The PhD degree program in Economics is designed for economic specialist/economist who want to further career with the most advanced economic program offered at the Graduate School of Management and Economics at Pannasastra University of Cambodia. The program provides a cutting-edge education in the economic theories and the development of a rigorous toolkit of mathematical and econometric techniques. Students also gain extensive exposure to various research areas in economics that allow them to think critically about how to approach the analysis of economic problems and contribute to the knowledge base of the discipline.

This program particularly emphasizes analytical and quantitative skills and exposes students to a broad range of contemporary policy issues to prepare them for careers in academic, economy, finance, business, or government careers. In the first year, students will attend rigorous coursework in the areas of applied econometrics, advanced microeconomics and advanced macroeconomics. In the second year, students will specialise in the major field of economics such as advanced managerial economics and modern public finance.

The PhD-Economics program is designed to give the candidate a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of his or her professional field and training in methods of research. The final basis for granting the degree shall be the candidate’s grasp of the subject matter of a broad field of study and a demonstrated ability to do independent research. In addition, the candidate must have acquired the ability to express thoughts clearly and forcefully in both oral and written languages. The degree is not granted solely for the completion of coursework, residence and technical requirements, although these must be met.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major: Economics

Course Description

RESR 704        Research Methodology

The principles of scientific method and techniques of research design common to both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including sampling methods and data collection techniques. You will learn how to critically read research papers and articles. You will be introduced to the techniques of writing necessary to produce expository and analytical papers in a style that meets the standards of publishable work. Literature research methods will acquaint you with both traditional library research and the recent developments in electronic search and retrieval methods.

ECON 716       Advanced Econometrics

This course covers a range of techniques in econometrics that are widely used in applied microeconomics, macroeconomics, and other fields. The class aims at preparing students for carrying out empirical research in economics, and there will be an emphasis on the relationship between economic models and observable data. We will cover nonlinear methods, and a selection of topics in panel and time-series data. Students taking this class are expected to have taken an introductory econometrics class and should be familiar with estimation and inference for the linear regression model. Furthermore this class requires a working knowledge of statistics, matrix algebra, and multi-variable calculus.

ECON 703       Advanced Macroeconomic Analyses

The aim of this course is to provide a basic understanding of the theoretical foundation of macroeconomics at the advanced level. There are two aspects to these foundations. First, we emphasize the dynamic general equilibrium character of modern macroeconomic analysis. For dynamic general equilibrium modeling, we adopt the overlapping-generations model as the dynamic model to model the macro economy. Second, we use a consistent approach based on microeconomic foundations and the rationality of economic agents to address several issues in monetary policy, exchange-rate policy and fiscal policy.

ECON 704       Advanced Microeconomic Analyses

This course covers several microeconomic topics taught at the advanced level. It will provide a solid microeconomic foundation for the students for their future research in different fields in economic theory. The prerequisites of this course consist of intermediate microeconomics and a strong background in mathematics. Topics include the theory of consumer, demand and supply, game theory, competitive markets and market failure; externalities and public goods; adverse selection, moral hazard; principal-agent problem and general equilibrium theory

ECON 702       World Economic Development

This course explores the theory of prices and markets and examines macroeconomics policies of government that affect the management decisions of business. It explores the theoretical roots of competing policy options in areas such as taxation, fiscal and monetary policy, international trade and antitrust regulation. It also assesses the implications for business decisions of various government regulations as they affect the productivity and overall performance of the private sector.

ECON 706       Advanced Economic Thoughts

This course surveys the main schools in the history of the development of macroeconomic thought. Its goal is to improve the understanding of modern theory by highlighting major controversies of the past, the resulting theory choices, and the comparative advantages and disadvantages of respective approaches. The course focuses on the interpretation of economic theory. The skillful ‘consumption of economic theory’ protects against adhockery and other careless use of models. In particular, the course emphasizes the history of monetary economies and business cycle theory. It starts with the doctrines of classical economics (David Hume, Adam Smith, David Ricardo… etc.) and stresses its significance for modern macroeconomics.

