Higher Degrees by Research

Unlock the future of economics and public policy.

Looking for a vibrant and engaging environment for your PhD studies? 

At the School of Economics and Public Policy (SEPP), you'll join a dynamic community of doctoral researchers from across Australia and around the world. Our scholars are united by a passion for advancing the field of economics and tackling global policy challenges. Our work is essential to the intellectual energy and scholarly excellence that define our school.

We take pride in rigorously training our graduates to become independent researchers who lead the charge in tackling urgent policy challenges. Our research addresses:  

  • investigating cost of living and income inequality
  • the economic effects of climate change
  • managing resources sustainably
  • ensuring food security
  • promoting public health
  • resolving international trade disputes
  • advancing education
  • achieving gender equality.

Our program equips aspiring PhDs to drive impactful change on a global scale.

Research is the heartbeat of the School of Economics and Public Policy, where we proudly dive into an exciting array of topics across behavioral and experimental analysis, applied economics in resources, agriculture, development, and trade. 

Our diverse research drives innovation and real-world impact. PhD students work closely with academics at the school conducting independent research, and contributing to research projects at our research centres: 

Research themes

PhD students at SEPP typically work in any of the following research themes:

  • Economics and public policy

    Research in this area aims to understand the overall state of the economy and how it can be influenced by government intervention. The research focuses on identifying the factors influencing income, employment levels, and welfare. It also investigates how government policy should be designed in an increasingly globalised world. Emphasis includes monetary policy, tax policy, education, poverty and welfare, delivery of public services, health economics, and economic development.

  • Economic growth, development, and trade

    We explore the disparities observed in the level of wealth and economic growth rate among nations. We focus on improving the wellbeing of the disadvantaged by understanding and analysing the role of international trade and technological changes. The research contributes to the fields of macroeconomics, development economics, international trade, and economic history.

  • People, behaviour, and choice

    We seek to understand the choices made by individuals and businesses while accounting for own preferences, self-interest, limited resources, and asymmetric information. Areas of specialisation include behavioural economics, mechanism design, experimental economics, game theory, social networks, and social choices. The behavioural economics group hosts the Adelaide Laboratory for Experimental Economics AdLab.

  • Agrifood, water, and environment systems

    Our research addresses economic, policy, agribusiness and social issues affecting global food systems, targeting the following research areas: food policy; international development; food system innovation; water policy; healthy societies; and resilient landscapes. 

    We connect relevant partners ranging from industry organisations and enterprises to government institutions and policy makers. This improves translation and uptake of research.

  • Econometrics methods and applications

    Our research in this theme uses state-of-the-art econometric and statistical techniques to identify and quantify various socio-economic models. Topics of emphasis include identifying and estimating  treatment effects models, social networks, and trade models; and the evaluation of economic, education, health and environmental policies. The research also encompasses the development of new statistical methods to guide governments and businesses in the formulation of effective environmental and economic policies based on the exploitation of large datasets.

Why choose us?

At the forefront of economic and public policy research, the University of Adelaide's School of Economics and Public Policy stands as a beacon of leadership, driving forward solutions to today's global challenges. Our PhD program includes access to the Phoenix supercomputer, the second-most powerful computer in an Australian university and one of the world’s top 500 fastest supercomputers1.  

With us you're not just pursuing a degree—you're entering a dynamic community of scholars dedicated to impactful change. Your research has the power to shape policies, advance economies, and improve people’s lives. 

How to apply

For more information about how to apply, please visit Adelaide Graduate Research School website and to learn more about our program requirements see our Higher Degree by Research Student Handbook.

1. See the prestigious TOP500 The-List