Doctoral Programs

Accounting scholars study how information affects resource allocation with and across firms, the behavior of shareholders, regulators, customers, and suppliers, and the process by which information is disclosed. Accounting research uses statistical and econometric methods and theoretical economic modeling, and often draws from frameworks developed in information and financial economics.

The doctoral program in Business Economics, which includes Finance and Applied Economics tracks, provides scholars with rigorous training in economic theory and a particular focus on economic analysis as it applies to the business world. Students in the Business Economics program are both Economics and Business school students, receiving the benefits of a PhD from Harvard’s world-class Economics Department along with specialized access to Harvard Business School faculty and resources.

The PhD program in Health Policy (Management) prepares students to effect powerful change rooted in data-driven research on the managerial, operational, and strategic issues facing a wide range of organizations. Coursework includes the study of microeconomics theory, management, research methods, and statistics.

Marketing scholars explore the societal and managerial processes by which goods, services, and information are exchanged. Research provides insights into how companies serve customers and approaches for measuring the impact of marketing efforts. Marketing PhDs are separated into two broad sub-fields: quantitative marketing and consumer behavior. Theoretical modeling within quantitative marketing borrows from computer science, microeconomics, and statistics to offer guidelines for a firm’s marketing strategies. Experimental work in consumer behavior aims to understand the psychological and social motivations behind individuals’ responses to various stimuli.

Scholars in the PhD program in Organizational Behavior draw on methods from psychology and sociology to examine organizations and how people behave within them. The program offers two tracks: either a micro or macro approach.

Researchers in Strategy seek to understand the mechanisms through which firms create value and sustain performance over time. Strategy scholars develop a foundation in microeconomics and econometrics, and may supplement their understanding with additional economics topics—such as industrial organization, contract theory, or development economics—or extend to another discipline such as sociology.

Technology and Operations Management scholars examine how and why firms create innovative products and services, how they translate goals into action, and how the spread of technology generates growth and transforms society. Theoretical modeling uses mathematical programming and computer science techniques to examine and improve firm performance. Innovation research draws on economics, strategy, and entrepreneurship and employs a range of quantitative and qualitative methods.