Business Economics
From corporate finance, industrial organization, and international business to markets, competition, and government regulation, you will delve into some of the most pressing and relevant topics in the field of economics through the practical lens of business.
In this program, you will choose among these fields of specialization: corporate finance, organizations and markets, international business, business strategy and industrial organization, corporate governance, and business and government. You will receive the comprehensive training of a PhD in economics along with the opportunity to focus on business-related research questions.
Examples of student theses and dissertations include “Empirical Analyses in Finance and Macroeconomics,” “Mapping Networks to Probability Distributions in the Economy,” and “On Government Effectiveness: Organizational and Governance Limitations on the Delivery of Education.”
Graduates have gone on to secure faculty positions at such prestigious institutions as Columbia Business School, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, London School of Economics and Political Science, MIT, and Northwestern University.
Students in business economics are enrolled in and receive their degree from the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and work with faculty from both the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Business School (HBS). Harvard Griffin GSAS has offered PhD programs in collaboration with HBS since 1916. In addition to Business Economics, Harvard Griffin GSAS and HBS collaborate on the programs in Business Administration, Organizational Behavior, and Health Policy (Management Track).
Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Business Economics, and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies.
Areas of Study
Behavioral Economics | Development | Econometrics | Economic Theory | Economics of Organizations | Entrepreneurship | Finance | Industrial Organization | International Economics | Labor Economics | Macroeconomics
Admissions Requirements
Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Business Economics.
Academic Background
Applicants with bachelor’s degrees in the social sciences, engineering, sciences, and business are encouraged to apply.
Standardized Tests
GRE General or GMAT: Required
iBT TOEFL preferred minimum score: 100
IELTS preferred minimum score: 7.5
Theses & Dissertations
Theses & Dissertations for Business Economics