Methods and Models for Economic Decisions - 2020-2021
Description of the course
Area scientifica:13-Scienze economiche e statistiche
Settori scientifico-disciplinari:SECS-P01, SECS-P02, SECS-P03, SECS-P04, SECS-P05, SECS-P06, SECS-P07, SECS-P08, SECS-P12; SECS-S03, SECS-S06.
Topic and goals:
A significant part of economic analysis focuses on decision-making processes. Consumers and producers, workers and firms, banks and managers, households and policy makers continuously make decisions which are economically relevant. Economists are interested in understanding, predicting or modifying the processes underlying these decisions.
The analysis of decisions relies on methods and models that differ significantly across various fields of economic research. For instance, classical decision theory is largely based on abstract mathematical models, while more recent research in behavioral decision theory often relies on experimental methods. Econometric tools are used to investigate the determinants of specific decisions, such as those concerning labor, transports, or health. Computational methods are used to simulate how artificial agents interact, and to investigate the economic effects of their interaction.
The PhD program in Methods and Models for Economic Decisions trains young researchers to master the variety of theoretical and applied approaches that are used in economics for analyzing decision-making processes. In the first year of the program, students attend compulsory courses where they acquire a broad set of research skills in theoretical and data analysis, that allow them to tackle the complex phenomena related to decision making. During the second and third year of the program, students focus on their own research under the supervision of a faculty member and interact in seminars and reading groups in their field of interest.
The program strongly encourages students to spend part of their PhD abroad and supports them in gaining international experience. The central goal of the program is to create independent researchers, who can then pursue an academic career in leading universities or obtain research positions in private firms or international organizations.
The courses are taught in English, and the program lasts three years. At the end of the third year students submit their PhD dissertation, which is usually made of three research papers.
For more information see: https://www.eco.uninsubria.it/PhDMMED
Admission requirements
Master Degree (second or single cycle, national or foreign title). Assessment criteria for admission:
– graduation final mark (max 15 points);
– relevance of the final dissertation for the PhD topics (max 15 points; the applicant must submit an abstract of the thesis or its integral version);
– publications and conference presentations on topics relevant for the PhD program (max 5 points);
– training activities and professional experience relevant for the PhD (max 5 points);
– any other assessable qualification, including language certifications, and up to 3 recommendation letters (max 20 points).
Only applicants awarded with a minimum of 40 points on the qualification assessment are admitted to the interview.
Applicants are interviewed on their scientific interests and their motivations for applying to this specific PhD program. The interview can be evaluated up to a maximum of 60 points, and only applicants awarded with a minimum of 40 points in the interview can access to the next steps of the selection process. The interview tests the basic knowledge of economics and quantitative topics, as well as the knowledge of English, and could involve a discussion of possible research lines related to the PhD. Applicants may perform the interview in English or Italian.
Frequency and teaching program
In the first year, students attend the program’s courses at the Department of Economics of Insubria University, which is located in Varese. These courses are not the standard first-year courses in quantitative methods, microeconomics, macroeconomics, but cover the specific and more advanced topics in decision theory addressed by the doctoral program.
Courses focus on three main areas of research: (i) the economic theory of decision making, in the mainstream as well as behavioral version; (ii) econometric techniques to analyze economic decisions recorded either in the laboratory or in the field; (iii) the study of economic indicators of risk and inequality associated with the outcome of collective choices. Additional courses related to the program’s topic are taught by external professors visiting the Economics Department.
During the first year, students also identify a research area for their dissertation and the member of the PhD board who will serve as their supervisor, eventually pinning down the topic of their first research paper.
The second and third years are entirely dedicated to research. Students work on their research papers and are expected to attend seminars and other training events held at the Department of Economics. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to spend part of the second and third years in foreign universities and research institutions to gain international experience. They can choose among universities having specific exchange programs with Insubria University, such as the University of Jena and the University of Bordeaux, as well as among other leading institutions in their field of research.
From the second year onwards, students are also encouraged to present their research papers at internal seminars and international conferences, and then submit them to international journals.
For more information see: https://www.eco.uninsubria.it/PhDMMED
Training activity
Courses programed for the academic year 2020/2021, compulsory for first-year students:
Research area (i): The economic theory of decision making:
- Economic theories of decision making (Ivan Moscati, Insubria)
- Behavioral economics (Astrid Gamba, Insubria)
- The economics of altruistic decisions (Umberto Galmarini, Insubria)
- Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) in economics (Davide Secchi, University of Southern Denmark)
Research area (ii): Econometric techniques
- Advanced econometrics for decision making (Raffaello Seri, Insubria)
- Econometrics of discrete choice models (Samuele Centorrino, Stony Brook University, New York)
- Taxation, income distribution and individual decisions (Francesco Figari, Insubria)
- Applied econometrics of health decisions (Silvana Robone, Insubria)
- Applied econometrics: causality and policy evaluation (Andrea Vezzulli & Giuseppe Porro, Insubria)
- Transport decision making: theory and practice (Elena Maggi, Insubria)
Research area (iii): Economic indicators
- Multidimensional approaches for measuring well-being and poverty (Chiara Gigliarano, Insubria)
- The axiomatic approach to risk measurement (Elisa Mastrogiacomo, Insubria)
- Measuring poverty (Lidia Ceriani, Georgetown University)
(iv) Courses on other topics
- Economic history and decision making (Carlo Brambilla, Insubria)
- How to write a scientific paper and a research proposal (Paola Tubaro, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris)
- Organization and family business (Daniela Montemerlo & Alfredo Biffi, Insubria)
- Law and complexity (Ilaria Capelli, Insubria)
Contacts
Address: c/o Dipartimento di Economia – DiECO
Università degli Studi dell'Insubria
Via Monte Generoso 71 - 21100 Varese – Italy
Coordinator: Prof. Ivan Moscati
email: ivan.moscati@uninsubria.it
Website: https://www.eco.uninsubria.it/PhDMMED
Contacts:
Tel.: +39 0332 395521 | Fax: +39 0332 395509
Enroll
Position: 6
with Scholarships: 6
without scholarship: 0
You can enroll after a selection process based on qualifications and an oral examination (see section on Admission requirements.)
Applications can be submitted by Italian and non-Italian citizens who have completed or are completing their graduate studies.
See public notice
Please see also:
Italian public notice
Related links
Teaching staff with disciplines (contacts in the "Rubrica" of the italian version of the website)
BRAMBILLA Carlo Santo SECS-P/12
CAVERZASI Eugenio SECS-P/01
CRESPI Giovanni Paolo SECS-S/06
FIGARI Francesco SECS-P/03
GALMARINI Umberto SECS-P/03
GAMBA Astrid SECS-P/01
GAZZOLA Patrizia SECS-P/07
GIGLIARANO Chiara SECS-S/03
LA TORRE Davide SECS-S/06
MAGGI Elena SECS-P/01
MASTROGIACOMO Elisa SECS-S/06
MORETTO Enrico SECS-S/06
MOSCATI Ivan SECS-P/01
PAPI Marco SECS-S/06
PORRO Giuseppe SECS-P/02
RADI Davide SECS-S/06
ROBONE Silvana Maria SECS-P/02
ROCCA Matteo SECS-S/06
SERI Raffaello SECS-P/05
TANDA Alessandra SECS-P/11
VEZZULLI Andrea SECS-P/06