RES 799          PhD Dissertation Proposal Design and Defense

This course is designed for PhD scholars to design and defend PhD Dissertation Proposal in Economics. Prior to defense of PhD Dissertation Proposal, the students are required to obtain 21 credits, as 18 credits from Remedial Courses, Doctoral Level Courses and Directed Courses and 3 credits from their elective courses. The student, who can pass her/his Proposal Defense of PhD Dissertation, she/he can acquire 3 credits.

RPD 799          PhD International or National Publications

This course is designed for PhD scholars to publish the parts of PhD dissertation in the national or international academic journal. Prior to writing for PhD academic journals, the students are required to completely pass PhD Dissertation Proposal. The students are required to separately publish two academic journals (6 credits); each journal publication will be obtained 3 credits

SFP 799           Scientific Conference Presentations

This course is designed for PhD scholars to participate and present the parts of PhD dissertation to the national and international scientific conferences. Prior to the conference presentation, the students are required to completely pass PhD Dissertation Proposal. The student, who fully completed the scientific conference presentation, she/he can obtain 3 credits.

SPD 799           Academic Seminars for PhD Dissertation

This course is designed for PhD scholars to organize an individual/personal academic seminar in order to present the parts of PhD dissertation to the publics, students, communities, national and international organizations as needed. Prior to the academic seminar presentation, the students are required to completely pass the PhD Dissertation Proposal. The student, who fully completed the academic seminar presentation, she/he can acquire 3 credits.

RESR 705        Seminar in Doctoral Dissertation Development

Dissertation Seminar is intended to assist doctoral students in the preparation of a dissertation proposal and to facilitate the transition from course work to dissertation. This course will review of proposal components, with particular emphasis on research design and developing the literature review, and will also focus on key issues such as dissertation format standards, psychological and time management demands, committee formation, and project management. This course does not aim to provide additional substantive material or methodological toolkit, the way typical graduate courses do. Its goal is rather modest as it attempts to apply your cumulative understanding and skills to specific research situation. From the perspective of one’s program of study, however, this course poses a real-world test helping to make a realistic transition from coursework to dissertation.

FIN 706           Advanced Corporate Finance

The main aim of this course is to help you learn to apply solid ideas of financial economics to real-life problems of business valuation and financial decisions with all the complexities the real world entails. The course covers contemporary financial theories and their applications, examines financial processes as they relate to corporate financial decision making and the types of short term and long term financial decisions which must be made by managers. Topics include capital structure, credit policies, financial operation, capital budgeting and transaction financing, asset pricing, option theory and financial risk management.

RESR 707        Seminar in Comparative Economic System

This is a seminar course in the comparative analysis of variant types of capitalist and non-capitalist social formations and the transition of social formations from one set of prevalent characteristics to a new and radically different set.  This question of transition is not simply an issue of description.  Reality is not naturally broken down into discrete sets of phenomena such that the concepts we use in analysis are obvious and universal to all social scientists.  Social formations are comprised of a potentially infinite set of distinct combinations of characteristics.  How do we decide on a finite set of characteristics useful in helping us achieve a better understanding of the social formation/society and how it is changing over time? 

FIN 708           Modern Public Finance

Public finance is the study of the economic functions or role of a government and its associated institutions, analysis of government taxing and spending activities using theoretical, empirical, and institutional material. Topics include optimal provision of public goods, cost-benefit analysis, tax incidence, policies aimed at efficient level of externalities such as pollution, income redistribution, models of democratic and bureaucratic decision-making and the design of government procurement contracts.

FIN 710           Money, Baking and Financial Markets

This course studies the role of money, the banking system, the financial markets, the supply of money, and central banks. The course starts with introducing the payment system, the financial system, and then covers basic concepts in financial economics, such as time has value, risk and risk premium, the determination of interest rates, and the term structures. Then, we will discuss topics such as bank management and the operation of the banking system, bank regulation and deregulation, financial innovations, role of central banks and their functions. We will also study how central banks control money supply using monetary policies, and how monetary policies affect economic activities.

