Whether through exploring market dynamics, inequality, or environmental sustainability, students within the Department of Economics learn to examine how individuals, firms, and governments make decisions.
Our program is designed to foster “intelligent citizenship” and rigorous scholarship, equipping students with the tools to analyze complex human behavior and social issues. Policy makers in business, government, and the nonprofit sector frequently evaluate complex economic issues. The economics major culminates in a senior thesis, where students apply their cumulative knowledge to an original research question, ensuring every graduate leaves our program with deep, practical expertise in the discipline.
Matt Von Vogt, Academic Administrative Assistant
4 Andrews Rd
Pettengill Hall
Phone: 207-786-8296
mvonvogt@bates.edu
Our graduates consistently secure placements at top organizations and graduate schools. More than two-thirds of economics majors eventually pursue further study, with acceptances to top MBA and Ph.D. programs. Alumni have embarked on their careers at top firms, research institutes, and governmental departments.
of 2020-2024 Bates graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school — settled into their next opportunity within 6 months of graduation.
My choice to double major in biochemistry and economics reflected curiosity more than a clear plan, and the Bates environment encouraged me to connect those interests. Science taught me to think critically and sit with uncertainty, while economics helped me understand systems and decision-making. Now, I bring that scientific mindset into finance, helping set business strategy by grounding decisions in data.
— Johannes Schwarz ‘25
Students choose economics to gain a powerful lens for understanding the world, supported by a curriculum that emphasizes both quantitative rigor and critical thinking. In collaboration with the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, certain courses allow students to work directly with Lewiston-Auburn community partners on local economic development projects. In addition, students frequently work alongside faculty as research assistants, gaining direct experience in academic inquiry, and regularly present their findings at summits and conferences. The program is committed to intellectual discovery and “informed civic action,” preparing graduates for diverse careers in business, policy, and academia.
Our faculty is composed of active scholars who bridge the gap between policy and theory. We hold Ph.D.s from leading institutions and are engaged in high-level research, with recent achievements including National Science Foundation grants and fellowships at the Institute of Labor Economics. We regularly publish in top-tier journals and bring experience from organizations like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Federal Reserve, which ensures that our curriculum remains relevant to global economic policy.
Each year the graduating class at Bates picks a faculty or staff person to offer the Baccalaureate Address. The Class of 2026 selected Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies Stephanie Kelley-Romano.
On Sunday, May 31, 2026, 480 Bates students became Bates alumni, ready to face uncertainty with the support of the lessons they’ve learned at Bates, both in and out of the classroom.
The skies were changeable but the mood was resoundingly upbeat on Sunday, May 31, as 480 members of the Class of 2026 celebrated their Bates graduation surrounded by family and friends, and bolstered by speeches that dwelled on bright promises, both those already delivered and those to come.
