phd topics in international trade

UCL Department of Economics

Topics in International Economics

PhD Skills Development Module, Term 2

This module offers an overview of several active areas of research in international trade. It introduces frontier topics, insights, and tools, with the goal of preparing PhD students to conduct independent cutting-edge research in the field, as well as in adjacent fields where ideas and techniques from international trade may be useful, such as urban and spatial economics, labor, development, IO, finance, and macro. 

The module will consist of 10 two-hour lectures. The preliminary set of topics includes:

• Trade, FDI and financial frictions (Kalina Manova)
• Global value chains and production networks (Kalina Manova)
• Trade and labor markets (Gabriel Ulyssea)
• Trade within countries and development (Gabriel Ulyssea)
• Cities and development (Gabriel Ulyssea)
• Spatial and general equilibrium spillovers (Kirill Borusyak)
• The effects of trade on welfare and inequality (Kirill Borusyak)

Students from University of London universities other than UCL are welcome to register.

Instructors

• Kirill Borusyak ( [email protected] , Drayton House 307)
• Kalina Manova ( [email protected] , Drayton House 301)
• Gabriel Ulyssea ( [email protected] , Office TBA)

Lectures : TBA Office hours : TBA

Prerequistes

We strongly recommend that students take or audit EC532 “International Economics for Research Students” during Term 1 at the LSE. This module covers baseline models in international trade that provide useful foundations for the topics course at UCL. UCL students can easily register for EC532, and Daniella Harper can assist with the logistics.

No formal assessment is required for this skills development PhD module. In order to fully benefit from the module, students are strongly encouraged to complete all assigned reading and participate actively in class. Interested students are welcome to develop a 5-page project proposal that they could pursue as part of their dissertation and receive constructive feedback from the lecturers.  

Reading List

• Foley, F. and K. Manova (2015). “International Trade, Multinational Activity, and Corporate Finance.” Annual Review of Economics 7: 119-46.
• Manova, K. (2013). “Credit Constraints, Heterogeneous Firms and International Trade.” Review of Economic Studies 80: 711-44.
• Antràs, P., Desai, M. and F. Foley (2009). “Multinational Firms, FDI Flows and Imperfect Capital Markets.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 124: 1171-219.
• Manova, K., Wei, S.-J. and Z. Zhang (2015). “Firm Exports and Multinational Activity under Credit Constraints.” Review of Economics and Statistics 97, p.574-88.
• Bilir, K., Chor, D., and K. Manova (2019). “Host Country Financial Development and Multinational Activity.” European Economic Review 115: 192-220.
• Berthou, A., Chung, J.H., Manova, K. and C. Sandoz (2018). “Trade, Productivity and (Mis)allocation." CEPR Working Paper.
• Antràs, P. and D. Chor (2021). “Global Value Chains.” NBER Working Paper 28549.
• Bernard, A. and A. Moxnes (2018). “Networks and Trade.” Annual Review of Economics 10: 65-85.
• Bernard, A., Dhyne, E., Magerman, G., Manova, K. and A. Moxnes (2020). “The Origins of Firm Heterogeneity: A Production Network Approach." Journal of Political Economy (forthcoming).
• Huang, H., Manova, K. and F. Pisch (2021). “Firm Heterogeneity and Imperfect Competition in Global Production Networks.” Mimeo.
• Autor, D. H., Dorn, D. and Hanson, G. H. (2013). “The China Syndrome: Local Labor Market Impacts of Import Competition in the United States.” American Economic Review 103(6), 2121-2168.
• Autor, D., Dorn, D. and Hanson, G. (2016) “The China Shock: Learning about Labor Market Adjustment to Large Changes in Trade.” Annual Review of Economics 8, 205-240.    
• Dix-Carneiro, Rafael, and Brian K. Kovak (2017). "Trade Liberalization and Regional Dynamics." American Economic Review 107: 2908-46.
• Ponczek, Vladimir, and Gabriel Ulyssea (2021). "Enforcement of Labor Regulation and the Labor Market Effects of Trade: Evidence from Brazil." Conditionally accepted at Economic Journal.
• Dix-Carneiro, Rafael, Pinelopi K. Goldberg, Costas Meghir, and Gabriel Ulyssea (2021). “Trade and Informality in the Presence of Labor Market Frictions and Regulations.” NBER Working Paper 28391.
• Donaldson, Dave (2018). "Railroads of the Raj: Estimating the Impact of Transportation Infrastructure." American Economic Review 108: 899-934.
• Atkin, David, and Dave Donaldson (2015). “Who's Getting Globalized? The Size and Implications of Intra-national Trade Costs.” NBER Working Paper 21439.
• Donaldson, D. and Hornbeck, R. (2016). “Railroads and American Economic Growth: A “Market Access” Approach.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 131(2), 799–858. 
• Ahlfeldt GM, Redding SJ, Sturm DM, Wolf N. (2015). “The Economics of Density: Evidence from the Berlin Wall.” Econometrica 83: 2127-89.
• Gharad Bryan, Edward Glaeser, Nick Tsivanidis (2020). “Cities in the Developing World.” Annual Review of Economics 12: 273-297.
• Tsivanidis, Nick (2019). "Evaluating the Impact of Urban Transit Infrastructure: Evidence from Bogota’s Transmilenio." Mimeo.
• Adão, R., Arkolakis, C. and Esposito, F. (2020). “General Equilibrium Indirect Effects in Space: Theory and Measurement.” Mimeo.
• Adão, R., Kolesár, M. and Morales, E. (2019). “Shift-Share Designs: Theory and Inference.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 134(4), 1949–2010.
• Borusyak, K., and Hull, P. (2021). “Non-Random Exposure to Exogenous Shocks: Theory and Applications.” Mimeo.
• Borusyak, K., Hull, P. and Jaravel, X. (2020). “Quasi-Experimental Shift-Share Research Designs.” Review of Economic Studies (forthcoming).
• Adão, R., Carrillo, P., Costinot, A., Donaldson, D. and Pomeranz, D. (2020). “Exports, Imports, and Earnings Inequality: Micro-Data and Macro-Lessons from Ecuador.” Mimeo .
• Adão, R., Costinot, A. and Donaldson, D. (2017). “Nonparametric Counterfactual Predictions in Neoclassical Models of International Trade.” American Economic Review 107: 633–689. 
• Arkolakis, C., Costinot, A. and Rodríguez-Clare, A. (2012). “New Trade Models, Same Old Gains?” American Economic Review 102: 94-130. 
• Baqaee, D. R. and Farhi, E. (2021). “Networks, Barriers, and Trade.” Mimeo.
• Borusyak, K. and Jaravel, X. (2021). “The Distributional Effects of Trade: Theory and Evidence from the United States.” Mimeo .

