Introduction

Director: Professor Vivaldo Mendes

The Economics Department has its roots in the early 1970s, when the ISCTE --- Lisbon University Institute --- one of the most dynamic Portuguese university institutions, was created. Recently, our department undertook some relevant changes in its strategic orientation. Firstly, it became a member of the ISCTE Business School, one of the top business schools in the country, with deep interests in internationalization and in having young PhDs from other countries among its faculty staff. Secondly, the department hired a large number of young and dynamic faculty members, with significant research potential. And thirdly, it established as a standard principle that teaching and research had to be conducted mostly in English, and in accordance with international standards.

Our faculty staff currently comprises twenty two members. We are proud to have a high proportion of young faculty members, and to have demanding goals for research and publication at the international level over the medium and long term. Some of its members have achieved prominent positions within the Portuguese society, either as members of various governments or as members of the Portuguese Parliament.

As far as the degrees in the field of economics are concerned, we are pleased that the BA in economics is in our field one of the most demanded degrees in the country, and that the MA and PhD in economics are both entirely taught in English, with programs that are well in accordance with practices found in top US and European universities.

The Economics Department is guided by a set of values that follow international academic standards. The department guarantees intellectual freedom to its faculty staff in the quest for knowledge; requires social responsibility in the behavior of its members whenever their publicly disclosed work and opinions may affect economic, financial or social outcomes; and looks for excellence in the teaching duties and research activities of its staff.

We are a young and vibrant department of economics. Open to international practices and standards. Open to international colleagues who may find attractive the experience of working and living in a wonderful city (Lisbon), in an old country, with outstanding natural beauties to discover. We deeply hope that through our endeavors in the search for knowledge we shall serve the community, instead of working merely for knowledge’s sake.