Typology
Ph.D Course
Access methods
Restricted access
Duration
3 years
Location
Varese
Language
English
Structure
DIPARTIMENTO DI ECONOMIA

Course description

An important part of economic analysis is devoted to the study of decision-making processes. Every day, consumers and producers, workers and firms, banks and managers, households and policy makers make decisions that carry significant economic consequences. Economists aim to understand, predict and, at times, guide the mechanisms underlying these choices.

The analysis of human decision-making relies on different methods and models depending on the area of research. Classical decision theory is based on mathematical models, while more recent work in behavioral economics often employs experimental approaches. Econometric tools make it possible to study the factors that influence specific choices, such as those related to labor, transportation, health, or charitable giving. Computational methods, in turn, allow researchers to simulate interactions among economic agents and to analyse the effects of their decisions.

The PhD Program in Methods and Models for Economic Decisions  trains young researchers to deepen their knowledge across this wide range of theoretical and applied domains. The program requires the completion of 180 ECTS credits over three years, typically 60 per year. Of these, at least 19 must be earned in the first year through attendance of institutional courses specifically designed for PhD students.

All activities are conducted entirely in English and taught by faculty members from the Department of Economics at the University of Insubria, as well as by professors from other Italian universities and visiting scholars from foreign universities and research centers. All information reported on this page is also available on the corresponding webpage in Italian, which forms an integral part of the program’s documentation.

Students receive continuous support throughout the program. In the first year, they have the opportunity to identify a research area for their dissertation and to select their supervisors, choosing among members of the faculty board or external academics and professionals. The following two years are fully dedicated to research activities. Students work on their projects and are required to participate in seminars and other educational initiatives organized by internal and external faculty members with recognized international standing.

The program strongly promotes international mobility, encouraging students to spend part of their PhD period abroad and supporting them in gaining global experience. Its objective is to train independent researchers capable of pursuing academic careers at leading universities or undertaking research roles in private companies and international organizations.

The PhD offers internships and research visits at prestigious international institutions. Key opportunities include: the Pan-European Seal Programme (EUIPO ed EPO) for paid traineeships; collaborations and visits at the Competence Centre on Microeconomic Evaluation (CC-ME) of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, within the NetCIEx; and internship programs at global organizations such as the IMF, World Bank and OECD.  For details and applications, please refer to the dedicated pages. 

An additional opportunity for academic and professional enrichment comes from the various initiatives promoted by the Department of Economics, which has been selected among Italy’s 180 Departments of Excellence by the Ministry of Universities and Research for the period 2023–2027, ranking eighth nationally in the Economic Sciences area.

The Academic Board of each PhD Programme has a system for monitoring the processes and results related to research, teaching, and third mission activities, as well as for gathering feedback from doctoral candidates, including through the collection and analysis of their opinions. The documentation that each PhD Programme prepares/updates for planning and monitoring purposes is listed below.

MMED 2025/2026 Program Design Document Annual Planning Document of MMED Training Activities 2025/2026MMED Annual Monitoring and Review Report 2025
Scientific areas: 13 - Economics and Statistics
Thematic areas: ECON-01/A, ECON-02/A, ECON-03/A, ECON-04/A, ECON-05/A, ECON-06/A, ECON-07/A, ECON-09/A, ECON-09/B, STEC-01/B, STAT-01/A, STAT-02/A, STAT-04/A, MATH-03/A, MATH-03/B, MATH-06/A, INFO-01/A
Coordinator: Mastrogiacomo Elisa
Academic Year: 2025/2026
Ph.D. Cycle: XLI cycle

What you need to know

The programme aims to train researchers capable of understanding and analysing economic decisions through a multidisciplinary, data‑driven approach. Its overarching goal is to provide a solid preparation in the main theoretical models and quantitative methods used in contemporary economics, integrating contributions from experimental economics, behavioural sciences, econometrics, applied mathematics, and computational methods. The PhD programme prepares candidates to operate in an international academic and institutional context, strengthening their ability to communicate results, collaborate with diverse groups, and interpret complex economic problems with methodological rigour.

