Overview

The research program focuses on the macroeconomic aspects of inequality, an aspect of first-order importance for society. What are the facts of inequality that matter for macroeconomic outcomes? How shall fiscal, financial, and monetary policy take account of the trends in inequality?

Structure

The group in The Macroeconomics of Inequality at the University of Bonn organizes a weekly seminar, a workshop, and a reading group. These events help define the RTG’s identity:

In the reading group, students and faculty present current developments in the literature and discuss new ideas for research.
In the workshop, students and faculty present their ongoing research projects. We expect every member of the RTG to present at least once a year.
The seminar provides the opportunity to learn from and interact with academic guests from leading institutions in Europe and overseas.

Programme Structure

Research areas include:

Research Area A, Dimensions of inequality studies the facts on inequality, relying on the group members’ experience with a wide range of micro data.
Research Area B, Inequality and the business cycle studies to what extend inequality affects business cycle dynamics, making use of the groups’ expertise in heterogeneous agent modeling.
Research Area C, Inequality and financial fragility studies the empirical link between inequality, household balance sheets and financial crises.
Research Area D, Inequality and macroeconomic policies studies the policy implications. Building on the strengths of the group, the focus will be on monetary policy, labor-market policy, and fiscal policy.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-04-13 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-30 00:00:00
Starting 2027-10-12 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-31 00:00:00

Language

English

PTE Academic

59

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IELTS

5.5

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Bonn, Germany

Disciplines

Economics Social Policy View 21 other PhDs in Economics in Germany

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Academic requirements

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

PTE Academic

59

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

5.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Prior to entering the RTG, students are expected to have obtained education commensurate with a Master’s degree in economics with a specialization in economic research.
This level of education amounts to roughly the first one-and-a-half years of coursework (including qualifying exams) in a US-style PhD program. Minor exemptions can be granted subject to the student working toward completing the missing coursework.

With your application, please, send:

Letter of motivation
A curriculum vitae
Two academic reference letters (sent to us under separate cover, directly by your professors)
Academic transcripts (complete set of transcripts: where applicable, Bachelor, Master, doctoral studies)
GRE and TOEFL (not older than 3 years), and any other documents that support your application.

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

Studyportals partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of Bonn and/or in Germany, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

Free
EU/EEA Applies to you

Applies to you

EU/EEA Nationals

Free

Additional Details

No tuition fees, but students must pay a semester fee (345€).

Living costs

Bonn

Germany

865 - 1281 EUR / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for The Macroeconomics of Inequality.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Structure

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

EU/EEA Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

Bonn

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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