fu請問板上有沒有正在美國學總體的大大呢? - 經濟

※ 引述《wsmo ( )》之銘言：
: 之前聽一位在 Michigan State 的學長說
: 目前國外也超缺總體老師...所以打算出國學總體
^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^

Yes, year by year there are more positions for macroeconomists,

and many decent schools just do not get that many qualified candidates.

However, this does NOT imply that it is much easier for Ph.D.'s specializing

in macroeconomics to get jobs in the U.S.

Among all aspects, solid training, high quality of research papers, and a

sensible and innovative mind are all necessary for a decent academic job,

no matter what field you take.


: 不過有沒有目前正在國外讀PHD的大大 總體領域
: 可以分享一下目前總體的趨勢

In the past few years, important breakthroughs and popular topics include,

but not restricted to, (i) search theory and the labor market, (ii) the

application of dynamic contracting theory in macroeconomics (for example,

risk sharing, borrowing and lending, taxation, etc.), (iii) the treatment

of "lack of commitment" in macroeconomic modeling, and (iv) the application

of incomplete contract theory in macroeconomics (for example, contracts

versus development, technology adoption, trade patterns, etc.)


You may not know what are those things at this moment, but do not panic. For

sure you will learn at least some of them once you get into a Ph.D. program.


Note that trends change from time to time. What are popular right now may

not be as popular when you get into a Ph.D. program or when you go on the

job market. What is "hot" today may already become standard textbook materials

when you come to the U.S. Therefore, it is important that you study and do

research in the topics that REALLY interest you. Not in this way people can

not do outstanding research, believe it or not.


: 以及推薦一些參考書呢----數學工具部分

What mathematical background do you have?


I think economics itself is more important than mathematical tools,

and nowadays, computer skills are as important as basic math.

To do research in macroeconomics, I think it would be sufficient if you

master the materials in

(a) A First Course in Optimization Theory by Rangarajan K. Sundaram;

(b) Part I plus some chapters of measure theory in

Recursive Methods in Economic Dynamics by Stokey, Lucas, and Prescott;

(c) The first several chapters of Recursive Macroeconomic Theory (2nd ed.)

by Lars Ljungqvist and Thomas J. Sargent;

or their equivalence.


Given that (b) and (c) listed above are usually covered in the first year

macro course in a Ph.D. program, probably you do not need to worry so much.


As for computer skills, if you want to major in macroeconomics, it is

necessary to learn at least one programming language.


Lazy people like me use MATLAB (pretty slow) or GAUSS, while people who do

calibration work seriously use Fortran or C++ extensively.

It is noteworthy that there are a large crowd of macroeconomists still

sticking with Fortran instead of C++. So there is at least communication

advantage if you know at least a little bit of Fortran.




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