Economics and Public Policy
In the joint Ph.D. program in Economics and Public Policy, you will learn how to identify and address the emerging critical issues centered on economic development, the rising demand for energy, and the environmental and climate consequences of such progress.

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Program Overview
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Application Information
- Faculty
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Contact the Program
Questions about your application?
Contact us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
Medford, MA 02155
(617) 627-3395
gradadmissions@tufts.edu
Ph.D. in Economics and Public Policy
The sustainability of economic development and growth have become central policy concerns of our time. In order to address these issues, you will need the ability to integrate comparative and international political economy perspectives.
The mission of the joint Ph.D. program in Economics and Public Policy is to produce scholars and policy-makers who can address the emerging critical issues centered on economic development.
Offered jointly by Tufts Department of Economics and The Fletcher School, the Economics and Public Policy program draws upon the expertise of well-established scholars whose work centers on development, energy, and environmental issues, political economy and, in particular, on the intersection of these concerns.
Academics and Curriculum
You will work with economics faculty trained in the technical modeling and empirical research techniques essential for accurate policy analysis and formulation, and social scientists with the institutional and cultural expertise necessary for developing integrated policy proposals that can be truly effective. All have experience in research and have also played prominent roles in policy making at both the federal and state levels.
The curriculum includes the core methods courses from the M.A. in economics program, and three fields of study for the joint Ph.D. program, from which students in the joint doctoral program would each be required to select two. The fields are:
- Development Economics
- Energy and Environmental Policy
- Comparative and International Political Economy
You will take four classes from each field in addition to one or two core classes and electives. You will take a qualifying exam from one of these fields, offered on an annual basis.
Related Programs
- Economics M.S.
- Environmental Economics and Urban Planning M.S./M.A. (UEP Joint Degree)
- Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Dual Degree M.A./M.A.L.D.
Application Deadline
Fall: January 15
Application Requirements:
> Application Fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal Statement
> Writing Sample
> In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the availability of standardized testing, GRE scores are currently waived for students applying to this program
> Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three Letters of Recommendation
Faculty
For more information, contact Marcus Weir, Graduate Program Coordinator.
For questions about your application, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 617.627.3395 or gradadmissions@tufts.edu.