This Economics PhD program is fast becoming one of the most sought-after in the country. Key to this growing reputation is the quality and diversity of our faculty and our research. The researchers publish in leading academic journals, showcasing expertise in climate change, international trade, energy policy and more. The curriculum is on par with leading economics graduate programs in Canada, but our smaller program size (accepting six to 12 applicants a year) means our students get a greater level of guidance and support from faculty members, unprecedented access to guest lecturers and experts, and more opportunities to pursue their research interests. The placement record of our recent PhDs is undeniable evidence of how strong this program has become.

The Ph.D. program in economics is a program requiring the attainment of scientific competence in conformity with international scientific standards.

Graduate programs in economics aim to train students to enable them to carry out independent research. For this purpose, the programs are designed to ensure that the students get a solid background in both economic theory and the techniques used in empirical research. 

Economics is the study of the behavior of economic units, institutions and systems and the choices that they make with respect to the allocation of scarce resources between production and consumption. It is concerned with a wide range of problems that directly affect society: the causes of unemployment and inflation, productivity and economic growth, foreign debt and trade links, and the role of government in market economies.

The Department of Economics aims to educate prospective economists who have acquired a scientific discipline in economics, know how to use statistical techniques, think analytically, grasp cause and effect relationships, and follow current developments.