
Chair
George-Levi Gayle
John H. Biggs Distinguished Professorship in Economics
PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Econometric theory; contract theory; labor economics; personnel economics; corporate governance
Associate Chair
Francisco (Paco) Buera
Sam B. Cook Professor of Economics
PhD, University of Chicago
Macroeconomics; macroeconomic development
Endowed Professors
Costas Azariadis
Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences
Weidenbaum Center Research Fellow
PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
Macroeconomic dynamics; economic development; monetary and fiscal policy
Michele Boldrin
Joseph Gibson Hoyt Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences
PhD, University of Rochester
Economic theory; economic growth; macroeconomics
Steven Fazzari
Bert A. and Jeanette L. Lynch Distinguished Professor of Economics
PhD, Stanford University
Macroeconomics; Keynesian economics; investment and finance
Limor Golan
Laurence H. Meyer Professor of Economics
PhD, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Labor economics; applied microeconomics; applied econometrics
Rodolfo Manuelli
James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor
Graduate Admissions Officer
PhD, University of Minnesota
Economic growth and development economics; macro and monetary economics
Werner Ploberger
Thomas H. Eliot Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences
PhD, Vienna University of Technology
Statistics; econometric methodology; time-series econometrics
Robert Pollak
Hernreich Distinguished Professor of Economics
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Environmental economics; microeconomics/industrial organization; business and government; political economy
Yongseok Shin
Douglass C. North Distinguished Professor of Economics
PhD, Stanford University
Macroeconomics; economic growth
Ping Wang
Seigle Family Professor
NBER Research Associate
PhD, University of Rochester
Growth/development; money/macro; economic theory; spatial/health economics
Professors
Gaetano Antinolfi
Weidenbaum Center Research Fellow
PhD, Cornell University
Macroeconomics; monetary and international economics
Marcus Berliant
PhD, University of California, Berkeley
Public finance; mathematical economics; urban economics
Ismael Mourifié
PhD, University of Montréal
Microeconomics (theory and applications)
Brian Rogers
PhD, California Institute of Technology
Microeconomic theory, in particular, the fields of network formation, social learning, and applied game theory
Jonathan Weinstein
Director of Graduate Studies
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Microeconomic theory, game theory
M. Bumin Yenmez
PhD, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Microeconomic theory, mechanism and market design, choice theory
Associate Professors
Gaurab Aryal
PhD, Pennsylvania State University
Industrial organization; empirical industrial organization
Ana Babus
PhD, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Microeconomic theory; finance
Sukkoo Kim
PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
Economic history; urban and regional economics; trade and development
SangMok Lee
PhD, California Institute of Technology
Microeconomics
Assistant Professors
Ian Fillmore
PhD, University of Chicago
Intersection of industrial organization, labor economics, and econometrics; economics of education and education markets
Sanghmitra Gautam
PhD, University College London
Development economics; applied microeconometrics; public economics
Andrew Jordan
PhD, University of Chicago
Labor markets, discrimination, and criminal justice
Teaching Professor
Senior Lecturer
Lecturer
Affiliated Faculty
Scott A. Baker
JD, University of Chicago
PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Professors Emeriti
David Levine
John H. Biggs Distinguished Professor Emeritus
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bruce C. Petersen
Bert and Jeanette Lynch Distinguished Professor Emeritus
PhD, Harvard University
Accelerated AM in Economics
The Department of Economics offers a Five-Year Accelerated Master's Degree to qualified Arts & Sciences undergraduate students at Washington University. More information about the Five-Year Accelerated Master's Degree program requirements and application process can be found on the department website.
AM in Economics
This program requires the completion of 30 credits of graduate-level course work, which is equivalent to two to three semesters of enrollment, depending on course load. A grade point average of B (3.0) or better must be maintained in graduate course work. The minimum residence requirement is one full academic year of graduate study.
Information about fundamental courses and electives is available on the Master's Degree Program Structure page of the Department of Economics website.
PhD in Economics
General Course Requirements
The PhD in Economics takes five years to complete and requires at least 30 units of 500-level courses with a 3.0 grade point average. Students may transfer up to 24 units of graduate credits completed elsewhere, but they are advised to make such a transfer only after consultation with the director of graduate studies.
Courses taken must include the following:
- Microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory: 12 units (Econ 501, Econ 502, Econ 503, Econ 504); and
- Quantitative methods and econometrics: 9 units (Econ 511, Econ 512, Econ 5161).
An Ideal Chronology of PhD Study
Summer Before the First Year (August)
- Mathematics review and statistics review
Year 1
Core Courses:
Year 2
- Preliminary exams in late August; retake preliminary exams (if necessary) in January
- Field courses
- Research paper proposal
Year 3
- Complete research paper
- Field courses
- Dissertation proposal
Year 4
- Write dissertation
- Prepare and present job market paper
Year 5
- Enter the job market
- Finish and defend the dissertation
More information on degree requirements may be found on the Department of Economics website.