The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research

The Melbourne Institute is the first university-based research institute of its kind in Australia, established in 1962 for the purpose of conducting research into a wide range of macroeconomic, microeconomic and social economic issues.

Learn about the PHD
 

The Melbourne Institute is a major centre for applied economic and social research that is nationally and internationally renowned in academia, government, business and among community groups. The Melbourne Institute seeks to promote a deeper understanding and discussion of economic and social issues of national significance as well as to foster effective policy responses to these issues through evidence-based research.

The Melbourne Institute conducts research in five key areas:

  • Labour economics and social policy
  • Health economics
  • Industrial economics
  • Microsimulation
  • Macroeconomic theory and policy

In addition, the Melbourne Institute is the home of:

  • HILDA (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia) Survey, a household-based longitudinal panel study that collects information about the dynamics of economic and subjective well-being, work and family.
  • MABEL (Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life), a longitudinal survey of doctors which began in 2008 with the aim of improving understanding of how changes in the working lives of Australian doctors are influencing the provision of healthcare.
  • CASiE (Consumer Attitudes, Sentiments & Expectations), a monthly survey of 1,200 Australian consumers which began in 1974 and reports on the consumer sentiment index, consumer inflationary expectations, household saving behaviour and preferences, unemployment expectations and wage changes.

Knowledge transfer and career development

Many of the research programs in the Melbourne Institute are conducted in collaboration with major organisations, including both government departments and agencies (e.g. the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations), and non-government organisations (e.g. the Brotherhood of St Laurence). A PhD candidate contributes as an integral member of a research team.

This hands-on experience enhances research training and promotes the development of excellent research skills. Moreover, the diversity of active projects at the Melbourne Institute introduces students to the breadth and depth of research questions and methodologies – an advantageous opportunity.

Academic staff at the Melbourne Institute also collaborate with a wide range of national and international scholars. There is an active inter-national visiting scholars program as well as active seminar and workshop programs. PhD candidates are strongly encouraged to be part of the international community of scholars.

PhD students are well-placed to join major research institutions or government bodies with a focus on applied policy research, after completion.

View the handbook entry for this course (including subject details & course objectives)
 

Recent PhD theses completed

  • Lee W (2007) – Aspects of Propensity Score Matching
  • Tsiaplias S (2007) – An Empirical Investigation into Equity Market Feedback and Momentum, Co-movement and the Macroeconomic Content of Pricing Factors
  • Elo K (2006) – Foreign Direct Investment Decisions with Country Risk and Barriers to Capital Movements: The Special Case of Capital Controls.
  • Smith P (2005) – Modelling Business Cycles through Changes in Regime (awarded the 2006 Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in PhD thesis in the Social Sciences)
  • Scutella R (2005) – Modelling the Effect of Direct and Indirect Tax Reforms in Australia

Financial support

The Melbourne Institute offers top-up scholarships to candidates who hold a Melbourne Research Scholarship (domestic or international) or Australian Postgraduate Awards.

For more details visit:
http://melbourneinstitute.com/study/

In addition, the Melbourne Institute actively encourages and funds graduate research students to present their work at national and international conferences.

Local students are entitled to a HECS exemption for the duration of an accredited graduate research degree. Read more about research scholarships

For more information, including a detailed listing of academic staff within the Melbourne Institute, please visit:
http://melbourneinstitute.com

 

Minimum entry

Structure

Either:

  • A four-year honours degree in economics. (Applicants are advised that due to the competitive nature of the program, an average grade of at least 80% (H1) in economics and econometrics is required to be seriously considered for a place), or
  • A qualification or combination of qualifications considered by the Research Higher Degree Committee to be equivalent. The completed degree(s) must be in an area that is relevant to the intended PhD.

Applicants are also required to provide results of the GMAT or the GRE General Test.
Please see admission requirements - research for more information.

3 years full-time or part-time equivalent

One year (or parttime equivalent) of Coursework followed by two years (or part-time equivalent) of Research
 
Rosanna Scutela - Australia - Completed PhD

Rosanna Scutella Australia

Since completing my PhD at the Melbourne Institute I have been working on my first ARC grant to study the effects of long term joblessness. It is a project with the Brotherhood of St Laurence. It feels great to be able to develop and extend the work I started with my PhD.