Postgraduate Prospectus 2013 - Swansea University

Economics
Research opportunities
MPhil/PhD
RAE2008 60% of research
rated world-leading (4*) or internationally
excellent (3*)
Professors
D Blackaby
S Cook
I Jeffries
P Lawler
D Leslie
P Murphy
A E H Speight
J G Treble
The study of economics provides the skills
and knowledge required for a range of
financially rewarding careers. It also
helps in understanding more fully the
world in which we live and work.
The Department welcomes proposals for
postgraduate research projects that
complement the staff research interests
detailed below.
Research degrees in Economics will:
• provide you with new and specialised
research skills
• equip you with skills relevant for a
rewarding career as a professional
economist, analyst, researcher or
adviser
• equip you for roles in management
consultancy, or in the finance or
accountancy sectors
• prepare you for a career in academic
research and teaching
The Economics Department provides
supervised research for postgraduate
study, leading to the degree of MPhil or
PhD, which has ESRC recognition. The
MPhil degree is typically two-years
full-time, whilst the PhD is three-years
full-time. Postgraduate students have
access to dedicated IT facilities within both
Academic and research staff 20
Postgraduates 67
Entry requirements:
MPhil: normally hold a first- or upper
second-class degree in Economics,
or a related subject.
PhD: a Master’s degree in Economics
or a related subject is required.
the University’s Library and Information
Centre and the College of Business,
Economics and Law: The College has
extensive PC and multi-user computer
facilities which give students access to a
wide range of software including the latest
Microsoft packages, statistical packages
such as SPSS and SAS, and a range of
specialist Business and Economics
software including Nvivo, EViews, STATA
and Datastream.
Additional software and support is
available through the University’s central
Information Services and Systems (ISS).
This includes a comprehensive digital
library of resources which includes iFind
Research, official publications and
journals, library catalogues, Athens and a
comprehensive online reference collection.
Research Strengths
The current research work of
the Department covers a broad
range of theoretical and applied
economics, including:
• Applied econometrics
• Development economics
• Financial economics
• Industrial organisation and
technological change
• Labour economics
English Language requirement:
IELTS 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each
component) or Swansea University
recognised equivalent.
Scholarships and Bursaries
A range of postgraduate scholarships and
bursaries is available. For details, please
visit www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/
scholarships
• Macroeconomic theory and policy
• Public economics
• Regional economics
• Transition economics
Economics has a number of established
research groups which provide focus and
support to ongoing research programmes.
Labour and Regional Economics
Labour and Regional Economics are major
research groups within the Department.
The research undertaken is both applied
and theoretical in nature but also has a
strong public policy focus. The group has
attracted financial support from the ESRC,
a number of government dependants and
the private sector including the EU, the
Department of Trade and Industry, the
Department of Work and Pensions, the
Low Pay Commission, the Sector Skills
Development Agency, the Equality of
Human Rights Commission, the
Department of Justice, the Welsh
Government and BP. Areas of current
research expertises include; economics of
discrimination, economics of disability, the
returns to education, employment tribunals,
regional economics, the economics of
migration, entrepreneurship, innovation
and productivity, housing and evolutionary
economics. The group contains three
established research centres.
How can I find out more?
Visit our website:
www.swansea.ac.uk/economics
Contact the Admissions Tutor:
Email: B.Ouattara@swansea.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1792 602112
Spatial Economics Research Centre
(SERC)
This is a collaboration with the London
School of Economics (lead institution),
Glasgow, Newcastle and Oxford. The
Centre seeks to explain why there are
disparities in economic growth and
prosperity at different spatial levels
including regional, city-region, local
and individual neighbourhoods.
Wales Institute of Social and Research
Data and Methods (WISERD)
A collaboration with Cardiff (lead
institution), Aberystwyth, Bangor and
Glamorgan universities, this
multidisciplinary research centre aims to
increase collaborative interdisciplinary
research in Wales.
Welsh Economy Labour Market
Evaluation and Research Centre
(WELMERC)
Established in 2002 with funding
from the European Social Fund, this
research centre aims to provide
evidence-based labour market policy
advice. The Centre has strong links
with policy makers and has established
collaborative networks with colleagues
in both the UK and overseas.
Visit the University:
see page 174 for details
Applications can be made online
at: www.swansea.ac.uk/applyonline
– see pages 176 – 177 for further
information
For details of the Master’s courses
available in Economics, please see
page 48.
Macroeconomic Theory and Time Series
Econometrics
Macroeconomic theory research focuses
principally on issues relating to central
bank behaviour and optimal monetary
policy design. One aspect of the work of
this group examines the optimal design of
central bank objectives in the context of
economies characterised by highlyunionised
labour markets. Ongoing
research is also examining the extent to
which and in what ways, the design of
monetary policy institutions influences the
incentives for transparency, together with
the question of whether information
provided to the public by the central bank
acts as a substitute or a complement to
privately acquired information.
Time series econometrics is a major area
of work within the Department. In the area
of unit root testing and co-integration
analysis research has been undertaken on
invariant and Lagrange Multiplier based
unit root testing; TAR- and MTAR- based
testing procedures; the development,
examination and application of smooth
transition unit root tests; the behaviour of
modified unit root and co-integration tests
in the presence of outliers and structural
change; and the use of alternative
estimation procedures. This research has
necessitated the extensive use of
numerical simulation procedures to
establish both the properties of existing
testing procedures and derive new
hypothesis tests of interest to the
practitioner. The relevance of the research
undertaken has been emphasised via
application to numerous national and
international economic and financial
time series.
Further details of all of the Economics
research groups can be found at:
www.swansea.ac.uk/economics
Research Degrees – Economics
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