Doctoral Programme

A PhD at the WTI

Our doctoral programme gives you the opportunity to further your professional and academic career in economics, political science and law.

Welcome to the Graduate School of Economic Globalisation and Integration at the World Trade Institute

As a PhD candidate, you will benefit from a structured programme that is designed to offer you maximum support in writing your thesis. This includes continuous feedback and academic guidance from our extraordinary global faculty – composed of leading scholars and practitioners from the world’s most renowned universities, policy research institutions, law firms and international organisations. 

Please note: the WTI is not in the position to fund your PhD. We encourage you to apply for outside funding with governments, foundations and other institutions once you have been academically admitted to the programme. More information in the "Fees and Funding" section below. Questions or info? Please email [email protected] Ready to apply? Please use our  online application form .

Why the WTI doctoral programme?

We take an interdisciplinary approach, continuously exploring the interconnections between economics, political science and law and how such linkages can be developed to enhance scientific theory and practice. In fact, this programme is targeted at doctoral students who are interested in writing theses that cross the boundaries among the three disciplines.

When you enter the WTI, you become part of a unique community of scholars, thought leaders and policy shapers. You join a group of people from around the world who are making a difference. The doctoral programme is structured in such a way as to encourage you to contribute to the overall experience and to help make it a success not only for yourself, but also for your colleagues.

PhD course: General Equilibrium Modelling in a Complementarity Format

GEMCF_Flyer.pdf

13-18 May 2024

The goal of the course is to provide graduate students with an understanding of general equilibrium modelling in a complementarity framework. The course will include an introduction to the GAMS algebraic modelling language. The course will cover applications in imperfect competition and environmental economics and several canonical models from the academic literature.

• The Basics: Closed Economy Models
• Open Economy and Multiregional Trade Models
• Historical Perspective on Applied General Equilibrium
• Requisite Price Theory
• Other Applications of Complementarity with Industrial Organization and Trade

Lecturers Prof James Markusen , University of Colorado and Prof Thomas Rutherford , University of Wisconsin

Timetable The course takes place from Monday 13.05 to Saturday 18.05. Class hours are 9am-12am (noon), 1.30pm-4.30pm.

Lecture hours : 36

Tuition fees : 500 CHF

This course is offered exclusively on-site .

More information and detailed course content can be found in this flyer .

PhD course: Spatial methods for economists using Python (CRED)

2-6 September 2024

This course is offered by the Center for Regional Economic Development (CRED), University of Bern

Lecturer:  Olivier Schöni, Associate Professor at the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP), University of Lausanne.

Lecture hours : 32.5

More information and detailed course content can be found in this flyer.

Online Application

PhD course: The rules and practice of treaty interpretation, including a specific focus on WTO law

Flyer_Treaty interpretation.pdf

16-20 September 2024

This interactive course combines in-depth analysis of the rules and practice of treaty interpretation with activities inviting participants to apply these rules to specific interpretative questions related to current challenges and conundrums. The course focuses on the Public International Law rules of interpretation, including those codified in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, other principles of interpretation not codified therein, and on the institutional, as well as the political and historical factors that influence the interpretation of treaties.

During the first part of the week, participants will explore the use of these rules and principles in the practice of different international adjudicating bodies dealing with investment, environment, and law of the sea matters.

During the second part of the week course, the focus will be on WTO dispute settlement reports. Participants will thus gain an understanding of the rules and practice of treaty interpretation both in general and in the specific context of WTO disputes. In addition, various exercises, including an "interpretation game", will allow them to acquire practical skills and to assess the role, the power, and the limits of interpretation in judicial reasoning and beyond. Students will be graded on the basis of exercises and class participation. 

