Doctoral Program PHD

Students in the PhD Program at Columbia Business School are trained in the design and execution of original research.

PhD students become familiar with research methods and the literature of their major fields through research projects and directed reading. Students master basic research tools by studying such subjects as economics, behavioral science, and quantitative methods.

Early on, students are expected to propose new ideas or methods for addressing problems, articulate those ideas on paper and in-person, and respond to the sometimes critical feedback received by their peers and the faculty.

For some, the research phase begins as early as the first year, when students serve as research assistants. Throughout their time at Columbia Business School, students become more involved in the design and execution of research, and, by the end of the third year, have typically produced at least one paper suitable for publication, often as a co-author with a faculty member.

Student research varies widely, but all shares two common characteristics: the identification of general principles and strong methodological orientation. Thus, even if an actual management problem motivates the research, as is often the case, the research results are often widely applicable.

Recent PhD dissertations have contributed to research on
• Multiperiod agency problems in accounting
• Asymmetric information in imperfect financial markets
• Intertemporal asset pricing
• Determinants of productivity growth
• Technological progress and industrial dynamics
• Replenishment strategies for production and distribution networks
• Adoption and diffusion of innovations