Throughout the three‑year programme, the training path is designed to develop competencies that enable doctoral students to critically evaluate models and empirical findings, define scientifically relevant research questions, and apply quantitative tools to analyse economic phenomena. The programme promotes the integration of theoretical and empirical approaches, encourages participation in seminars and research networks, and supports study periods abroad in universities or specialised research centres. Particular attention is devoted to teamwork in heterogeneous groups and to continuous interaction with faculty and supervisors, fostering collaborative and progressive learning. All activities are conducted in English to prepare students for international research environments.

The PhD programme supports students in developing their research project, helping them formulate well‑defined research questions, choose appropriate methodologies, and conduct data analysis consistent with the objectives of their work. Doctoral candidates are encouraged to aim for high‑quality publications, supported by a tailored set of training activities—such as thematic workshops, seminar series, and meetings with internationally renowned experts—that promote discussion, exchange of ideas, and integration into ongoing scientific debates. Collaboration with supervisors and researchers involved in the programme’s initiatives helps progressively refine the structure of the doctoral research. The ultimate goal is the production of a dissertation that provides a significant contribution to the literature on economic decision‑making and serves as a solid basis for a future academic or research‑oriented professional career.

A PhD in Methods and Models for Economic Decisions prepares highly qualified professionals for advanced intellectual and scientific careers. Graduates may pursue academic positions within Italy or other European countries, as well as roles in public or private research institutes and international organisations, both in Italy and abroad. Beyond academia, the competencies acquired allow PhD holders to access managerial positions in private companies and international institutions. International experiences carried out during the programme—particularly in the second and third year—further enhance employment opportunities. One and three years after graduation, contract types tend to vary, although research fellowships are the most common.

Teaching activities are delivered in person or in blended mode and may include practical components such as computational laboratories. In‑person attendance is required for all doctoral candidates unless otherwise indicated by the instructor. In case of justified absence, students must inform the instructor and the programme coordinator.

Enrollment

The program offers 6 positions, of which 5 include a scholarship and 1 does not.

Enrollment is possible after a selection process based on the evaluation of qualifications and an oral interview

To be admitted to a PhD program, candidates must hold a master’s degree (laurea magistrale/specialistica/ciclo unico/vecchio ordinamento) or another qualification obtained abroad and recognized as equivalent.

Applicants who have not yet completed their degree are also eligible to apply; enrollment can be finalized only for those who obtain the required qualification by 31 October.  

The selection process consists of the evaluation of qualifications and an oral examination:

  • Score for Qualifications: maximum 60 points

Candidates’ qualifications will be assessed based on their relevance to the themes of the PhD Program, according to the criteria specified in the Call for Applications. Only candidates who obtain at least 40 points in the evaluation of qualifications will be admitted to the oral examination.

  • Score for Oral Examination: maximum 60 points

The oral examination must be conducted at least partially in English. Candidates residing outside the region or abroad may request to take the interview remotely via Microsoft Teams, by submitting an adequate justification to the Coordinator and the Examination Committee. The oral examination is considered passed with a minimum score of 40 points.

More detailed information is provided in the Call for Applications. 

The PhD Program in Methods and Models for Economic Decisions participates in the inter-university PhD program in Sustainable Development and Climate Change (PhD SDC), coordinated by IUSS – Pavia (Curriculum Beta: HUMAN SOCIETY: SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS, INSTITUTIONS AND THEORIES).

Faculty Board Representative: Elena Maggi

Class attendance

The PhD Program aims to train researchers who possess both theoretical and applied mastery of the methods used in the analysis of economic decision-making, through a multidisciplinary approach.

