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PhD Economics

Program Objectives

A Ph.D. Program in Economics has been a long-felt need in Pakistan. In recent years, the number of qualified economists has fallen below the country’s requirements. Mass exodus of economists to take up attractive jobs abroad has only aggravated this professional vacuum in various government departments, teaching institutions, and research organizations.

At the start of the new millennium, the role of quality education in creating a better world has become increasingly evident. Educational institutions must train students to effectively address new global challenges in the economic, political, cultural and technological fields. The Ph.D. program at Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has been developed to meet some of these challenges by providing the necessary facilities for training of economists in Pakistan. This program is aimed at imparting a full range of knowledge, awareness, and expertise in economics to meet the challenges of the new millennium, as well as equipping students with the analytical tools necessary for policy-oriented research.

Eligibility Criteria
  • MPhil (Mathematics/Statistics/Economics/Econometrics/Computer Science/Economics and Finance) or relevant degree with at least 3 CGPA (First Division) from a recognized institution will be eligible to apply for admission.
  • Applicants will be selected on the basis of their performance in the admission test, interview, academic record, research publications, letters of recommendation and statement of purpose.
  • Students without relevant background need to take additional courses (non-credit) to makeup the deficiency.
  • The in-service applicants will be required to submit the No Objection Certificate issued by their employers before the beginning of the academic session.
Academic Program (Regular)

Total Credit Hours: 18
Course Work: 18
Duration: 3 Years
Total Courses: 6
Core Courses: 3 (First semester 2, Second Semester 1)
Elective Courses: 3 (First semester 1, Second Semester 2)

Course Work Structure Semester Wise
CodeTitle of CourseCredit HoursSemester
E-601 Advanced Microeconomic Theory-II31st Semester (Fall)
E-611 Advanced Macroeconomic Theory-II31st Semester (Fall)
Optional I31st Semester (Fall)
E-641 Econometric Methods-II32nd Semester (Spring)
Optional II32nd Semester (Spring)
Optional III32nd Semester (Spring)

Comprehensive Examination: Microeconomic Theory and Macroeconomic Theory (Two attempts)

Academic Program (Deficiency)

Total Credit Hours: 12
Course Work: 18
Duration: 3 Years
Total Courses: 6
Core Courses: 3 (First semester 2, Second Semester 1)
Elective Courses: 3 (First semester 1, Second Semester 2)
Deficiency Courses: 4 (First semester 3, Second Semester 1)

CodeTitle of CourseCourse TypeCredit HoursSemester
E-600 Advanced Microeconomic Theory-IDeficiency Course1st Semester (Fall)
E-610 Advanced Macroeconomic Theory-IDeficiency Course1st Semester (Fall)
E-630 Advanced MathematicsDeficiency Course1st Semester (Fall)
Optional I31st Semester (Fall)
E-601 Advanced Microeconomic Theory-II32nd Semester (Spring)
E-611 Advanced Macroeconomic Theory-II32nd Semester (Spring)
E-640 Econometric Methods-IDeficiency Course2nd Semester (Spring)
Optional II32nd Semester (Spring)
E-641 Econometric Methods-II33rd Semester (Fall)
Optional III33rd Semester (Fall)

The students will only be allowed to register for research after passing the PhD deficiency and core course.

Core Courses Content

E-601: Advance Microeconomic Theory-II……………………………………. (Credit Hours 3)

The following topics are covered in this course: Theories of Choice and Production, General Equilibrium Theory, Fundamental Theorems of Welfare Economics, Problems of Market Failure in the Presence of Externalities and Public Goods and Economics of Information, Bargaining, Auctions, Mechanism Design.

E-611: Advance Macroeconomic Theory-II…………………………………… (Credit Hours 3)

Economic Growth- Theories and Empirics, Business Cycles, Nominal Rigidities and Economic Fluctuations, Competitive Equilibrium Business Cycles, Overlapping Generation Model (with and without money), Monetary and Fiscal Policy Issues.

E-641: Econometric Methods-II………………………………………………….. (Credit Hours 3)

Simple and Multiple Regression Analysis, Violation of basic assumptions, Estimation with deficient data, Formulation and Estimation of Special Models (qualitative response models), Generalized Linear Regression Model and its Application, Simultaneous Equation Systems, Time Series Analysis, Dynamic Econometric Model.