ECON 718       Monetary Economics

Monetary Economics and Sequential Trade is an insightful introduction to the advanced topics in monetary economics. Accessible to students who have mastered the diagrammatic tools of economics; it discusses real issues with a variety of modeling alternatives, allowing for a direct comparison of the implications of the different models. The exposition is clear and logical, providing a solid foundation in monetary theory and the techniques of economic modeling.

The text is rooted in the author's years of teaching and research, and will be highly suitable for monetary economics courses in both the upper-level undergraduate and graduate levels.

MGT 722         Cross Cultural Management

This course examines organizational and individual behaviors, structures and management practices in multinationals and in business situations involving cross cultural interactions. The course covers a variety of theories that relate culture to behavior in general and management in particular, develops an analytical framework that facilitates adaptation of managerial practices and organizational structures to cultural differences. It focuses on the practical application of the framework to shaping individual and organizational behaviors. We pay special attention to the following areas: organizational design, negotiation processes, and communications. Through simulations and exercises students will develop their skills of communicating and managing in diverse cultural environments and in cross cultural situations.

ECON 730       Economics of Labor Markets

This course analyzes the factor of Labor in the state economy, addressing topics of labor supply and labor demand, theories and practice of wage determination, and how wage structures and wage differentials develop and evolve. Macro-institutional forces related to labor, labor markets, and wages are considered, including labor force participation, evolution and change in labor markets in country, employment, and unemployment. Trends, measurement and analyses of labor productivity, labor mobility, labor market discrimination, and the role of government and unions in labor markets are further considered. Particular attention will be given to the impact of the current economic recession on labor economic variables. The course concludes with an in-depth analysis of causes of poverty, executive and banking CEO pay trends, and trends in incomes and relative income shares.

ECON 735       Economic Analysis of Multinational Enterprise

This course is designed to provide a thorough understanding of the economics of multinational enterprises (MNEs). The course explores the nature, extent and the pattern of foreign direct investment (FDI), the motives for foreign production and the determinants of MNE activity. It examines in depth the impact of such activity on both host and home countries along with its policy implications and the importance of governments and/or institutions in controlling/managing MNE behavior. It examines the contribution of economic analysis to an understanding and appraisal of these matters.

ECON 737       Applied Game Theory

Game theory is widely applied in management and social sciences. Game theory is a popular subject and became a powerful tool for analyzing strategic interactions between players or decision making units. Game theory describes a strategic decision making processes. It analyzes situations in which players interact, and suggests strategies and solutions that are based on profit or utility maximizing concepts. This course provides the basic concepts and applies those concepts to economics and business applications. It introduces the basic concepts of game theory and introduces several methods to solving interactive decision problems. The concepts will be applied to economics and business relevant applications that relate to Firm Behavior in Markets and different types of market structures.

ECON 742       Advanced Environmental Economics

This course is designed to guide students through the frontier areas of environmental economics. We begin by studying the issue of externalities and methods to regulate externalities. We then examine the impacts of uncertainty and information asymmetry on the choice of policy instruments for regulating externalities. Both point- and nonpoint-source pollution issues will be studied. We end the course by considering environmental regulation in practice.

RPC 799          Dissertation

This course is designed for PhD scholars to complete and finally defend the PhD Dissertation. Prior to final defense of PhD Dissertation, the students are required to complete all the required courses, such as 21 credits from Doctoral Courses, 3 credits from Proposal Defense, 6 credits from Academic Journal Publications, and 3 credits from Scientific Conference Presentations as well as an additional 3 credits from Academic Seminars for PhD Dissertation. The student, who can pass her/his Final Defense of PhD Dissertation, she/he can acquire 18 credits.