In line with the organization of the training activities offered by the Doctoral School, starting from the 2025–2026 academic year (41st cycle), the study program is structured by assigning ECTS credits (CFU) to the planned teaching and research activities. The training programme requires full‑time and exclusive commitment, quantified as 180 ECTS over the three‑year period. Each ECTS corresponds to 25 hours of activity, divided into 8 hours of taught activities and 17 hours of individual study. These activities are identifiable and recognised by the Academic Board in the following forms:

  • transversal training activities: 3 ECTS;
  • disciplinary training activities;
  • elective training activities: 1 ECTS;
  • interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary training activities;
  • academic and professionalising training activities;
  • research activities.

The training offer is updated and approved annually by the PhD Board

The Program organizes a series of monthly seminars specifically designed for PhD students. In this context, only PhD candidates or junior researchers from outside the University - affiliated with Italian or international institutions - may present their work.

A one-day workshop is also organized on advanced research topics and innovative methodologies in the field of economics, featuring invited speakers of international standing.

The program strongly encourages PhD candidates to spend part of their training abroad, offering support to help them gain international experience. The main goal is to train independent researchers capable of pursuing academic careers at prestigious universities or taking on research roles in private companies and international organizations.

In recent years, second- and third-year students have carried out research periods at institutions such as:

Duke University (USA), Stony Brook University – New York (USA), University of Nottingham (UK), University of Kent (UK), University of Jena (Germany), University of Bordeaux (France), University of Lille (France), Universitat Jaume I – Castellón (Spain), University of Granada (Spain), Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic), and IAAEU (University of Trier).

The programme also provides an internal webpage, which is constantly updated and collects all relevant information for current doctoral candidates, including general details on the structure of the PhD programme, course organisation, Academic Board, teaching schedule, conferences, seminars, and other useful communications: https://www.phd.eco.uninsubria.it/.

Essential information for all PhD cohorts is also summarised in the following document: General Presentation of the PhD Programme.

Studying

Teaching activities are mainly concentrated in the 1st year, during which students receive rigorous training in economics, together with a solid foundation in quantitative methods. 

 

Course Title Hours CFU Professor SSD Area Final Exam
FIRST PERIOD (November - December)
Advanced Econometrics for Decision Making 12 1.5 Seri ECON-05 Economics Econometric techniques for economic decisions ✓
Applied econometrics: causality and policy evaluation 20 2.5 Castelnovo, Porro, Sonedda, Vezzulli ECON-05 Economics: Econometric techniques for economic decisions ✓
Transport decision making and sustainability 12 1.5 Maggi ECON-04 Economics: Applied Microeconomics ✓
Introduction to Macro Agent Based models 12 1.5 Caverzasi ECON-01 Economics: Macroeconomics ✓
Introduction to MATLAB 8 1 Moretto STAT-04 Computational methods for economic decisions ✓
STATA Laboratory for financial and economic analyses 10 1.25 Tanda ECON/09-B Computational methods for economic decisions ✓
Advanced Mathematical Methods for Economic Decisions 10 1.25 Tarsia STAT-04 Mathematics/Statistics Quantitative tools for economic decisions ✓
SECOND PERIOD (February - May)
Decision making in historical-economic perspective 12 1.5 Brambilla ECON-01 Economics: Economic History ✓
The economics of altruistic decisions and charitable giving 10 1.25 Galmarini ECON-01 Economics: Microeconomics ✓
Applied econometrics: Health Economics 18 2.25 Robone, Orso, Garcia-Prado ECON-03 Economics: Applied Microeconomics ✓
Networks: Theory and Applications 12 1.5 Vanni STAT-04 Mathematics/Statistics Quantitative tools for economic decisions ✓
Optimization with applications to finance and economics 16 2 Rocca STAT-04 Mathematics/Statistics Quantitative tools for economic decisions ✓
SUPPLEMENTARY SEMINARS AND LECTURES by external visiting scholars
Economic growth theory 8 1 Marsiglio ECON-01 Economics: Macroeconomics ✓ (joint with La Torre's course)
Optimal control theory 8 1 La Torre STAT-04 Mathematics/Statistics Complementary tools for economic decisions ✓
Option theory and its use in finance 6 0.75 Sala STAT-04 Mathematics/Statistics Complementary tools for economic decisions ✘
Dynamic Structural Estimation 4 0.5 Mantovan ECON-05 Economics: Econometric techniques for economic decisions ✘
Applied econometrics: causality and policy evaluation - II part 8 1 Montorsi ECON-05 Economics: Econometric techniques for economic decisions ✓ (joint with La Castelnovo et al. course)
TBA 4 0.5 Mendonça     ✘