Lecturers Jenya Grigorova , Dispute Settlement Lawyer, Legal Affairs Division, WTO Gabrielle Marceau , Senior Counsellor, Research Division (ERSD), WTO

Timetable The course takes place from Monday 16.09 to Friday 20.09, from 9:30 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 16:00

Lecture hours : 25

Tuition fees : 500 CHF Free for students from Swiss Universities

PhD course: Real Estate Economics (CRED)

13-17 January 2025

Lecturer:  Simon Camilo Büchler, Assitant Professor of Finance, Miami University, Ohio

Current doctoral students

Current doctoral students - with year of commencement in brackets

Law: Biksadsky, Boris (2018) Cahueñas Muños, Hugo (2018) Claros, Roberto - "Exceptions that protect National Security and Public Order in IIAS: Challenges and Prospects for Latin American States" (2014) Haqnazar, Umida - "SPS in Eurasian Economic Union, comparison with WTO SPS and EU law" (2017) Kucheriava, Yuliia (2020) Liu, Yinuo (2018) Peng, Delei - "The Balance between Foreign Investor Protection and State Regulation under New Treaties: China as a Host State" (2016) RenRu, Ma (2023) Saadeh, Wafaa (2023) Singh, Shailja (2021) Stacy, Sean - "The Role of Law Reform Programs for Economic Growth" (2016) Tressler, Frank (2023) Weissert, Irina - "The BRICS: A New Source of International Intellectual Property Standards?" (2016) Wu, Hsin-Yi (2019)

Economics :

Ahmadzai, Khwaja Muhammad - "Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Economic Growth in Landlocked Low Income Countries" (2016) DeSilvestro, Valentino - "The Effects of Investment and Trade Agreements on Foreign Direct Investment, Technology Transfer and Global Value Chains Participation" (2015) Garcés Iriarte, Irene (2019) Hauser, Selina (2020) Vogt, Achim - "Non-tariff measures in international trade - Perspectives on costs and benefits" (2016) Baumann, David  (2021) Jehli, Martin  - "Essays in Computational Econometrics" (2021) Jhunjhunwala, Kirti  (2023) Rosenow, Samuel  - "Empirical Essays in International Trade" (2018) Orlov, Daniil (2021) El Chammaa, Roudayna  - "Essays on the International Trade of Services" (2023)

Political Science:

Ganeson, Kirthana (2021) Roux, Marine (2021) - "Trade Treaties and Democracy: Short- and Long-Term Effects of Bargaining Power"

About the PhD courses

PhD courses at the WTI are aimed at providing PhD students, young postdocs and practitioners with an opportunity to update their training in fields within the range of expertise of the WTI.

At least two one-week summer courses are taught each year, in August and September.

Courses are taught in English, and limited to a maximum enrollment of 35. To derive maximum benefit, we recommend that during the week of the course participants devote themselves exclusively to course work.

For details of courses in the current year as well as past courses, see the section below. For Economics PhD students:

• Information about the Faculty of Economics at the University of Bern
• Guidelines for PhD students in the Department of Economics
• Regulations on Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences

For Law PhD students: 

• Regulations on Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Law

Supervision, coordination and support

Dr Octavio Fernández-Amador For all inquires, please email the coordination office

Thesis supervisor The supervisor is responsible for ensuring that you carry out and report on your PhD research and that you skilfully apply theories and research methods to your thesis.

Members of the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Bern oversee the WTI's doctoral programme. Please look closely at the research interests indicated by the professors in their personal web pages to learn more about the kinds of research topics that can be supervised at the WTI. The more general lines of research pursued by the professors who are available to supervise new researchers are set out below.

• Economics: International Trade Economics and Policy, International Migration, Climate Change, International Economics, International Macroeconomics and Finance
• Law: International and European Economic Law, WTO Law, Intellectual Property Law, Competition Law and Media Law
• Political Science: International Political Economy of Trade, International Organisations, International Economic Courts, Investment, Commodities

Academic Coordinator For study-related questions, the programme coordinator is  Dr. Octavio Fernández-Amador . His role is to organise the core set of activities comprising the mandatory curriculum and to guide PhD students through the different steps of their studies. He regularly schedules events that provide PhD students with an opportunity to present and discuss research with peers.

Programme Coordinators Karin Rosenberg and Sophia Thompson

Contacts For questions please email  [email protected]  

Past courses

25-29 September 2023 PhD Course: Recent Developments in International Investment Law Lecturers:   Dr Michele Potestà ,  Dr Nikos Lavranos ,  Dr Sofía Boza , and  Dr Andrea Steingruber 3 ECTS Syllabus here

26-30 June 2023 and 3-7 July 2023 PhD Course on Input-Output and Computational General Equilibrium Models For Trade Policy Modeling Lecturer: Eddy Bekkers and Patrick Tomberger 4 ECTS Syllabus here

18-20 April 2023 PhD Course on Computable General Equilibrium Modelling using GAMS Lecturer:  Hugo Rojas-Romagosa 3 ECTS Syllabus here

26 - 30 September 2022 Law & Economics of International Law with a specific focus on Trade and Investment 4 ECTS Lecturer:  Prof.  Anne van Aaken , "Alexander von Humboldt" Professor for Law and Economics, Legal Theory, Public International Law and European Law and Director of the Institute of Law and Economics, University of Hamburg. More information can be found in the  flyer .

6 - 10 December 2021 Trade Negotiations & Techniques 4 ECTS Lecturer: Maarten Smeets (PhD) , Associate Professor at St Petersburg State University and the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (SUIBE), Senior Associate at the Clingendael Academy (Den Haag) . More information can be found in the flyer . The syllabus for the course can be found here .