List of Elective Courses for PhD Program
CodeTitle of CourseCredit HoursPre Requisite-1Pre Requisite-2Pre Requisite-3Course Type
E-601Advanced Microeconomic Theory-II3E-600Core
E-611Advanced Macroeconomic Theory-II3E-610Core
E-641Econometric Methods-II3E-640Core
E-600Advanced Microeconomic Theory-I3Deficiency
E-610Advanced Macroeconomic Theory-I3Deficiency
E-640Econometric Methods-I3Deficiency
E-630Advanced Mathematics3Deficiency
E-700Topics in Microeconomic Theory3E-600E-601Elective
E-701Mathematical Economics3E-601E-700Elective
E-702Topics in Macroeconomic Theory3E-610E-611Elective
E-710Public Finance3E-600E-610Elective
E-711Public Policy3E-710Elective
E-720Monetary Economics3E-610Elective
E-721Monetary Policy3E-610E-720Elective
E-722Financial Economics3E-721Elective
E-723Topics in Financial Economics3E-721E-722Elective
E-730International Economics3E-600Elective
E-731International Finance3E-730Elective
E-732Trade Policy3E-730E-731Elective
E-733Trade and Development3E-732Elective
E-740Human Resource Development-I3E-600Elective
E-741Human Resource Development-II3E-740Elective
E-742Economics of Population3E-740Elective
E-745Agent Based Modeling3Elective
E-750Industrial Economics3E-600Elective
E-751Industrial Policy3E-750Elective
E-760Development Economics3E-600E-610Elective
E-761Development Policy3E-760Elective
E-770Applied Econometrics3E-640Elective
E-771Topics in Advanced Econometrics3E-770Elective
E-774Bayesian Econometrics3E-640Elective
E-776Financial Econometrics3E-640Elective
E-780Agricultural Development3E-600Elective
E-781Agricultural Policy3E-600E-780Elective
E-782Resource Economics3E-600E-630Elective
E-783Applied Production Economics3E-600E-630E-640Elective
E-790Economic Growth And Distribution3E-600E-610E-611Elective
E-800Environmental Economics-I3E-600Elective
E-801Environmental Economics-II3E-600E-800Elective
E-830Advanced Mathematical Methods for Economists3E-630Elective
E-840Economics of Governance3E-600Elective
E-843Institutions and Development3E-600E-610Elective
E-850History of Economic Thought3Elective
E-859Experimental Economics3E-600Elective
E-860Topics in Experimental Economics3E-600Elective
E-862Experimental & Behavioral Economics3E-600E-610E-630Elective
E-865Health Economics3Elective
E-866Topics in Health Economics3E-865Elective
Field of Specializations:
  • Development Economics
  • Agriculture Economics
  • Environmental Economics
  • Industrial Economics
  • International Economics
  • Labour Economics
  • Monetary Economics
  • Public Economics
  • Social Economics
  • Financial Economics
  • Health Economics
  • Institutions and Governance
Eligibility Criteria for Comprehensive Exam

A candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy is required to pass course work of 18 credit hours, comprehensive examinations in the Theory (Microeconomics and Macroeconomics), and defend his/her final thesis successfully.

To obtain credit for a course, a student must obtain a B- grade in the course. After completion of the coursework, a student has to pass comprehensive examinations in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics within two attempts and with a minimum of B- grade in each subject. In normal circumstances, the comprehensive examinations must be undertaken right after the completion of the core courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics on scheduled dates. Permission for late attempts can be granted by the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examinations Committee under special circumstances. If a student fails in any of the comprehensive examinations in the second attempt, he/she will be no more considered a Ph.D. student of the PIDE.

Ph.D Comprehensive Examinations
  1. A Students has to pass comprehensive examinations in the two core subjects (Microeconomics and Macroeconomics for Ph.D. in Economics).
  2. The comprehensive examinations must be taken after the completion of the core courses on scheduled dates (to be notified in the academic calendar). A student can avail any two attempts to appear out of the three consecutive scheduled exams for each Core subjective core courses. After that no late attempts will be allowed.
  3. The exam will be composed of both written and oral in nature.
  4. All candidates will appear in a written comprehensive exam followed by the oral exam.
  5. The Viva-Voce will be taken after one week of written paper/s.
  6. The Viva-Voce exam in addition to passing the written exam will account for Pass/Fail notification in comprehensive exam/s.
  7. There will be one Viva-Voce exam conducted by the comprehensive committee; however, the marks distribution will be divided over each comprehensive exam undertaken.

The marks wise distribution of the two written exams and Viva-Voce shall be:

PaperWritten (Total Marks)Viva-Voce (Total MarksTotal MarksMinimum Pass Marks
Paper 1851510065
Paper 2851510065

Note: If a student fails in any of the comprehensive examinations in the second attempt, he/she shall cease to be a Ph.D. student at PIDE. Similarly, if a student fails to attempt any of the comprehensive exams, he/she shall to be a Ph.D. student at PIDE.

Eligibility Criteria for Ph.D Thesis/Dissertation
  1. A student has to pass comprehensive examinations in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics within two attempts.
  2. The VC will appoint a Ph.D. comprehensive examination committee to be headed by the HOD and comprising two faculty members. At least one faculty member of the committee must be taken from the permanent PIDE faculty.
  3. In normal circumstances the comprehensive examinations must be taken after the completion of the core courses in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics on scheduled dates. Permission for late attempts can be granted by the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examinations Committee under special circumstances.
  4. If a student fails in any of the comprehensive examinations in the second attempt, he will cease to remain student of the Ph.D. program.
  5. The comprehensive exams will be valid for 5 years and a student has to re-take the comprehensive exams in case his thesis is not completed.
  6. In addition to the coursework, a student must write a thesis that demonstrates his/her capacity to pursue original research based upon a good understanding of the research techniques and concepts appropriate to the discipline.
  7. The maximum time for the completion of the degree shall be 4 years. However, under exceptional circumstances, an extension may be granted for one year.
  8. In all other respects, the PIDE-Ph.D rules shall be applicable.
PhD Economics Course Content in - PDF format

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