Programme Description

The programme aims to prepare outstanding scholars for professional careers in Universities, Government, or research departments of private and public institutions.

The successful candidate, after four years of advanced study and research closely supervised by Faculty members, will be able to:

• Propose economic policies to address practical economic situations, relevant real-world economic issues, and evaluate their effectiveness;
• Ask relevant research questions;
• Design a research strategy;
• Use up-to-date modelling and empirical approaches;
• Present the results in articles publishable in international scientific journals.

Students develop these skills by doing research in one of eleven research areas in which our Faculty is at the frontier of economic research:

• Behavioral Economics, Experimental Economics, and Game Theory
• Development
• Econometrics
• Environmental and Energy Economics
• Industrial Organization
• Innovation Economics and Regional Economics
• International Economics and Migration
• Labour and Education Economics
• Macroeconomics, Monetary, and Fiscal Policy Economics
• Political Economy
• Public Economics and Policy Evaluation

These are the research topics that our faculty is presently exploring:

• Applied Microeconometrics - G. Mazzarella
• Applied Microeconomics - C. Pignatti
• Applied Time Series Econometrics - A. Gobbi
• Bayesian Analysis - L. Rossini
• Bayesian Econometrics - A. Volpicella
• Behavioral Economics - G. d'Adda, D. Grieco, V. Bartos, D. Massaro, A. Kajackaite, A. Filippi
• Behavioral Macroeconomics - D. Massaro
• Changepoint Problems - L. Trapani
• Climate Change and Income Inequality - M. Malpede
• Climate Econometrics - A. Olper
• Commodity Markets - A. Bastianin
• Complex Systems - D. Massaro
• Cost-Benefit Analysis - V. Morretta
• DSGE Models - P. Tirelli, A. Gobbi
• Development Economics - G. d'Adda, V. Bartos, M. Leone, C. Pignatti
• Discrimination - V. Bartos
• Econometric Theory - L. Trapani
• Economic Growth - U. Schetter
• Economic and Political Consequences of Natural Disasters - M. Nicolini
• Economics of Crime - F. Fasani
• Economics of Innovation - S. Gamba, L. Zirulia
• Economics of Migration - F. Fasani
• Economics of Science - L. Zirulia
• Education and Income Inequality - F. Scervini
• Educational Choices - M. Bratti
• Empirical/Applied Macroeconomics - A. Volpicella
• Energy and Commodities Prices Analysis - L. Rossini
• Environmental Economics - G. d'Adda
• Environmental Policy Evaluation - M. Malpede
• Equality of Opportunities - F. Scervini
• Evaluation of Labour Market Reforms - M. Leonardi
• Evaluation of Public Policies - C. Pignatti, V. Morretta
• Experimental Economics - D. Grieco, V. Bartos, D. Massaro, A. Kajackaite, A. Filippin
• Factor Models - L. Trapani
• Female Labor Supply and Fertility Choices - M. Bratti
• Financial Econometrics, Panel Data Econometrics, Empirical analysis of Financial Markets - E. Rossi, L. Trapani, F. Iacone, C. Castagnetti
• Financial intermediation, Sustainable Finance and Product Market - M. Degl'Innocenti
• Firm Heterogeneity - L. Macedoni
• Firm Productivity - V. Morretta
• Firm Scope - L. Macedoni
• Forecasting - L. Rossini, A. Bastianin
• Game Theory - C. Meroni
• Gender Inequality - F. Scervini
• Global Value Chains and Regional Capabilities - A. Morrison, R. Rabellotti
• Globalization and Firm Dynamics - L. Macedoni
• Green Innovation - A. Morrison
• HANK Models - P. Tirelli
• Health Economics - C. Di Novi, L. Stella
• Heterogeneous Agents - J. Grazzini
• High Skilled Migration and Innovation - A. Morrison
• Household Economics - F. Parodi
• Immigration - T. Frattini
• Income Inequality and Poverty - C. Fiorio
• Individual Preferences - A. Filippin
• Industrial Organization – M. Nicolini, L. Ziruliaù
• Inequality - V. Bartos
• International Migration - A. Ariu, L. Stella
• International Trade - E.Forlani, U. Schetter,  A. Ariu
• International Trade and the Environment - A. Olper
• Labor Economics - M. Bratti, F. Fasani, T. Frattini
• Labor Market Implications of Trade - L. Macedoni
• Life Cycle Models - F. Parodi
• Macro-development - U. Schetter
• Macroeconometrics - A. Volpicella
• Macroeconomics and Inflation - G. Ascari
• Market Power and Market Structure - L. Macedoni
• Media Economics and Media Bias - R. Puglisi
• Microeconometrics - C. Castagnetti
• Mineral Resources and Migration and Conflicts - M. Malpede
• Monetary Policy - D. Massaro
• Monetary and Fiscal Policy Interactions - A. Gobbi
• Monetary and Nonmonetary Returns to Education - M. Bratti
• Multilevel Government - C. F. Del Bo
• Networks - J. Grazzini
• Optimization - E. Molho
• Policy Evaluation - V. Morretta
• Political Economy - A. Geraci, F. Scervini, G. Mazzarella, R. Puglisi
• Poverty - M. Malpede, V. Bartos
• Preferences for Redistribution - F. Scervini
• Pricing Strategies - L. Macedoni
• Quantitative Trade Models - L. Macedoni
• Redistributive Policies - C. Fiorio
• Regional Economic Diversification - A. Morrison
• Regional Economics - V. Morretta
• Smart Cities - C. F. Del Bo
• Socio-Economic Development - V. Morretta
• Socio-Economic Returns of Scientific Projects - V. Morretta
• Space Economy - V. Morretta, C. F. Del Bo
• State Owned Enterprises - C. F. Del Bo
• Taxation - C. Fiorio, L. Micheletto, F. Parodi
• The Green and Digital Twin Transition and Technological Relatedness - R. Rabellotti
• Time Series Econometrics - E. Rossi, L. Trapani, F. Iacone, A. Bastianin, L. Rossini, E. Bacchiocchi, A. Volpicella
• Trade Policies and International Food Markets; Agri-food Policies and Supply Chains - A. Banterle, A. Olper
• Trade Policy and Welfare Implications - L. Macedoni
• Variational Analysis - E. Molho
• Voting Behavior - F. Scervini, G. Mazzarella

