Individual Behavior and Aggregate Economic Outcomes

Having a top-level PhD program is nowadays a conditio sine qua non to maintain and reinforce a high quality research environment. This proposal for renewed funding of the core elements of the Vienna Graduate School of Economics (VGSE) has this precise aim: to maintain and reinforce the international research reputation at the University of Vienna in the area of economics. Microeconomics and macroeconomics are the core elements of any PhD program in economics and VGSE is no exception. The researchers that are part of this application are recognized by the international research community as experts in their respective fields and are well connected to the international research community. The research areas of the faculty involved are closely interrelated, and together span both theoretical and applied topics that are of interest to PhD students. The school aims at attracting the very best students from Austria and abroad, with a natural focus (due to the location of Vienna in the center of Europe) on talented students in Central and Eastern Europe. Prospective students will be able to spend most of the three years on research for their dissertation. Applicants should have a master degree in economics with a strong background in the core areas of the program. All applying students should provide the same application package, including some relevant test scores and will be evaluated accordingly. Graduating students should be able to carry out independent research of the highest academic standards, and they should therefore be able to obtain (international) academic positions or research positions within policy institutions such as the ECB, OeNB, IMF, World Bank, OECD, etc.