The Path to an Economics PhD

Abstract

We examine the pre-graduate school characteristics of American PhD students graduating from the top 50 American economics programs. Attending a highly ranked undergraduate institution is strongly associated with graduating from a highly ranked PhD program, as is research assistant experience between undergraduate and graduate school. Having a master’s degree is not, with the exception of students from unranked undergraduate institutions. Without research assistant experience, women graduate from lower ranked PhD programs than do men. Students who major or minor in both economics and math graduate from significantly better PhD programs than do students who major or minor in economics but not math.

Keywords: Economics PhD

JEL Classification: A11, A22, A23