Ph.D. in Economics with Population Economics as a Field

Students electing to focus on population economics need to fulfil the standard requirements for a Ph.D. in economics. These include a micro and macro theory course sequence, the econometrics requirement, and comprehensive examinations in micro, macro, population, and one other field. (Econometrics is especially popular but other fields can be chosen, including health, labour, and experimental economics.)

The core course requirements for population economics are Economics 710 and 711 plus a third course chosen from a related field (labour, health or microeconometrics courses). Students choose other options from a variety of courses offered by the Department.

M.A. in Economics Including the Study of Population Economics

Students can include population economics in their program of study while completing their M.A. degree by taking Economics 710.

Advantages of McMaster as a Venue for Study in Population Economics

The Research Institute for Quantitative Studies in Economics and Population (QSEP), the Program for Research on the Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population (SEDAP), and the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA) are all located at McMaster, and are concerned in varying degrees with the causes and consequences of population change. In fact, a large fraction of the research in population economics in Canada takes place at McMaster; recent research in this and related areas is listed in the department's annual research report.

Subject to gaining continued research funding, SEDAP is able to support graduate students with population-related interests, both before and during their thesis research. Because SEDAP is an interdisciplinary research program, students associated with it will have contact with those working on population-related topics from the perspective of other disciplines.

Questions specifically about graduate study in population economics at McMaster can be addressed to Byron Spencer - spencer@mcmaster.ca -- who is Director of both QSEP and SEDAP and can answer questions about them as well. Course and program descriptions are provided on the Programs page.