Barcelona School of Economics (BSE)

A Severo Ochoa center since

A Severo Ochoa center since 2012.

BSE (Barcelona Graduate School of Economics or Barcelona GSE until September 2021) was founded in 2006 to promote frontier research and postgraduate studies in Economics. It is a pioneering initiative that brings together four academic units with strong international reputations and a history of leadership in the field:

  • Department of Economics and Business at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
  • Unit of Economic Analysis at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
  • Institute for Economic Analysis (IAE-CSIC)
  • Center for Research in International Economics (CREI)

The joint efforts of our academic units have positioned the BSE among the world’s top Economics research groups. Evidence of our community’s strength includes:

  • Competitive rankings for research output: Top 5 in Europe and 1st in Spain (RePEc)
  • Consolidation of the BSE Summer Forum as one of the world’s premier Economics conferences (700+ participants annually)
  • Three Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditations (2012-15 and 2016-19 and 2020-23)

Social Sciences and Humanities

Key Facts of Barcelona School of Economics (BSE)

1st RANKED
Highest ranked economics institution in Spain, top 5 in Europe, according to RePEc.
42 ERC GRANTS
Awarded to Barcelona BSE Affiliated Professors as of 2024
109 PHD CANDIDATES
Two internationally-recognized programs with 88% students from outside Spain.
168 RESEARCHERS
22 listed in the world top 5% according to RePEc, 28 countries represented.
Thanks to the recognition and additional funding of the Severo Ochoa Program, BSE has succeeded in reinforcing its strategy of attracting and retaining researchers of the highest caliber. We have enhanced support for research, in particular applied research, providing funds which have allowed researchers to purchase the needed data or software, to hire research assistants. Funding from the Severo Ochoa Program also supported the launch of a major annual conference, the BSE BSE Summer Forum, with significant international impact and visibility. In addition, the Severo Ochoa Program has strengthened the doctoral programs in the BSE research community and helps us compete with highly rated institutions to attract the best students and carry out new lines of research.
Teresa Garcia-Milà
BSE Director