Academic Year 2021-2022
Subject area Legal, Politological, Economic and Statistical Sciences
Cycle 37
Coordinator Prof. Maria Bigoni
Language English
Duration 4 years
Positions 7 positions. More information in the PhD Programme Table
Application deadline Apr 16, 2021 at 12:00 PM (Expired)
Enrolment period From May 19, 2021 to May 30, 2021
Doctoral programme start date Nov 01, 2021
Operating centre
Bologna
Main Department
Department of Economics - DSE
Mobility abroad
3 months
Research topics

Curriculum 1: Economics

  • Applied Economics
  • Behavioral and Experimental Economics
  • Econometrics
  • Economic Development and Growth
  • Economic History
  • Economic Theory
  • Environmental and Resource Economics
  • Financial Economics
  • Industrial Organization
  • International Economics
  • Labor Economics
  • Macroeconomic and Finance
  • Monetary Economics
  • Political Economics
  • Public and Health Economics
  • Social and Cultural Economics

 

 Curriculum 2: European Doctorate in Law and Economics

  • Law and Economics
  • Regulation
  • Economics of competition law
  • Economics of intellectual property law
  • Environmental Law and Economics

 

Job opportunities and potential areas of employment
Given their profile, our PhD candidates aim at careers in academia (in Italian and international universities) and in top research institutions, e.g. international organizations and central banks. Our programme offers preparation activities for the job market, including strengthening of exchanges with international universities and of internships in international organizations and central banks. This effort has already produced tangible results, as proved by the placement results of our former PhD candidates in the last few years. Our PhD programme has indeed reached standards similar to those of the best European programme. See the alumni page on the PhD programme website.
Admission Board

Surname Name University/Institution Curriculum Role email
Angelini Giovanni Università di Bologna Economics Member
Fort Margherita Università di Bologna Economics Member
Franzoni Luigi Alberto Università di Bologna European Doctorate in Law and Economics Member
Guerra Alice Università di Bologna European Doctorate in Law and Economics Member
Jaakkola Niko Samuli Università di Bologna Economics Member
Minniti Antonio Università di Bologna Economics Member
Saia Alessandro Università di Bologna Economics Member
Calvano Emilio Università di Bologna Economics Substitute
Guerriero Carmine Università di Bologna European Doctorate in Law and Economics Substitute
Vanin Paolo Università di Bologna Economics Substitute
Learning outcomes
PhD programme is divided into 2 phases: candidates' economic education through advanced courses and thesis preparation. The dissertation must demonstrate candidate's ability to carry out original and independent research at the highest level. PhD candidates are expected to acquire necessary tools for theoretical, empirical and experimental analysis, with the aim of attaining a research profile, applied and academic, of international excellence. Admission to successive years is conditional on passing all of the exams, active participation in the research activities of the Department and receiving a positive assessment of presentations at the PhD Forum and at seminars by the supervisor and the Academic Board. Achievement of educational goals and development of the ability to carry out theoretical and applied research require intensive supervision and a continuous interaction between PhD candidates and Faculty.
Activities to be carried out by Doctoral candidates
The PhD programme in Economics offers a wide and structured set of courses. During the first two years, PhD candidates take courses for a total of 390 hours of front lectures. The first-year courses can be taken also from the Master's programme offered by the Department of Economics (in particular LMEC). The programme also offers courses that are specific to the PhD degree. The Advanced Topics and the methodological courses (involving both theory lectures and programming in the lab) for a total amount of about 300 hours. Finally, the programme offers courses on giving presentations in English and writing economic papers. PhD candidates are required to attend two seminars a week. Once a year each candidate presents the advancement of his/her research activity in a PhD forum (a one-day workshop) and III and IV year candidates in the internal seminar series. The final years are dedicated to the refinement and write-up of the thesis. The PhD candidates must spend part of these years abroad. The programme has activated a network of contacts and exchange programme with foreign universities. Some of the best PhD candidates are awarded joint doctoral degrees with the universities hosting their visiting periods. Candidates enrolled in EDLE need to spend a period of at least one year abroad to obtain the joint title. Further general information on the programme, seminars, activities and candidates are available on the PhD programme website.
Research training activities compliant with the Doctoral programme's learning outcomes
In addition to courses (as described above) and to the presentations in the monthly PhD meeting and in the yearly PhD Forum, the PhD programme also organizes reading groups by topic (micro and macroeconomics, etc.) all along the academic year. This activity is carried out thanks to the participation of the Department's Faculty, including the research fellows of the Department. The Placement Director of the PhD programme also organizes specific activities for the preparation to the job market, including a course on academic talks, dedicated seminars for job-market candidates as well as mock interviews carried out by the Departmentís Faculty. The considerable diversification of research areas covered by the members of the Department and their international reputation provide an outstanding environment where candidates of most fields in economics may find research ideas and tight guidance for their doctoral studies. The ultimate goal of the PhD programme is the dissertation, which must prove that the candidate is capable of conducting original and valuable research.
Internationalization features
The selection procedures have been designed to facilitate the application by foreign candidates. The PhD website - https://phd.unibo.it/economics - is in English and contains specific information for foreign applicants. It is our intention to anticipate the date of the call for applications to align it with the deadlines of the best PhD programmes in Economics in Europe. The call has been simplified and also translated into English. The selection is based on the documents sent by candidates and on an online interview. The presentation of GRE/GMAT scores is compulsory. In the last few years over half of the applications were from international students (EU and non-EU) and about 25% of the PhD candidates currently enrolled are non-Italian. All activities, i.e. courses, seminars with international speakers, internal seminars, reading groups (and the administration) are in English. In the last years, about 80 per cent of the third-year candidates have spent a period abroad visiting prestigious universities or in internships in international organizations, research centers and central banks. Many of our candidates participate in the international job market (US and Europe) and got positions abroad both in Academia and in international organizations. The "European Doctorate in Law and Economics" track is offered together with the universities of Rotterdam, Hamburg and Rennes within a co-tutelle framework.
Expected research results and products
The PhD programme aims at training PhD candidates and supporting them in writing their PhD dissertation, which is expected to prove the candidate's ability to carry out original and independent research at the highest level. The aim of the results of the candidate's research should be publishable in renowned international refereed journals. The quality of the research work, the ability to give presentations and to write articles of economic analysis are goals which aim at bringing candidates towards a top career as economists in academic institutions, research bodies and international organizations.
Doctoral programme Academic Board
Name Surname University/Institution Qualification
Emanuele Bajo Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Francesca Barigozzi Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Giorgio Bellettini Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Maria Bigoni Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Alberto Bisin New York University (USA) Professore Ordinario
Emilio Calvano Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Marco Casari Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Francesco Caselli The London School of Economics and Political Science (UK) Professore Ordinario
Giuseppe Cavaliere Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Matteo Cervellati Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Vincenzo Denicolò Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Luca Fanelli Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Margherita Fort Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Paola Manzini University of Sussex Professore Ordinario
Antonio Minniti Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Alireza Jay Naghavi Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Uwe Sunde Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen (Germany) Professore Ordinario
Paolo Vanin Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Matthew John Wakefield Università di Bologna Professore Associato Confermato
Fabrizio Zilibotti Yale University (USA) Professore Ordinario