SURVIVE THEN THRIVE: DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS IN THE ECONOMICS PH.D. PROGRAM

  1. WAYNE A. GROVE1,†,
  2. DONALD H. DUTKOWSKY2,†,
  3. ANDREW GRODNER3,†

Article first published online: 22 FEB 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7295.2007.00041.x

Issue

Economic Inquiry

Economic Inquiry

Volume 45, Issue 4, pages 864–871, October 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

GROVE, W. A., DUTKOWSKY, D. H. and GRODNER, A. (2007), SURVIVE THEN THRIVE: DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS IN THE ECONOMICS PH.D. PROGRAM. Economic Inquiry, 45: 864–871. doi: 10.1111/j.1465-7295.2007.00041.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Grove: Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY 13214-1399. Phone 1-315-445-4262, Fax 1-315-445-4540, Email grovewa@lemoyne.edu

  2. 2

    Dutkowsky: Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Economics, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244. Phone 1-315-443-1918, Fax 1-315-443-3717, Email dondutk@maxwell.syr.edu

  3. 3

    Grodner: Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353. Phone 1-252-328-6742, Fax 1-252-328-6743, Email agrodner@andrewgrodner.com

  1. †

    We thank an anonymous referee for a number of beneficial comments on a previous draft. We also acknowledge a number of useful comments by Suzanne Mettler, Stacy Dickert-Conlin, participants of the Syracuse University Economics Department Seminar, especially Dan Black, Tom Kniesner, Jeff Kubik, and Jan Ondrich, and participants of the Colgate/Hamilton College combined seminar in Economics.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 17 OCT 2007
  2. Article first published online: 22 FEB 2007
  3. Online Early publication February 22, 2007

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (94K)

This study investigates the completion of the Ph.D. in economics. We use ex ante information, based upon reviewing individual applications from former doctoral students. Students need different skills to succeed at each distinct stage of the doctoral program. Significant determinants for passing the comprehensive exams include Graduate Record Exam (GRE) verbal and quantitative scores, a Masters degree, and prior focus on economics. By contrast, research motivation and math preparation play significant roles in completing the dissertation. GRE scores become insignificant for completion in the generalized ordered logit estimates, which emphasize the sequential nature of the Economics Ph.D. program. (JEL I210)

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (94K)