The Economist’s Craft introduces graduate students and rising scholars to the essentials of research, writing, and other critical skills for a successful career in economics. Michael Weisbach enables you to become more effective at communicating your ideas, emphasizing the importance of choosing topics that will have a lasting impact. He explains how to write clearly and compellingly, present and publish your findings, navigate the job market, and more.
Walking readers through each stage of a research project, Weisbach demonstrates how to develop research around a theme so that the value from a body of work is more than the sum of its individual papers. He discusses how to structure each section of an academic article and describes the steps that follow the completion of an initial draft, from presenting and revising to circulating and eventually publishing. Weisbach reveals how to get the most out of graduate school, how the journal review process works, how universities decide promotions and tenure, and how to manage your career and continue to seek out rewarding new opportunities.
A how-to guide for the aspiring economist, The Economist’s Craft covers a host of important issues rarely taught in the graduate classroom, providing readers with the tools and insights they need to succeed as professional scholars.
"Mr. Weisbach shows how to understand economics in a way that’s entertaining for anyone who has ever been a student, or simply likes to read, write or talk economics. It is aimed at economics professors, and appears to give the inside scoop on teaching. In reality, anyone with a bit of curiosity is enticed to look at how it’s done."—John B. Taylor, Wall Street Journal
"The Economist's Craft is indeed a value addition and can serve as a guideline . . . to develop a unique position within the academic society."—Satya Sahoo, WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs
"Weisbach’s book is one of the most comprehensive books. . . that cover all aspects of one’s academic development, starting from life as a PhD student, to life as a junior faculty, and life after securing tenure."—Stephen Gong, WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs
“The Economist’s Craft breaks down privilege and closes gaps between elite schools and public institutions by lifting up the skills to get grants, publish papers, and succeed in symposiums. All economics students, professors, and most of the social sciences should cherish this book.”—Teresa Ghilarducci, coauthor of Rescuing Retirement: A Plan to Guarantee Retirement Security for All Americans
“Before you go on a trip to Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, or Italy, you are likely to purchase the respective Michelin Guide. The Economist’s Craft is an immensely insightful, well-written, and often humorous guidebook to life as a research economist. It is a must-read for all those entering such a life. And for those already fully immersed in such a career, it provides a useful checklist for what is yet to be done. For example, have they lived in India for ten years, but, so far, without a visit to the Taj Mahal?”—George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate in Economics
“The Economist’s Craft is full of sage advice on how to be a better, more successful and more impactful economist, with lessons that hold in any field. Research, write, and present your ideas clearly, honestly, and transparently. Develop good collegial habits, help others, be a good citizen. Though pitched as advice for young scholars, it should be embraced by teachers, thesis advisers, journal editors, reviewers, and more to improve the quality and impact of all economics.”—John H. Cochrane, Hoover Institution, author of Asset Pricing
“Weisbach goes beyond mere tactical advice to deliver a highly substantive and engaging work of professional guidance. If I had read this book in graduate school, I would have avoided many mistakes. I recommend The Economist’s Craft to any and all PhD students in economics and allied fields.”—Luigi Zingales, University of Chicago and coauthor of Saving Capitalism from the Capitalists
“At long last, young scholars interested in economics have a much-needed resource that explains how to produce new knowledge, the core mission of researchers. The Economist’s Craft is comprehensive in scope and filled with insights that have helped me to reflect on and improve my research process.”—Yueran Ma, Booth School of Business, University of Chicago
“The Economist’s Craft is exactly the book I needed as a fledgling economist. Michael Weisbach provides wise advice about all the aspects of scholarly life in our discipline. This includes not just the practicalities—including the horrors of the journal review process—but also how to think strategically about a research portfolio and career trajectory. An absolute must for young (and not-so-young) economists.”—Diane Coyle, University of Cambridge
“This book provides excellent insights into navigating graduate school, constructing effective journal articles, and making good conference presentations. The adoption of even 50 percent of the recommendations woven through these chapters will transform both the economics literature and the careers of young economists. I would like to see a copy of this book in the hands of every one of our PhD students.”—Steven G. Medema, Duke University