First year

During the first year, students must attend courses in Mathematics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Econometrics. Three or four courses (modules of about 20 hours) are usually offered in each area for a minimum of nine to a maximum of twelve courses. The following courses will be offered in the academic year 2025/2026:

Students are expected to prepare a research project for the thesis and present it at the end of the first year of the Ph.D. program. To this end, students are encouraged to identify, with the help of the Ph.D. Director, a tutor/advisor with whom to discuss their research project. The research project should identify one or more issues to be addressed, and be motivated by a short survey of the literature; the project proposal should include a statement of research objectives and a research strategy. The presentation is public and takes place at the end of the first year of the Ph.D. program (i.e., in September) in front of the Ph.D. Faculty and fellow Ph.D. students.

At the end of the first year, students have to submit a short written report (two pages) of their research activity and results. The first-year report should include a summary of the research project and indicate participation in seminars, workshops, conferences, and publications.

Admission to the second year

To be admitted to the second year, students have to pass all first-year courses by obtaining a passing grade on the first exam or the retake.  Exams can be retaken only once. Students who are not admitted to the second year have to leave the Ph.D. programme. In exceptional circumstances, the Ph.D. Board (Collegio dei docenti) can admit students to the second year if they have not failed more than two courses, have shown a fairly good overall performance, and have presented a satisfactory research project. 

The research project must be approved by the Ph.D. Board. If the Ph.D. Board finds the research project unfeasible or unsatisfactory, it may ask for extensions and/or modifications, and possibly for a new presentation in which revisions are discussed in front of a Committee appointed by the Ph.D. Director. 

Second year

During the second year, students must attend one of the two reading groups offered by the faculty. Each reading group will be coordinated by a faculty member, supported by lecturers with expertise in the selected topics. Each student must choose a reading group to attend, present at least once during the year, and ensure 80% attendance (unless Visiting Abroad). Students can attend field courses in specific research topics offered by the Ph.D. program or by other Ph.D. Programs,  upon approval by the Ph.D. Director. 

During the second year, students have to write an original research paper for the first chapter of the thesis under the supervision of a thesis advisor previously identified among the members of the Ph.D. Board. The paper can be in the form of a preliminary draft but should clearly state the research objectives, include a literature review, and provide original results. The paper is presented before the end of the second year (i.e., typically, in June) in front of the Ph.D. Faculty and fellow Ph.D. students.

At the end of the second year students have to submit a short written report (two pages) of their research activity and results. The second-year report should include a summary of the research paper and indicate the participation in seminars, workshops, conferences, and publications.   

Admission to the third year

To be admitted to the third year, students have to attend the reading group and write an original research paper that has the potential to satisfy the requirements of a thesis chapter.   

The research paper has to be approved by the Ph.D. Board for the student to be admitted to the third year. If the paper does not provide original results or cannot be expected to meet the requirements for a thesis chapter, then it is not approved by the Ph.D. Board and the student has to leave the Ph.D. programme.

