DOCTORATE IN ECONOMICS

The Doctorate in Applied Economics
is intended for individuals who hold an official Master's degree or an
equivalent university qualification and wish to specialize in the fields
of economics or business in order to contribute to scientific research
and/or pursue a career in higher education and teaching in these
disciplines.
It
is also designed for those who wish to conduct high-level research in a
specialized area of economics, making a significant contribution to the
advancement of knowledge within their field of expertise.
Applicants to the Doctoral Program in Economics are preferably expected to possess the following:

• Interests:
  A strong interest in understanding how societies function, as well as
  the economic, political, and cultural dynamics of different countries
  and regions; an interest in markets and macroeconomic and microeconomic
  environments; the ability to analyze socioeconomic phenomena and their
  interrelationships; an enthusiasm for information analysis,
  interviewing, and human interaction; and a commitment to promoting
  projects and social welfare. Applicants should also be market-oriented,
  interested in trend analysis, and motivated to lead and manage
  multidisciplinary teams while making effective decisions, as
  demonstrated by successful and established leaders.

• Aptitudes:
  Strong verbal reasoning skills, accuracy and speed in responding to
  work-related situations, proficiency in language and communication, the
  ability to maintain attention and concentration, as well as creativity
  and ingenuity.

The
primary objective of this doctoral program is to train doctoral
graduates who can make relevant contributions to the human, scientific,
and technological development of society in the field of economics. The
program seeks to educate highly qualified specialists whose professional
practice is focused on conducting applied research aimed at solving
problems within their communities and regions, while considering their
interaction with both national and international environments.

• Demonstrate
  an in-depth and up-to-date command of scientific and technological
  developments related to the field of economic science.

• Train
  professionals who are capable not only of appropriately developing
  scientific research projects, but also of guiding and advising others
  throughout the research process.

• Analyze how to defend a research project professionally and successfully by using appropriate academic discourse.

• Apply APA guidelines accurately and proficiently.

• Learn how to prepare a research project, understanding the formal and structural requirements involved in its drafting.

• Lead
  and conduct original and independent research, contributing to the
  expansion of the frontiers of knowledge in the field of economics.

• Critically and independently evaluate scientific findings and outputs within a framework of ethical commitment.

• Communicate research findings and results to the scientific and academic community.

• Analyze organizations and propose and implement strategies that optimize economic development and modernization.

• Graduates
  will be able to formulate research projects independently, establishing
  precise objectives; search for, retrieve, organize, and analyze
  historical data using traditional or state-of-the-art techniques,
  methods, and tools aligned with the research objectives; interpret
  and/or explain specific historical processes using well-supported
  arguments and solid foundations; and place them within spatial and
  temporal contexts of different scales.

• Generate new knowledge in the field of economic science as a result of all the competencies described above.

• Critically
  analyze and evaluate contemporary historiographical production,
  position their work within current historiographical debates, and
  contribute to the theoretical and methodological development of the
  discipline.

• Develop
  an adequate understanding of the main components of projects and
  emerging technologies, as well as the challenges associated with them.

• Build an up-to-date body of knowledge suitable for educating undergraduate and master’s degree students.

• Effectively
  organize time and workloads, a skill that is essential for the
  successful completion of any professional or research project.

Admission & Graduate Profile

Entry Profile

The Doctorate in Economics is aimed at individuals who hold an official master’s degree or equivalent and wish to specialise in economics or business. Applicants should have an interest in scientific research, economic analysis and the generation of new knowledge, as well as the ability to undertake advanced research or pursue a career in university-level teaching.

Graduate Profile

Graduates will be able to conduct original and independent research in Economics, applying advanced methodological and analytical tools to address complex economic and business challenges. They will be prepared to generate applied knowledge, critically evaluate economic issues, disseminate scientific findings and pursue careers in research and university-level teaching.

Career Opportunities

Upon
completion of the doctoral program, graduates will be qualified to hold
senior management positions, with the ability to manage and oversee the
functional area in which they work. They will also be prepared to
pursue teaching careers at all levels, specializing in Economics.
Potential career opportunities include:

• Economic and Financial Director.

• Economic Consultant.

• Consulting Auditor.

• Statutory Auditor.

• Tax Advisor.

• Accounting Advisor.

• Foreign Trade Specialist.

• Teacher at all levels of the education system.

• Scientific Researcher in the field of Economics.

• Qualified Middle Manager in economic and financial departments.

• Specialist Technician in organizations, public bodies, government administrations, or NGOs.