28 June - 9 July 2021 Globalization, Labor Market & Inequality 4 ECTS Lecturer: Prof. Douglas Nelson , Professor of Economics at the Murphy Institute and the Department of Economics at Tulane University More details about this course can be found in the  flyer . The syllabus for the course can be found here .

18 and 19 March & 1, 2, and 9 April 2021 Shaping sustainable trade: what role for international trade law and policy?   4 ECTS Lecturers: Dominic Coppens , PhD, Senior Associate at Sidley Austin LLP, Brussels and Nicolas Lockhart , Partner at Sidley Austin LLP, Geneva.  More details about this course can be found in the  flyer .

14 – 18 September 2020 The International Law of State Responsibility 4 ECTS Lecturers: Prof. Malgosia Fitzmaurice , Professor of Public International Law at the School of Law, Queen Mary University of London and Prof. Antonios Tzanakopoulos , Associate Professor of Public International Law at the Faculty of Law and Fellow in Law at St Anne's College, University of Oxford More details about this course can be found in the  flyer .

21 – 25 September 2020 Gravity Models and Panel Econometrics 4 ECTS Lecturer: Michael Pfaffermayr , Professor of International Economics at the University of Innsbruck, Austria and senior researcher at the Austrian Institute of Economic Research More details about this course can be found in the  flyer .

9 – 13 September 2019 State Responsibility 4 ECTS Lecturer: Tarcisio Gazzini , Professor of International Law, School of Law at University of East Anglia, England More details about this course can be found in the  flyer and recommended reading materials .

16 – 20 September 2019 Institutions and the Political Economy of Development 4 ECTS Lecturer: Prof. Axel Dreher , Professor of Economics, Chair of International and Development Politics, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany More details about this course can be found in the flyer and syllabus .

4 – 8 November 2019 Economic Network Analysis 4 ECTS Lecturer: Prof. Peter Egger , Professor of Applied Economics, ETH Zürich, Switzerland More details about this course can be found in the flyer .

27 July – 3 August 2018 Applied General Equilibrium Theory 4 ECTS Lecturer: Prof Douglas Nelson More details about this course can be found in the flyer .

27 – 31 August 2018 Foreign Direct Investment 4 ECTS Lecturer: Prof Ronald Davies More details about this course can be found in the flyer .

10 – 14 September 2018 Treaty Interpretation 4 ECTS Lecturer: Prof Micheal Hahn , Prof Gabrielle Marceau , Prof Georg Nolte More details about this course can be found in the flyer .

17 – 21 September 2018 Bayesian Econometrics 4 ECTS Lecturer: Prof Sylvia Frühwirth-Schnatter More details about this course can be found in the flyer .

7 – 11 August 2017 Political Economy of Globalisation 4 ECTS Lecturer: Prof Douglas Nelson More details about this course can be found in the flyer .

14 – 18 August 2017 Quantitative Trade Policy Modelling 4 ECTS Lecturer: Dr Eddie Bekkers , Prof Joseph Francois More details about this course can be found in the course flyer .

4 – 8 December 2017 Treaty Interpretation 4 ECTS Lecturer: Dr Isabelle Van Damme , Mr Graham Cook More details about this course can be found in the flyer . 2016

22 – 26 August 2016 International Trade, Labour Markets and Development 4 ECTS Lecturer: Dr Eddie Bekkers More details about this course can be found in the flyer .

29 August – 2 September 2016 Advanced Panel Data Econometrics 4 ECTS Lecturer: Prof Michael Pfaffermayr More details about this course can be found in the flyer .

Your PhD at the WTI

ECTS credits PhDs generally take 3-5 years to complete. Once enrolled, WTI doctoral students will be required to collect a minimum of 24 ECTS credits in courses and other mandatory activities offered under the WTI Doctoral Programme. One credit equals approximately 25-30 hours of work.

The core set of activities composing the mandatory curriculum is meant to provide doctoral students with a uniquely structured programme which guides them through the different steps of their PhD studies and encourages interdisciplinarity. PhD students are also encouraged to earn extra credits (up to a total of 30 ECTS) through additional external activities such as presenting papers at conferences and publishing their work in academic journals.

Doctoral colloquia One of the many benefits of being a PhD candidate at the WTI is obtaining peer feedback. You will be asked to present the results of your work at least once a year at a doctoral colloquium and to attend your colleagues’ presentations. Doctoral colloquia take place at least twice a year and provide a venue for the exchange of ideas, suggestions and comments. This is also where your thesis supervisor will provide guidelines and direction. The whole exercise provides a platform for you to practise the oral defence of your thesis.

Database and citation software training Several different software programmes for citation will be available to you, including Zotero. Zotero is a reference management programme that facilitates the collection, organisation, citation and sharing of research resources. You can take advantage of technical training in Zotero at the WTI. Along with citation software training, you can benefit from training on legal and economic databases by librarians and external experts.

Admissions procedure

University of Bern admission requirements Online application form Research proposal template

How to apply

FIRST STEP : please apply via the WTI’s  online application form . The review of your application can take up to 30 days. Once you have been conditionally accepted by WTI Doctoral School and have a potential supervisor in mind, move on the next application step.

SECOND STEP : if you get accepted, the WTI will send you an acceptance letter. With this letter, you can start the admission process for the University of Bern and the corresponding faculty. Acceptance to the WTI Doctoral School is only final after the corresponding faculty and University of Bern matriculation office have confirmed your acceptance.

