About us
At UNSW School of Economics, you’ll learn to analyse the behaviour and strategic interactions of individuals and firms, causes and effects of unemployment and inflation, determine how to improve efficiency and living standards and much more.
Why study economics?
Economics is a diverse discipline, which analyses decision making by individuals, organisations, governments and global organisations. We don’t just deal with numbers; we apply them to the world to understand people’s behaviours and encourage better decision making.
Economists help solve society’s challenges. These include economic growth and development, industrial organisation and strategic behaviour, public policy design and implementation, and the means to improve overall efficiency and living standards.
Our people
Our academics include world leaders in their areas of research, and we strive to attract the very brightest students, both domestically and internationally. We have some of the best award-winning teachers in Australia in Economics.
Quality research
We have a strong international reputation as one of the top Australian research schools in economics. Our members play an active role in senior advisory roles to government and industry, and we also attract considerable funding from the Australian Research Council and other bodies.
Initiatives
The School of Economics has several initiatives which help ensure our educational resources and opportunities are current, dynamic and tailored to students and teachers. Current initiatives include the Smart Tech and Education Program (STEP UP) and the Consortium for Inclusive Economics Education.
Welcome from the Head of School
Shaping the best tomorrow with economics that matters today!
Economics is about more than numbers - it is about ideas that build fairer futures, knowledge that drives progress, and solutions that create a more sustainable, inclusive world.
At the UNSW School of Economics, we are a community of scholars, educators, and students applying economic thinking to society’s most pressing challenges - from climate risk, democratic stability, and inequality to technological disruption and the future of work.
Anchored by UNSW’s vision of Advancing Economic and Social Prosperity for All and the Business School’s commitment to Careers That Matter, our mission is to generate knowledge and graduate students who make a meaningful difference.
We pursue this through rigorous research, transformative education, and strong collaborations across Australia and globally.
Research that sets the standard
Our research is recognised nationally and internationally. In Australia, we are one of only three economics departments to achieve the top ERA rating of 5 (“well above world standard”) across all fields - Economic Theory, Applied Economics, and Econometrics.
Globally, we rank among the top 40 economics departments in the world (QS 2024).
Our faculty lead the nation in ARC Future Fellowships, Econometric Society Fellowships, ARC grants, and editorial appointments at top international scientific journals.
Research that makes a difference
Equally important is the reach and relevance of our work. We contribute to national and global policy debates, partner with world-leading institutions, and deliver research that shapes better outcomes for communities.
Some examples of research areas include:
- political polarisation and democratic institutions
- social mobility and inequality
- AI, productivity, and labour markets
- climate change and environmental policy
- ageing population and its implications
- transparency in IVF clinic outcomes
- refugee camps and host populations
- peer effects in judicial courts and censorship
- quantitative easing, firm productivity, and pandemic dynamics
Our expertise is sought by the UN, World Bank, and national bodies such as Treasury, the Reserve Bank, and the Productivity Commission. We also work with industry funds (UniSuper, Cbus), government agencies, and NGOs like NSW Department of Education and Carers NSW.
Education that transforms
This research expertise underpins a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that prepares students for professional success and societal contribution.
Our teaching is innovative and grounded in real-world application - from award-winning immersive platforms like Playconomics to rigorous training in data analytics and econometrics. We aim not just to teach economics but to empower people to use it to change lives and, in doing so, build fulfilling and impactful careers.
The programs we run include:
- Undergraduate: Bachelor of Economics (single and dual degrees); majors in Economics in the Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy & Economics, and others; and Honours in Economics and Commerce.
- Postgraduate Coursework: Master of Economics; Master of Applied Economics; Graduate Certificate in Economics; and economics specialisations in the Master of Commerce.
- Research Degrees: Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
We train graduates that excel across government, business, academia, and international organisations, united by the ability to think critically, engage globally, and act with purpose. We are proud of the legacy and the distinct mark they leave in all spheres of society.
The UNSW School of Economics is more than a place of study. It is a community committed to push the boundaries of economics to create a fairer, more sustainable, and more prosperous future. Together with our partners, students, and alumni, we use economics to shape a better world - for everybody in it.
Professor Isabella Dobrescu
Head, School of Economics