Harvard Economics Department

About Harvard Economics Department

The Harvard University Department of Economics is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. As an academic unit within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, it functions as a central component of the institution's social science curriculum. The department provides instruction and research opportunities for both undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree and graduate students seeking a Doctor of Philosophy. The department is housed primarily within the Littauer Center and the surrounding buildings in the Harvard Yard area, which provide office space for faculty, research centers, and administrative functions.

The department’s origins trace back to the late 19th century, with economics instruction at Harvard University formalizing into a distinct department in 1897. Since its inception, the department has focused on the study of economic theory, history, and policy. It maintains a broad academic scope, covering fields such as behavioral economics, development economics, econometrics, industrial organization, international trade, labor economics, macroeconomics, microeconomics, and public economics. The curriculum is designed to provide students with technical training in quantitative analysis and theoretical frameworks, alongside historical and institutional context.

Harvard University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which serves as the regional accrediting body for the institution. As a department within the university, the economics program operates under these institutional standards. The department does not hold individual programmatic accreditation from organizations such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), as its primary focus is on theoretical and empirical research rather than professional business management training. The department operates in alignment with the broader academic policies and degree requirements established by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Research within the department is supported by various specialized facilities and centers, including the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), which maintains a close historical and operational proximity to the department. These research centers provide the infrastructure for faculty and graduate students to conduct empirical studies, access large-scale datasets, and collaborate on interdisciplinary projects. The department also utilizes the Harvard University library system, including the Littauer Library, which holds extensive collections related to economic history, statistics, and government documents. These resources are integrated into the research and teaching operations of the department to support academic inquiry.

The academic structure of the department emphasizes a combination of core requirements and elective specialization. Undergraduate students typically engage in a concentration—the Harvard term for a major—that requires foundational coursework in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, supplemented by advanced mathematics and statistics. Graduate students follow a rigorous path involving qualifying examinations in core economic fields, followed by original research culminating in a dissertation. The department maintains a high volume of working papers and peer-reviewed publications, contributing to the academic literature in economics and related social sciences.

Collaboration and interdisciplinary study are common features of the department’s operations. Faculty members frequently hold joint appointments with other schools within Harvard University, such as the Harvard Business School, the Harvard Kennedy School, and the Harvard Law School. This structure allows for the integration of economic analysis with public policy, legal studies, and management theory. The department regularly hosts seminars, workshops, and guest lectures that facilitate the exchange of ideas between faculty, students, and visiting scholars, maintaining a consistent flow of academic discourse throughout the academic year.

The department’s geographic location in the Greater Boston area provides students and faculty with access to a network of academic and research institutions. This environment supports the department’s commitment to producing research that addresses contemporary economic challenges, including income inequality, environmental economics, and the effects of globalization. By maintaining a focus on empirical evidence and theoretical rigor, the department continues to serve its function as a center for economic education and inquiry within the university system. The administrative and academic activities are governed by the internal policies of Harvard University, ensuring consistency with the broader institutional mission of higher education and research.