For  Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship  applicants (for more information on funding opportunities see below), it is recommended that applications for the next academic year (fall semester) be sent by  31 August  with the subject line: Early Application Doctoral Programme – ‘Discipline’ (‘Law’ or ‘Economics’ or ‘Political Science’)’’. Early notifications will be sent to successful applicants to support them in their scholarship application.

For any questions related to the application process, contact our  PhD programme coordination office.

The application documents you need:

• a detailed CV
• a letter of motivation
• transcripts and degrees of all completed college/university courses
• grading scale for the transcripts and degrees of all completed college/university courses
• if you are accepted, a letter from the university from which you obtained your Master’s degree (within the last 10 years), confirming that you fulfil the requirements for admission to its doctoral programme.  Further training qualifications (Master of Advanced Studies, Executive Master) and degrees from a university of applied sciences or a university of teacher education are not accepted for admission to doctoral studies ;
• evidence of English proficiency for non-native speakers (e.g. TOEFL/IELTS scores)
• two letters of recommendation
• research proposal (see  template on the website )
• attach a funding proposal, describe how your PhD studies will be financed

We accept applications on a rolling basis.

English language requirements

When evaluating your application, the selection committee pays close attention to evidence of your proficiency in English. You are required to submit objective test scores of one of the accepted tests listed below: Test                            Minimum Score    TOEFL ibT                 100 points or above   

IELTS                         7.0 or above     Exemptions The following applicants are exempt from submitting test scores:

• Native English speakers
• Students with an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from an institution in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand, where English was the primary language of instruction and the degree was awarded no longer than five years ago.

Unsure of your exemption status? Please  contact us  we are glad to help. 

Fees and funding

University of Bern tuition fees Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Fees The University of Bern determines tuition and semester fees for all programmes (see link on right). Students who have paid registration fees to the University of Bern are not charged a fee for the doctoral programme. Funding opportunities There are a number of ways to receive funding for your doctoral studies: 

• The Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) awards postgraduate scholarships to foreign scholars and researchers (see link on right to Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships). Deadlines vary depending on the country of residence.
• Swiss National Science Foundation Doc.ch and Postdoc.Mobility  schemes. In both cases the application deadlines are 1 March and 1 September.

As the WTI is not in the position to fund your PhD, we encourage you to apply for outside funding with governments, foundations and other institutions once you have been academically admitted to the programme.

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• Our PhD programmes

PhD in International Economics

The PhD programme in international economics offers a rigorous and stimulating course of study where you will develop research skills allowing you to contribute to expanding knowledge with a policy orientation. Our faculty has expert knowledge over a wide range of issues in international economics, including international trade, the impact of globalization, international financial markets, sustainable finance and macroeconomic policy design. Professors have active connections with economic policy institutions and bring you exposure to the latest debates in policy circles.

Our Phd is structured around the training program of the Gerzensee Study Center (becoming compulsory as core courses from 2024 onwards) as well as two specialized courses to choose from.  Those courses focus on Macroeconomics, Trade, Development Economics, Econometrics and Environment. Our high faculty to student ratio, collegial atmosphere among students, and a range of research and policy seminars ensure that you will develop a solid set of skills and insights. The blend of technical skills and policy analysis that you will gain will prepare you for careers in international economics , both in policy institutions and academia, where recent graduates have secured highly competitive positions.

Frequently asked questions about the programme

Economics PhD Placement

Preliminary Dissertation Guidelines for PhD Students

• Anthropology and Sociology
• International Economics
• Our master programme
• One-Year MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development
• Department Faculty
• Job Market Candidates
• Department Seminars
• Research Projects
• Publications
• Our Courses
• Our PhD Researchers
• International History and Politics
• International Law
• International Relations & Political Science

PhD in Development Economics

Our four-year PhD programme offers a stimulating environment in which highly-qualified graduates can develop research skills that will enable them to contribute to knowledge in the field of Development Economics with a policy orientation. Our faculty focuses on a wide-range of topics, from global macroeconomic issues, such as the determinants of economic growth, to microeconomic work on financial inclusion, gender, education, health, SME development, sustainable finance and migration.

Our Phd is structured around the training program of the Gerzensee Study Center (becoming compulsory as core courses from 2024 onwards) as well as two specialized courses to choose from.  Those courses focus on Macroeconomics, Trade, Development Economics, Econometrics and Environment. PhD students also have the opportunity to contribute to teaching, policy seminars and research activities at the Institute and will be well prepared to participate and present in international conferences. Through this process, we aim at preparing young economists who are sought-after by academic institutions, international organisations and the private sector. Recent graduates have been successful in securing highly competitive jobs in each of these areas.

PhD courses open to students from other Swiss universities

The International Economics Department welcomes participants from Swiss universities in its PhD courses.  

With this initiative, the Department wishes to provide PhD students working in international economics in Switzerland an opportunity to interact and develop a community with their peers.  

We offer courses in Development Economics, International Trade and International Macro/Finance. These courses are organised in the form of modules concentrated over consecutive days to allow students to participate on-site. Remote access will also be provided. 

Students are welcome to take the course for ECTS credits or to participate as auditors.

If you are interested in one or more courses, please send a message to [email protected] .

PhD courses open to students from other Swiss universities

Digital skills for phd students.

