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PhD Dissertation Award

People in an audience listening to a speaker

The Stigler Center awards up to five $5,000 dissertation awards for University of Chicago PhD students in their third, fourth, or fifth year who are in the advanced phases of a dissertation about the political, economic, and cultural obstacles to better working markets.

Winners are chosen on the basis of academic excellence and rigorous research.

Details

PhD students in economics, business, political science, sociology, law, and other related fields may apply so long as their dissertation sheds light on a relevant topic, including, but not limited to:

  • Effects of regulation on competition
  • Impacts of campaign financing on legislation
  • Corruption (institutional, political, and old-fashioned bribes)
  • Crony capitalism
  • Media capture
  • Judicial capture
  • Market design
  • Antitrust

Winners receive up to $2,500 (depending on the award) upon notification of the prize and the remainder when they submit a completed version of the paper to be posted in the Stigler Center’s working papers series. Winners are required to attend weekly Stigler lunches in the Fall and Spring Quarters, where they can present their work in progress. Award winners are also required to submit reports throughout the academic year on their research progress.

The awards are open to University of Chicago students only.

Apply

Applications for academic year 2020–2021 are now closed. Winners will be notified by the start of the Fall quarter.

Past Winners