Study Plan

1st and 2nd Semesters
PHASE 1: TUTORING

During this first phase, the programme is coordinated between the student and the assigned tutor. With the tutor’s support, the student will prepare a proposed outline for the doctoral thesis. The academic organisation of the doctoral programme requires the preparation of a work plan, which will be developed throughout this tutoring phase.

PHASE 2: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

During this phase, coordination between the student and the assigned tutor continues. With the tutor’s ongoing support, the student will continue developing the proposed doctoral thesis outline. Doctoral studies require the preparation of a work plan, which will continue to be developed throughout the tutoring phase.

PHASE 3: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH TECHNIQUES

The general objectives of this subject are:

• To understand and apply the scientific research process, considering its objectives, elements and purposes.

• To identify different types of research, as well as their characteristics and purposes.

• To apply research methods relevant to the Social Sciences.

• To distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.

• To formulate a research problem in accordance with the relevant theoretical rationale.

• To learn how to formulate scientific hypotheses.

• To interpret and analyse data collected from the research sample.

• To analyse and develop the components of a research project.

• To understand the structure and formal requirements of a doctoral thesis.

• To use the main features of the SPSS statistical software package.

With the support of the Thesis Supervisor, the student must prepare a proposed doctoral thesis outline, enabling them to develop their research skills progressively.

3rd and 4th Semesters
PHASE 1: COURSEWORK

During this phase, students complete a series of distance-learning subjects selected according to their previous studies and the subject matter of their thesis. Doctoral candidates must complete subjects appropriate to their chosen thesis topic. The first two are compulsory, while the third is an elective. The academic research activities are described below.

The compulsory subjects are as follows:
- Microeconomics
-Econometrics
-Elective I
-Elective II

PHASE 2: RESEARCH

The aim of this phase is to develop one of the most important sections of a research study: its rationale. During previous phases, the doctoral thesis outline was developed, including a summary of the research problem and objectives. At this stage, students must substantiate and explain the reasons for undertaking the study and the benefits expected from the research. They must also briefly describe the relevant contextual aspects and theoretical debates that establish the relevance and significance of the research.

PHASE 3: RESEARCH FINDINGS AND ACTIONS

The aim of this phase is to identify the models, theories and concepts relevant to the research problem in order to provide a foundation for the analysis and interpretation of results. This includes related studies, a literature review supporting the diagnosis undertaken, and the theoretical foundations of the project design. Students must also explain the methodology to be used in developing the doctoral thesis.

5th and 6th Semesters
PHASE 1: RESEARCH II

The aim of this phase is to develop and define the empirical framework of the doctoral thesis by establishing objectives, hypotheses and variables. Students will determine the research design and type, establish the data collection method and instruments, and define the target study population. During this phase, data collection will begin using the selected research instruments.

PHASE 2: DOCTORAL THESIS INITIATION

The aim of this phase is to further develop and define the empirical framework of the doctoral thesis through the formulation of objectives, hypotheses and variables. Students will establish the research design and type, determine the data collection method and instruments, and define the target study population. Data collection will begin using the selected instruments.

PHASE 3: DOCTORAL THESIS DEVELOPMENT

The aim of this research phase is to interpret and present the findings obtained from the research following the analysis conducted during the previous phase. The interpretation should be supported by graphs, tables and images, together with any appendices required to facilitate understanding of the results. During this phase, students must also begin compiling the References section in strict accordance with APA standards.

FINAL PHASE: DOCTORAL THESIS PROJECT

During this final phase, under the supervision of the Thesis Supervisor, the student will undertake the research activities required to complete the doctoral thesis project. The entire research study will be written up on the basis of the analyses conducted and the results obtained and incorporated into the advanced research protocol. This final stage also involves completion and defence of the doctoral thesis in a public dissertation defence.

Academic Itinerary

Semester 1
-Advising Phase I
-Research Methodology

Semester 2
-Advising Phase II
-Introduction to Research Methods

Semester 3
-Microeconomics
-Econometrics
-Elective I
-Elective II

Semester 4
-Research Phase I
-Findings and Actions of the Research

Semester 5
-Research Phase II
-Doctoral Dissertation Initiation Phase

Semester 6
-Doctoral Dissertation Development
-Doctoral Dissertation Project

Research Lines

Research Area 1. Economic History. Economics of Culture and Society. Economic Law.

This research area focuses on the economic analysis of historical processes, including the relationship between height and economic development, changes in living standards, inequality and biological well-being, the relationship between political and economic power, the influence of cooperatives across different economic sectors, the role of family businesses, and the contribution of different productive sectors to economic growth, among others. It also encompasses the economics of historical heritage, including the economic valuation of cultural assets, assessment of the economic impact of cultural events and festivals, and efficiency analysis of cultural institutions. Furthermore, it examines national and regional legislation affecting commercial and economic activities, together with the specific challenges faced by family businesses.