The P8 programme, initiated by Swissuniversities in 2019, aims to enhance digital skills in education. Specifically focused on supporting universities, the programme offers workshops for PhD students from the Geneva Graduate Institute.  These workshops combine traditional presentations with practical exercises to impart knowledge and skills, creating new learning opportunities. While these workshops do not provide academic credits, students who attend and complete a workshop will receive a certificate.  Further information regarding upcoming workshops and our previous workshops can be found on the Libguide . 

• Department of Economics
• Postgraduate study
• PhD Programme in Economics

PhD research topics

Applications are welcomed in all Economics topics. We particularly welcome applications from candidates with research interests in the following speciality areas of our research-active staff:

Behavioural Economics

• Behavioural Health Economics and Policy
• Behavioural Labour and Organisational Economics
• Decisions under Risk and Uncertainty
• Experimental and Behavioural analyses of markets
• Charitable Behaviour
• Analysis of Conflict and Conflict Resolution
• Behavioural Welfare Economics (including subjective wellbeing)

Financial Economics and Household Finance

• Banking and financial stability
• Household portfolios
• Household wealth inequality
• Household saving
• Household financial vulnerability and asset accumulation

Gender, Race and Inequality

• Domestic violence
• Discrimination and Wellbeing
• Identity Economics (gender, ethnicity, inequality)
• Wealth inequality and racial wealth gap
• Affirmative Action Policies

Health Economics

• Healthcare and demographics
• Health, wellbeing and employment
• Long-run impact of COVID
• Aversion to inequality in multidimensional wellbeing
• Health state valuation and stated preferences

Industrial Organization 

• Competition Policy
• Innovation, industrial policy and mixed markets
• Networks and Regulation
• Firms Productivity
• Tax compliance and administration

International Economics and Development

• Empirical development economics
• Foreign aid and development finance institutions
• Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth
• Trade models with heterogeneous firms, trade gravity and productivity growth
• Trade policies and public economics

Labour and Education Economics

• Empirical studies on the relationships between labour, health and wellbeing
• Education Economics
• Gender differences in human capital accumulation
• Labour market transitions of (young) workers
• Social mobility
• Vocational education
• Wages, employment and contract type

Macroeconomics

• Open Economy Macroeconomics
• Business Cycles
• Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Modelling
• Labour Market Dynamics
• Search and Matching

Political Economy

• Elections, political ideology, institutions and economic policy
• Immigration: causes and consequences
• Terrorism, public attitudes and behavioural outcomes
• Rent-seeking and other contests

Time Series Econometrics

• Econometric detection of bubbles and crashes
• Specification testing and forecasting in non-linear Econometric/Time-Series models
• Theoretical econometrics and statistical inference

Urban and Environmental Economics

• Environmental economics and environmental policy 
• Environmental reporting
• Real estate economics
• Local labour markets
• Agglomeration externalities
• Spatial distribution of economic activities and innovation
• Transport economics
• Local economic impacts and drivers of internal and external immigration 
• Local and regional determinants of social mobility and inequality
• Levelling-up: drivers of local productivity and growth

Related information

How to apply for a PhD

Search for PhD opportunities at Sheffield and be part of our world-leading research.

Globalization, Foreign Policy, Trade

Trade War Results in Substantial Losses for U.S. & Other Countries

Faculty & researchers.

Centers & Programs

Niehaus center for globalization and governance.

The Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance (NCGG) aims to create a large and dynamic community of scholars and students interested in the academic and policy dimensions of globalization and international governance.

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The Center for International Security Studies (CISS) provides a home for the study and debate of national and international security — generating new knowledge in this field and educating the next generation of strategic thinkers and decision-makers.

Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination

The Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination (LISD) supports teaching, research, and publication about issues related to and emerging from self-determination, especially pertaining to the state, self-governance, sovereignty, security, and diplomacy.

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Robert G. Ory Professor of Economics

Economics 2535: advanced topics in international trade, semester: , offered: , link: .

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• Multinational Firms and the Structure of International Trade
• Exporting Ideology: The Right and Left of Foreign Influence
• Exporting, Global Sourcing, and Multinational Activity: Theory and Evidence from the United States
• Export-Platform FDI: Cannibalization or Complementarity?
• Trade Policy and Global Sourcing: A Rationale for Tariff Escalation
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• An 'Austrian' Model of Global Value Chains
• Transitional Dynamics of the Savings Rate in the Neoclassical Growth Model

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Trade and Negotiations Program

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The Trade and Negotiations Program focuses on the dynamics of international trade negotiations in multilateral, regional, and bilateral forums; on problems of global governance.

Robert Lawrence

August 2022 executive education program.

Online HKS Executive Education Program: Trade Policy for Today's World August 8-19, 2022

Degree Programs Course

This course provides a multidimensional introduction to international trade policy. Its purpose is to provide students with an understanding of international trade economics, rules, politics and institutions.

Explore thousands of articles on growth, including over 400 on trade policy, on GrowthPolicy, M-RCBG's research hub.