Third year

During the third year, students must attend one of the two reading groups offered by the faculty. Each reading group will be coordinated by a faculty member, supported by lecturers with expertise in the selected topics. Each student must choose a reading group to attend, present at least once during the year, and ensure 80% attendance (unless Visiting Abroad). Students can attend field courses in specific research topics offered by the Ph.D. program or by other Ph.D. Programs,  upon approval by the Ph.D. Director.

During the third year, students have to write an original research paper for the second chapter of the thesis under the supervision of a thesis advisor previously identified among the members of the Ph.D Board. The paper can be in the form of a preliminary draft but should clearly state the research objectives, include a literature review, and provide original results. The paper is presented before the end of the third year in front of the Ph.D. Faculty and fellow Ph.D. students.  The presentation focuses on the results obtained during the third year, usually, presented in the second chapter of the thesis.

At the end of the third year students have to submit a short written report (two pages) of their research activity and results. The third-year report should include a summary of the research paper and indicate the participation in seminars, workshops, conferences, and publications.

 Admission to the fourth and final year

To be admitted to the final year, students attend one of the two reading groups offered by the faculty and write an original research paper that has the potential to satisfy the requirements of a thesis chapter. The research paper has to be approved by the Ph.D. Board (Collegio dei docenti) for the student to be admitted to the fourth year. If the paper does not provide original results or cannot be expected to meet the requirements for a thesis chapter, then it is not approved by the Ph.D. Board (Collegio dei docent) and the student has to leave the Ph.D. programme.

Fourth year

During the fourth and final year, students must attend one of the two reading groups offered by the faculty. Each reading group will be coordinated by a faculty member, supported by lecturers with expertise in the selected topics. Each student must choose a reading group to attend, present at least once during the year, and ensure 80% attendance (unless Visiting Abroad). Students have to complete their Ph.D. thesis under the supervision of the thesis advisor.

The thesis generally consists of a brief introduction and two chapters. Essays on different topics within the same field are acceptable. The two chapters must provide original contributions to the advancement of knowledge, i.e. new theoretical and/or empirical results in the chosen research field. The thesis chapters should be in the form of original (full length) research papers publishable on international scientific journals with peer review. At least one of the two chapters should be single-authored by the Ph.D. candidate. The thesis must be written in English and have an abstract in Italian.

The research is presented at the end of the final year in front of the Ph.D. Faculty and fellow Ph.D. students. The presentation focuses on the results obtained during the final year, usually discussing the first and second chapters of the thesis. At the end of the final year students have to submit a written final report on their research activity and results during the four-year period of the Ph.D. programme. The final report should include a summary of the thesis, and indicate any publications.

If the work does not meet the requirements of originality and relevance of the contributions, the Ph.D. Board can choose not to admit the student to the final external exam. If the thesis meets the requirements, the Ph.D. board invites the Ph.D. candidate to submit the thesis to two external referees who must provide a formal written assessment of the thesis. The referees may ask for a revision that must be completed by the Ph.D. candidate within 6 months before the thesis can be formally defended. After 6 months the thesis is in any case admitted to the final public defence.

The thesis has to be publicly defended in front of a Thesis Examination Committee of three members (one of whom must be a full professor) selected by the Ph.D. Board. At least two members of the Committee cannot be affiliated with the Universities of Milan and Pavia and cannot be members of the Ph.D. Board.

Soft Skills courses

To enrich their cultural backgrounds on topics not strictly related to economics, Italian law requires that Ph.D. students attend soft skills courses. These cover topics such as the dissemination and exploitation of research results, intellectual property protection, and the ethical implications of research. Others aim to help Ph.D. students develop interpersonal skills like public speaking or learn more on how to apply for EU funding.  

For students enrolled at UNIMI (38-40 cohorts), doctoral students are also required to complete 72 hours of soft skills courses within three/four years. For students enrolled at UNIPV (41^st cohort), each doctoral candidate shall acquire at least 6 CFU through attendance of courses or activities aimed to the acquisition of transversal skills, of which at least 3 through attendance of courses offered by the SAFD.

Period Abroad 

Students are encouraged (but not obliged) to do research in a foreign Institution; a university, a research institute, or an international organization. The period spent abroad usually follows first-year courses and cannot exceed 12 months. The student’s request to do research abroad must be endorsed by the thesis advisor and be approved by the Ph.D. Board. The request has to include a letter from a researcher in the hosting institution who is willing to supervise the student abroad.  The request is evaluated by the Ph.D. Board taking into consideration the coherence of the student’s research project with the expertise of the external researcher and the fields of specialization of the foreign Institution. The student may be asked to interrupt the study abroad and return to Milan and Pavia if the Ph.D. Board so decides based upon the reports provided by the external and internal advisors.