Research Area 2. International Trade, Industrial Organisation and Service Economics. External Sector and Monetary Integration. Economic Geography and Regional and Urban Economics.

This research area covers studies of oligopolies and other imperfect markets; horizontal restraints on competition; sector-specific studies of services, particularly the media (radio and television) and tourism; research, development and innovation; intellectual property rights; international trade models under imperfect competition; and interactions between trade and the labour market. It also examines international economic relations from a long-term perspective, with particular emphasis on trade and exchange-rate policies and the relationship between politics and economics in their design, as well as the role of international trade and finance in economic growth.

Research Area 3. Economic Development, Growth, Productivity and Sustainability. Determinants of Economic Growth. Sustainable Economics and Sustainability Policies. Public Policies.

This research area examines the variables that explain differences in economic development and growth across regions. These include economic variables such as innovation, international openness, productive structure and entrepreneurial capacity, as well as business-related variables such as ownership structures, the use of accounting information in decision-making, and corporate social responsibility policies.

It also examines the role of territorial strategies in promoting competitiveness, economic growth and sustainability; the role of public policies in developing and evaluating these strategies; and the role of researchers in their development. The study of public policies involves the theoretical and empirical analysis of the planning and management tools available to public administrations, their effects on the private sector, their theoretical justification and their degree of optimality.

Research Area 4. Spatial Econometrics, Microeconometrics and Statistical Inference. Empirical Business Cycles and Time-Series Econometrics.

This research area focuses on estimation techniques and other methodological aspects related to the application of statistical inference to economic data. Non-parametric econometric techniques and their application to key areas of economics, together with analytical methods in spatial econometrics, are particularly relevant.

It also examines business cycles, including their description, the degree of synchronisation between international cycles, and the use of tools to identify changes in the phases of the economic cycle. This involves developing innovative techniques for analysing economic conditions, as well as examining cutting-edge linear and non-linear techniques used in econometric and statistical time-series analysis.

Research Area 5. Economic Analysis and Finance. Efficient Decision-Making in Economics and Business. Economic Optimisation. Markets, Strategic Behaviour, Strategic Management and Business Innovation.

This research area focuses on economic and financial analysis for management and decision-making in economic and business contexts, with the aim of implementing improvements and optimising processes. Among other areas, it includes the development of models for determining interest rates, studying their volatility, examining the evolution of stock options, assessing changes in risk, and analysing the effects of market information and financial statements on bankruptcy prediction.

Research Area 6. Health and Behavioural Economics. Satisfaction, Health and Addictive Behaviours.

Objective: This research area addresses the economic analysis of the determinants of health, both from contemporary and historical perspectives; the economic evaluation of healthcare interventions; the monetary valuation of human life; and the study of dependency in relation to healthcare expenditure and the value of informal care, among other topics.

It also develops and applies microeconomic theories based on more realistic psychological assumptions than those of standard economic theory to different types of decision-making. At the same time, specific hypotheses concerning market behaviour are tested through experiments.

Research Area 7. Economic Decision-Making, Well-being and Social Choice.

This research area examines the increasing globalisation experienced by contemporary societies and the need for decision-making processes that can be accepted by members of different societies. Particular attention is given to investigating the determinants of economic growth and identifying ways of achieving prosperity and social well-being, taking into account both the measures adopted and the mistakes that may have been made.

Understanding the barriers to economic growth and how they operate is essential for designing mechanisms capable of promoting the convergence of countries towards optimal levels of well-being and social development.

Research Area 8. Tourism Economics. Tourism Competitiveness. Human Capital Development in the Tourism Sector.

This research area examines the impact and transformations generated by economic activity within tourism institutions and destinations, as well as their effects on development, competitiveness, profitability and sustainability across different scales and contexts. Another area of analysis involves market studies of the available tourism supply and tourist demand behaviour, based on the variables that have the greatest influence on destination choice.

From a marketing perspective, research may include the analysis of prices and seasonality across different types of tourist accommodation, as well as quantitative analysis of tourism destination brand image through pricing.

Throughout the three academic years of the doctoral programme, doctoral candidates are supported and advised in achieving the required academic merits by their Thesis Supervisor, who must hold a doctoral degree and demonstrate recognised experience in scientific research and publication. Doctoral candidates graduate once they have successfully submitted and defended their doctoral thesis and demonstrated achievement of the required academic merits, including the publication of articles in indexed journals and participation in international conferences through poster presentations or conference papers.