The BESTEPS Guide: 7 Lessons towards Effective Economics PhD Research

Abstract

This Guide is intended to offer early-career economists, especially PhD students, insights from leading researchers on how to take the “best steps” at each key stage of a research project. It is based on a series of lectures held at the University of Barcelona (UB) School of Economics under the BESTEPS project. Each lecture is self-contained and can be read independently. Taken together, the seven lectures aim to offer a practical and comprehensive guide to conducting research effectively during the PhD. This version collects the first three lectures by Antonio Cabrales, Libertad González, and Joan Llull.