Survive Then Thrive

With continuing economic challenges, there is a need for the production of well-trained Ph.D. Economists. Yet Ph.D. completion rates in Economics remain lower than most professional disciplines and research has yielded few insights on improving this performance. This book examines the completion of the doctorate in Economics. It includes our own research on characteristics for admitting students that improve the likelihood of success. It also provides practitioner recommendations for how to structure and manage a Ph.D. program to create a productive environment for high-quality training with high completion rates. All our recommendations center on the Economics Ph.D. as a research degree, to foster research that meets professional standards. Performance results from the Syracuse University Economics program reveal substantial improvement in Ph.D. completion rates and time to completion due in large part to implementing these measures. This book presents fresh ideas for increasing Economics Ph.D. completion. In presenting an open, supportive, yet no-nonsense view of this training, it's also a must-read for students seeking Economics Ph.D. study and their mentors.