The Doctoral School, in collaboration with the PhD Program Coordinators and other University Offices, promotes and organizes both disciplinary and interdisciplinary training activities, which may also be shared across multiple PhD programs. For the current academic year, the following activities are planned:

 

Course

Year

Hours

Faculty

Description

Safety in the laboratory

1

14

Ref. Sacchi

Legal aspects. Working with videoterminals. Working with chemicals. Working with lasers and radioactive sources. Biohazard.

Artificial intelligence

Any

8

Ref. Fasano

Foundations of AI. The AI act. Applications (Biology, Surgery, Medicine, Economics, Humanities, Astrophysics, Materials science)

Becoming a researcher – The publication process

Any

8

Ref. Vezzulli

The aim of the course is to analyse the process of publishing, from identifying a target journal, drafting the paper, the submission process, handling reviews and revisions.  The course will also cover aspects related to the ethics of publishing (e.g., plagiarism, co-authoring) and provide a concrete example of a journal article from firm submission to handling the reviewers’ letters to acceptance.

Personal branding

Any

12

TLC

At the end of the course, the participant will be able to effectively manage their presence on social media by creating high-quality content and will know how to communicate in an official capacity to best promote themselves on their personal and professional channels.

Public speaking

Any

8

TLC

The course introduces important elements of successful presentations including effective listening, presentation organization, and logical structure; informative and persuasive speech; use of visual aids, research, and evidence; ethical considerations; and techniques for building confidence in public speaking.

Objectives: to increase confidence and poise when speaking to audiences or groups; to expand student’s abilities with computer mediated communication in order to better prepare them for future presentations online; to enrich students’ ability to master all components that make a speech successful: understanding timing, figuring out how much practice is needed, ensuring deliverables are clear, and being able to meet deadlines.

Project management

Any

8

TLC

How to start, define and organize a project; how to develop a project plan, including scoping, sequencing tasks, and determining the critical path; how to assess, prioritize and manage project risk; how to execute projects and use the earned value approach to monitor and control progress

 

 

In addition to curricular and transversal activities, students may participate in elective training activities offered by other PhD programs, including those at other universities. A minimum of 1 ECTS credit must be earned through these activities.

The plan of mandatory training activities is updated gradually and completed by February. The activity calendar is available here:

Activity Calendar_25_26

The University offers optional English language courses through a multimedia software platform (MacMillan English Campus – MEC), as well as an English language course designed to prepare students for obtaining the B2 certification. 

At the end of the PhD Program, the B2 English language certification is required in order to obtain the PhD degree. 

All information is available on the webpage https://www.uninsubria.eu/course-catalogue/course-list/phd-doctoral-programs/information-enrolled-students/english-language.

Attaining your qualification

From the first to the second year 

To progress to the second year, students must have completed all examinations by 15 September of the first-year. By the same deadline, each student must choose a supervisor from among the members of the Faculty Board. A co-supervisor must also be appointed; this may be either a member of the Faculty Board or an external academic or professional.

From the second to the third year

To be admitted to the third year, by 15 September of the second-year students must submit to the Faculty Board at least one original working paper containing preliminary results and/or a literature review. The working paper must be approved by the supervisors. 

By 15 September, each PhD candidate is required to submit an annual report to the Faculty Board documenting in detail the training and research activities carried out during the previous academic year, as well as the progress of their research project.

At the end of the third year, the Faculty Board evaluates the entire academic and research progress of the PhD candidate - including the quality and development of the doctoral thesis - for admission to the final examination.

