Economics | PD 23 1320

Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 23 1320

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Economics program (Funding Opportunity Number PD 23 1320; CFDA 47.075) is a discretionary grant opportunity that funds research aimed at deepening understanding of how the U.S. economy works and how it fits into the broader global economic system. The program is interested in both the real-world institutions that shape economic outcomes and the underlying processes that drive behavior, markets, and policy effects. A core goal is to strengthen the overall quality of economic science by supporting rigorous empirical and theoretical work, along with methodological advances that make research on economic behavior more precise, credible, and informative.

In terms of subject matter, the program is deliberately broad and supports work across most major fields of economics. Examples specifically highlighted include econometrics, economic history, environmental economics, finance, industrial organization, international economics, labor economics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics, and public finance. This breadth means proposals can range from highly theoretical modeling to applied policy evaluation, from new statistical methods to careful historical or institutional analyses, as long as the work clearly advances economic knowledge.

The NSF Economics program also supports a wide variety of project types and research activities, not just standard single-investigator studies. It welcomes proposals for individual or multi-investigator research projects, conferences and symposia, experimental research (including lab, field, or other experimental designs), and efforts focused on data collection and dissemination. Funding can also be sought for research-related resources such as computer equipment or other instrumentation when those needs are justified by the research plan. In addition, the program encourages research experiences for undergraduates, reflecting NSF's broader interest in building research capacity and training the next generation of scholars.

A major emphasis of this opportunity is interdisciplinary work. The program explicitly states that interdisciplinary research is a high priority and encourages investigators to submit proposals that align with both the Economics Program and other NSF programs or NSF initiative areas. It also notes support for conferences and interdisciplinary projects that strengthen connections between economics and other social and behavioral sciences, as well as mathematics and statistics. In practice, this signals that proposals integrating tools or perspectives across disciplines (for example, economics with psychology, political science, sociology, statistics, data science, or applied mathematics) are especially welcome when the integration is meaningful and improves the research.

The opportunity places a high priority on broadening participation in economics research. NSF encourages submissions from junior faculty, women, and other underrepresented groups, as well as from Research Undergraduate Institutions and EPSCoR states. This does not change the expectation of scientific excellence, but it highlights a programmatic interest in expanding who participates in NSF-funded economics and strengthening research capacity in a wider range of institutions and regions.

A notable component within the program is the Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIG). DDRIGs are intended to improve the quality of doctoral dissertation research by funding project needs that are not typically covered by a graduate student's university. These awards can support significant data-gathering efforts and field research conducted away from the student's campus, among other research costs that directly enhance the dissertation. DDRIG proposals must be submitted by a faculty member on behalf of the graduate student, and they are expected to clearly explain how the proposed dissertation work will generate new knowledge that advances economics as a science. Importantly, DDRIG funding does not cover cost-of-living support, stipends, or tuition. Applicants are directed to follow NSF's Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) for submission requirements, and the program advises contacting an Economics program officer in advance if planning to submit a DDRIG proposal.

From the opportunity record, this is an NSF grant program with an unrestricted eligible applicant category (open to any entity type, subject to any eligibility clarifications in the full notice). The posting lists an original closing date of August 18, 2023, a creation date of May 17, 2023, and an expectation of around 110 awards. The award ceiling is listed as 0, which typically indicates that a fixed maximum is not specified in the summary field and that applicants should consult the full program guidance and NSF norms for typical award sizes and budget expectations. For related or additional funding paths, the notice also points investigators toward the SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities as another place to look for complementary opportunities.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Economics" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.075.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 17, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 18, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 110 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for PD 23 1320

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