Welcome to the Economics & Business Management Department of University of California, Merced.
Since opening its doors in 2003, UC Merced has built an active and vibrant Economics Department that excels at teaching and conducting research relevant to issues that face our societies today.
The department expertise centers on applied research that leverage quantitative analysis and economic frameworks to address critical contemporary issues such as immigration, discrimination, and social safety nets. Faculty are esteemed experts in their fields, and have served in prominent roles that address public and private sector policy, such as the Council of Economic Advisors, publish in top economic journals, and are the recipients of many prestigious grants (e.g., National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, US Department of Agriculture, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Hewlett Foundation). 
The Economics Department services a large majority of undergraduate students at UC Merced. Our students have a variety of programs to choose from, allowing them to focus on public policy, analytics, management and other related fields. The diversity of programs offered allows students to select which emphasis of economics best suits their interests and ambitions for success, in turn, opening many doors after graduation.
Because students with a degree in economics develop strong analytical and quantitative skills and the ability to solve complex problems effectively, studying economics is excellent preparation for many careers in business law, management consulting, education, or public service. Businesses of all types and sizes, financial institutions, consulting firms, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, as well as graduate business and law schools actively seek graduates with bachelors' degrees in economics. In addition, many of our students go on to do graduate study in economics, law, public policy, or business.
In 2020, the department welcomed their inaugural cohort into a PhD graduate program, training and preparing the next wave of researchers in economics, and allowing students to learn from dedicated and prominent economic scholars.