The thesis represents the main outcome of the research program and must demonstrate the candidate’s ability to conduct original analysis and provide a significant scientific contribution.

It must consist of at least three chapters, each developed to meet the quality standards required for publication in internationally recognized peer‑reviewed scientific journals. The thesis may also be structured as a collection of articles, connected by an introduction and a concise literature review.

PhD candidates are strongly encouraged to produce at least one single‑authored chapter.

Course committees and representatives

The PhD Faculty Board is composed of professors from the University of Insubria, as well as scholars from other Italian and international universities.

 

Faculty Members of the University of Insubria

 

Faculty Members from Other Italian and International Universities

  • Alessandro Barbiero, Associate Professor of Statistics, Università di Milano
  • Cinzia Colapinto, Associate Professor of Management, Cà Foscari Università di Venezia
  • Giovanni P. Crespi, Full Professor of Mathematical Methods for Economics, LIUC – Università Carlo Cattaneo
  • Francesco Figari, Full Professor of Public Economics, Università del Piemonte Orientale
  • Chiara Gigliarano, Full Professor of Statistics, LIUC – Università Carlo Cattaneo
  • Davide La Torre, Full Professor of Mathematical Methods for Economics, University of Bologna; HDR, Associate Dean and Full Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Applied Mathematics, SKEMA Business School, Université Cote d’Azur, Francia
  • Jianyi Lin, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
  • Francesco Lissoni, Professor of Economics, University of Bordeaux, Francia
  • Danilo Liuzzi, Associate Professor of Mathematical Methods for Economics, Università di Milano
  • Simone Marsiglio, Associate Professor of Economics, Università di Pisa
  • Silvia Massini, Professor of Economics and Technology Management, University of Manchester, UK
  • Enrico Moretto, Assistant Professor di Metodi Mathematical Methods for Economics, Università di Milano Bicocca
  • Silvana Robone, Associate Professor of Economics, Università del Piemonte Orientale
  • Anna Cecilia Rosso, Associate Professor of Economics, Università di Milano
  • Davide Secchi, Associate Professor of Organizational Cognition, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
  • Valerio Sterzi, Professor of Economics, Università di Bordeaux, Francia
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The AiQUA Committee of the MMED PhD Program is responsible for overseeing the quality assurance of all teaching and research activities within the PhD Program. It liaises with the Faculty Board, the Doctoral School, and the Department Council.

The Committee is composed of the Coordinator, four members of the Faculty Board, two PhD student representative, and one member of the Educational Secretariat. The composition of the Committee is proposed by the Faculty Board and appointed by the Department Council.

Find out more:

AiQUA Committee - Methods and Models for Economic Decisions
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The Advisory Committee plays a strategic role in ensuring the quality of the PhD program, guaranteeing that its structure, content, and training activities meet high academic standards and follow best practices. It also helps keep the program aligned with research trends, societal needs, and labor market demands, ensuring that PhD candidates develop skills that are valuable both in academic and professional contexts.

The Advisory Committee is composed of the Coordinator, from 3 to 5 Presidents of bachelor’s and master’s Degree Programmes, from 3 to 5 Alumni, at least 5 external members, and 3 faculty members of the Academic Board representing the disciplines of the Programme. The members of the Advisory Committee are appointed by the Department Council upon proposal of the coordinator. The composition of the Advisory Committee may be modified or updated to ensure appropriate representation of the PI.

Find out more:

Advisory Committee - MMED PhD Program
PhD Program Advisory board
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39th cycle: Luca Bargna, Ardit Koka, Sara Savini 

38th cycle: Giulia Cristaldi

For information

Dipartimento di Economia – DiECO

Università degli Studi dell'Insubria

Via Monte Generoso 71 - 21100 Varese – Italy

Coordinator: Prof.ssa Elisa Mastrogiacomo |  dottorato.dieco@uninsubria.it

Website dedicated to PhD students with additional details and in-depth information about the PhD programme