PhD in International Economics

- 1 January 2020

The course seeks to sharpen and reinforce the expertise of the student with respect to the economic theories, models and methodologies used for the analysis of key international trade and finance issues in the context of varying institutional arrangements and settings. It is aimed at providing students with an in-depth and rigorous analysis of advanced international economics by relating the topics to the conditions in Africa. The course has the following specific objectives which seek to:  

• Familiarize the student with important facts on the global economy and international economic institutions;
• Acquaint the student with the analytical tools that economists use to investigate international economic interactions;
• Develop an understanding of the mechanisms of international trade and finance, and the way in which participation in the international economy affects consumers, businesses, economic policy and the economy in general;
• Explore the implications of the theories on African economies; and
• Equip students with the skills to develop alternative theoretical and empirical approaches applicable to African economies.
• PhD International Economics Course Description 2020.pdf
• PhD-International-Economics-Course-Outline-Revised.pdf

Tabitha Kiriti

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PhD Programme (Management)

A Detailed information regarding IIFT Ph.D Programme:  | Rules and Regulations |

Discipline-wise Available Vacancy | Details

The Ph.D. Programme of the institute covers Doctoral research in a variety of business related areas leading to the award of Ph.D degree. The programme is targeted at research scholars, members of teaching faculty in universities and institutes of higher learning, professionals from private, public and government sectors. The main objectives of the Ph.D. Programme are:

•   To facilitate pursuing higher studies and advanced research in International Business
•   To encourage and doing research on contemporary issues in the field of International Business; and
•   To encourage publication of research papers in academic journals, occasional papers, monographs, books and other publications.

One of the primary purposes of doctoral studies is to encourage in-depth analysis and enrich knowledge in the chosen field. This includes the ability to apply independently methodologies of scientific research as well as to create new scientific knowledge. Further, the candidate should demonstrate an ability to analyze critically research results and to understand their importance in the relevant context. Skills to present and to effectively communicate research results are needed in order to succeed in postgraduate studies. Thus, it is important to assume an adequate knowledge and understanding of the problems, research methodologies, historical developments, theory formulation and societal importance of the scientific disciplines which are related to the candidates own research field. IIFT has two campuses viz, New Delhi and Kolkata. Selected candidates can attend the course work classes from Delhi as well as Kolkata (via video conferencing)

PH.D. Programme (Management) 2024 |  Brochure |   Apply Online | Management Syllabus (Code 17)  (For sample papers, previous years question paper of UGC Net, Management- code 17 may be referred)

Previous Years Question Paper - 2020 -->

In case of any problems in downloading, please send a mail to [email protected] for brochure & Application form

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As a doctoral researcher at Sussex, you will be a valued part of our academic community and encouraged to participate in seminars, research activities and teaching. You will be supported by two supervisors with expertise on your topic and we encourage you to reach out to faculty members to discuss your research ideas before applying. Explore some of the projects our doctoral researchers are leading below.

Current and recent research topics in international development, include:

• A development challenge in a crisis state. HIV/AIDS prevention programmes and behavioural change in Zimbabwe. A case of Harare residents
• Biodiversity conservation in South India: understanding the environmental practices and politics of indigenous communities in Nilgiri biosphere
• Conservation, participation, and development: the rhetoric and reality of medicinal plant policies in Nepal
• Dollar Bananas vs. Fair Trade Bananas: A study of a neo-colonial relationship
• Groundwater Apathy: An Optic to Explain Groundwater (Non)Governance: A Case Study of the Indus Basin of Pakistan
• Integrated conservation in Mexico: reconciling conservation and sustainable development within protected nature areas
• Knowledge sharing on child labour and its prevention: the involvement of child migrant workers in Samut Sakhon, Thailand
• Networks, malandros and social control: exploring the connections between inequality and violence in Venezuela
• Perceptions and realities of the poor in Nigeria: poverty, livehihoods and risks
• Queering Cuba: How have women engaging in non-normative sexualities and gender identities participated in political, economic and social life?
• When disaster strikes: why people in Bangladesh make certain decisions on their livelihoods when faced with environmental stress and climate change impacts.

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58606 - Topics in International Trade

Academic year 2022/2023.

• Docente: Gaetano Alfredo Minerva
• SSD: SECS-P/02
• Language: English
• Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
• Campus: Forli
• Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs (cod. 9247) Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in International Politics and Economics (cod. 5702)
• Teaching resources on Virtuale

Course Timetable

from Feb 23, 2023 to May 26, 2023

Learning outcomes

The aim of the class is to enable students to go through advanced topics in international economic integration. Mainstream recent theoretical and empirical contributions on trade will be presented. Specific emphasis will be devoted to trade policies, income distribution and welfare effects of trade restrictions, trade and environment, geographic agglomeration. The last section of the lectures will dwell on social choices and/or political economy of trade.

Course contents

Prerequisites: Knowledge of undergraduate International Economics (to the equivalent of 25751 ), and of undergraduate Econometrics (to the equivalent of 93674 ) are strongly recommended. Students are expected to have previous knowledge of some software for statistical computing, such as Stata or R.

A) Introduction: The economic and political consequences of international trade shocks

The China trade shock in the US

Electoral consequences of rising trade exposure (Autor et al.) [Slides]

B) Space, trade and agglomeration

Some stylized facts  [Slides]

The Dixit-Stiglitz model of monopolistic competition [Slides]

Trade, agglomeration and market size [Slides]

The Core-Periphery model (Krugman) [Slides]

The gravity equations of trade.  Trade flows in a generalized CES Armington model. The fixed effect gravity estimator. The ratio gravity estimator. [Slides]

Economic geography and international inequality (Redding-Venables) [Slides]

The costs of remoteness: Evidence from German division and reunification (Redding-Sturm) [Slides]

C) Trade models under production heterogeneity

Trade and gravity with production heterogeneity. Perfect competition (Eaton-Kortum). [Slides]

D) International trade Lab

Lab on the estimation of gravity equations. The CEPII BACI database. The CEPII Gravity database. [ Material on Virtuale ]

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliographic references

Allen T., Arkolakis C. (2016) Elements of Advanced International Trade, Yale University. Online manuscript .

