Graduate programs in development

Chris Blattman is one of the first graduates of the MPAID program and now maintains a very interesting blog on development, with special focus on Africa. Following his MPAID, Chris did a Ph.D. in economics at Berkeley and is now on his way to Yale as assistant professor of economics and political science.

He is therefore in a perfect position to provide advice to students who are looking to do graduate work in development, and to those who are considering the choice between an MPAID (or regular MPA/MPP) and a Ph.D.  In a long post on his blog (honestly Chris, you do have to think about your career too!), he does just that.  It is a great post, and I recommend it to all students interested in development.

One comment on what Chris has to say about the MPAID.  It is true that there was little emphasis on micro development in the first years of the program, when Chris was there.  But that has changed a lot, and we know have a strong group of faculty who teach and do research in the area. Besides Rohini Pande, whom Chris mentions, I would list Lant Pritchett and Asim Khwaja in particular. I team up with Rohini to teach the intro course on development, providing students with an integrated micro-macro perspective (which is exceedingly rare these days).  Many of our students take courses with or work with the other micro-development economists in Cambridge.  And we currently have two offers outstanding in micro development.

Indeed  one of the strengths of the program is the variety of interests the students come with. You put in the same lecture room students whose passion lies in microfinance or education with students who care mostly about fiscal policy or industrial policy--and you are always guaranteed to get a very nice discussion going. 

Comments

[Cristiano M. Costa]

Interesting...some people just don't want to go over a painful prelim year...maybe MPAID is the way to go.

PS: Professor Rodrik, I was nice to have your talk last week here at Penn.

[Harvard Student]

This is a great post! Extremely helpful! Thanks so much for posting it, and for mentioning Blattman's post as well. This is really helpful to students, and I really enjoy the discussion!

[MJ]

So what are the other similar programs? Dani Rodrik may want to comment on the Columbia program- I understand he was involved in starting that program?
http://bayesianheresy.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-be-jack-of-all-development.html

[Holger Siebrecht]

I'm not sure MPA/ID is the way to go if you want to avoid a painful prelim year. You won't have any prelims and KSG (HKS?) obviously doesn't suffer the same attrition as, say, Chicago -- a good indicator of _how_ tough and painful exactly the first year (or two I guess in the case of Chicago) is -- but it _is_ going to be extremely painful. This is true especially considering that in a Ph.D. program you will have micro, macro, and econometrics whereas in the MPA/ID you'll have another full course in development plus a case workshop.

To me the choice of Ph.D. vs. MPA/ID is simple. If you want to do research and teaching go with a Ph.D. right away. If you want to do development practice, go with the MPA/ID -- it will give you a much more relevant toolkit and network.

[ksg alum]

"If you want to do research and teaching go with a Ph.D. right away. If you want to do development practice, go with the MPA/ID -- it will give you a much more relevant toolkit and network."

The only problem with that is that a PhD is now a requirement to do 'development practice' in most international organizations and other development agencies. It is a box that one needs to check off to get the job (or the promotion).

[Praveen Kishore]

For past three months, I have been collecting information regarding Ph.D. in Eco. and MPA/ID and similar other programs. I have gone through other blogs as well. However,I am still not decided about Ph.D. or MPA/ID. I like economics. I have basic undergraduate degree in Eco.and Mathematics. Thereafter, I got MBA(Finance) from Calcutta University (India) and Masters in Public-policy and Management from IIMB (Indian Institute of Management, Bangalrore, India). I am part of permanent Indian civil service (IRS - Indian Revenue Service, to be precise) with around 10 years of experience in Central (Federal) direct tax department, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India - at operational as well as policy level. I am aged 35 years.

I want to work for IMF/WB or consulting organization. I also like academics/research.

In such a situation -What should I do? MPA/ID or Ph.D.in Eco?

Thanks

[Praveen Kishore]

For past three months, I have been collecting information regarding Ph.D. in Eco. and MPA/ID and similar other programs. I have gone through other blogs as well. However,I am still not decided about Ph.D. or MPA/ID. I like economics. I have basic undergraduate degree in Eco.and Mathematics. Thereafter, I got MBA(Finance) from Calcutta University (India) and Masters in Public-policy and Management from IIMB (Indian Institute of Management, Bangalrore, India). I am part of permanent Indian civil service (IRS - Indian Revenue Service, to be precise) with around 10 years of experience in Central (Federal) direct tax department, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India - at operational as well as policy level. I am aged 35 years.

I want to work for IMF/WB or consulting organization. I also like academics/research.

In such a situation -What should I do? MPA/ID or Ph.D.in Eco?

Thanks

[Praveen Kishore]

For past three months, I have been collecting information regarding Ph.D. in Eco. and MPA/ID and similar other programs. I have gone through other blogs as well. However,I am still not decided about Ph.D. or MPA/ID. I like economics. I have basic undergraduate degree in Eco. and Mathematics. Thereafter, I received MBA(Finance) from Calcutta University (India) and Masters in Public-policy and Management from IIMB (Indian Institute of Management, Bangalrore, India). I am part of permanent Indian civil service (IRS - Indian Revenue Service, to be precise) with around 10 years of experience in Central (Federal) direct tax department, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India - at operational as well as policy level. I am aged 35 years.

I want to work for IMF/WB or consulting organization. I also like academics/research.

In such a situation -What should I do? MPA/ID or Ph.D.in Eco?

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