
AI Economics Research Podcast
Federal Reserve: Why Don't More Americans Get Economics PhDs? (Explained)
This episode breaks down a recent Federal Reserve research paper exploring who earns economics PhDs in the U.S. and the structural factors shaping access and success in the field. We delve into why U.S.-born students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, face barriers and what pipeline programs and mentorship models can do to expand opportunities in advanced economics research careers. Read the full paper at https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/working-papers/2026/2026-13 and send your thoughts and questions to feedback@econpod.org. This episode explains a real academic paper in plain English for a general audience. Source paper: necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Reserve Bank - Federal Reserve https://doi.org/10.21033/wp-2026-13 Keywords: Economics PhD, Higher Education, Career Pathways, Diversity in Economics, Underrepresentation, Mentorship