Combes P.-P., Mayer T., Thisse J.-F. (2008) Economic Geography: The Integration of Regions and Nations, Princeton University Press. ISBN: 978-0-691-13942-5. Three copies of this textbook are available at the Central Library Roberto Ruffilli (two copies are available for borrowing, the other is not).

Another useful textbook is: Fujita M., Krugman P., Venables A.J. (1999) The spatial economy: cities, regions and international trade, MIT Press. ISBN: 978-0-262-56147-1. A copy of this textbook is available at the Central Library Roberto Ruffilli.

Compulsory papers readings

Autor D., Dorn D., Hanson G., Majlesi K. (2020) Importing Political Polarization? The Electoral Consequences of Rising Trade Exposure. American Economic Review, 110, 3139-3183.

Eaton J., Kortum S. (2002) Technology, Geography, and Trade, Econometrica, 70, 1741-1779.

Fontagné L., Guimbard H., Orefice G. (2022) Tariff-based product-level trade elasticities, Journal of International Economics, 137, article number: 103593.

Redding S., Sturm D. (2008) The Costs of Remoteness: Evidence from German Division and Reunification, American Economic Review, 98, 1766-1797.

Redding S., Venables A.J. (2004) Economic Geography and International Inequality, Journal of International Economics, 62, 53-82.

Supplementary readings

Economic Sciences Nobel Prize Committee (2008) Trade and Geography - Economies of Scale, Differentiated Products and Transport Costs, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Online scientific background .

Bacchetta M. et al. (2012) A Practical Guide to Trade Policy Analysis, World Trade Organization. Online guide .

Yotov Y.V., Piermartini R., Monteiro J.-A., Larch M. (2016) An Advanced Guide to Trade Policy Analysis: The Structural Gravity Model, World Trade Organization. Online guide .

Teaching methods

On-campus teaching with full set of video recorded lectures  available on the Microsoft Stream platform. Please visit the dedicated website .

Assessment methods

The exam consists of two sections, A (theory) and B (empirics). Students need to answer to two out of three questions from section A, and to the question in section B. The exam consists of commenting and explaining the analytical relations and econometric output tables that were presented during the class. The exam does not involve the derivation of any analytical result, but it requires only to comment and explain.

Old exam questions are available for students at this link .

In case of a positive final mark the student has the right to renege on the mark only once.

Teaching tools

Lecture Notes are created with Microsoft OneNote and are immediately shared with students.

Video recorded lectures are available on the Microsoft Stream platform. Please visit the dedicated website .

Office hours

See the website of Gaetano Alfredo Minerva

Rankings released! QS International Trade Rankings 2024 

The QS International Trade Rankings 2024 are now live ! 

These rankings are developed in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation , a unique philanthropic organisation dedicated to advancing sustainable global trade through original research and education programmes. 

We use six indicators to assess two separate categories of programmes, ‘MBA and Master’s’, and ‘Executive MBA’ – this approach reflects the varying study levels of these courses. 

Additionally, the QS International Trade Rankings is designed to help students identify the best programmes that meet their needs in academic and skills development, while also helping employers recruit graduates that meet their requirements.   

Who are the top ten universities in the QS International Trade Rankings 2024? 

Top ten: MBA and Master’s programmes  

1. Arizona State University, US 

2. Université de Montréal, Canada 

3. University of Auckland, New Zealand 

4. ESIC Business and Marketing School, Spain 

5. University of Washington, US 

6= University of Glasgow, UK 

6= University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, US 

8. POLIMI Graduate School of Management, Italy 

9. Harvard University, US 

10. University of Pennsylvania, US 

Top ten: Executive MBA programmes  

1. Georgia Institute of Technology, US 

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US 

3= Cornell University, US 

3= University of Manchester, UK 

5. Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore 

6. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Peru 

7. University of Cambridge, UK 

8. University of Reading, UK 

9. Columbia University, US 

10. Cranfield University, UK 

New entrants 

The QS International Trade Rankings 2024 welcomes 22 new institutions – with the University of Manchester (UK), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, and University of Reading (UK) making their debut in the top ten for Executive MBA programmes.  

Highlights of the QS International Trade Rankings 2024 

Europe has the highest number of ranked universities accounting for 60% of spots in the QS International Trade Rankings 2024. However, while Europe has strong representation broadly, in the MBA and Master’s category, North America secured six of the top 10 positions. 

Other notable features of the QS International Trade Rankings 2024 include:

• We ranked 73 institutions for the MBA and Master’s category, and 21 for the Executive MBA category.  
• Among the three Latin American institutions ranked this year, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Peru), secured a spot in the top ten for Executive MBA programmes. 
• There were 15 Asia Pacific institutions ranked in MBA and Master’s programmes, and two ranked in the Executive MBA table. 

Related QS Insights

What to expect from the qs international trade rankings 2024.

How university ratings helped Universidad Fidélitas develop new partnerships and recruit international students

How Arab universities fared in the QS World University Rankings by Subject

Rankings released! QS Online MBA Rankings 2024 

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