That other thread that recommended this market was split half and half between Yeas and Nays, but there was little substantive discussion of the size of this market. Are there actually more available positions for political scientists? Is there an advantage to going to a graduate program in public policy or public administration for securing one of these jobs?
How is the public policy and public administration market?
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May be true for pub admin but not for public policy, which is dominated by economists. If u want to go to public policy, publish at top 3 (JOP not the IR journals please) or at JPAM
Don't know about the size but directly experienced the "quality." Tops PA schools' candidates were unbelievable. If you are literate you can be a star.
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That particular market is free, totally free. Prices are totally flexible, so a market-clearing price is always reached. That obviously means that every candidate finds a job.
Really? Why don't you apply for these jobs if every candidate finds one?
Agree with the post above mine, some of these jobs are very specific. Also, economists apply for these jobs and look competitive for them.
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I guess it all depends. PA teaches about leadership, budgeting, policy-making, coalition building, and governing. Why is that mind numbing (compared, say, to the last 10 issues of AJPS)?
It's fine, but if you get a job you then have to do pa or pp. I can't think of anything more mind numbing.
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There are lots of good PA jobs, but those from PA schools are most competitive. There are more options for PP, but also more competition from economists and policy-specific interdisciplinary PhDs. Historically there were a lot of political scientists in PA/PP schools, but as these schools have gotten bigger and produce more PhDs, poli sci PhDs are less competitive.
If you're not interested in PA/PP research or teaching, you will not get hired for a PA/PP job.
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PA programs tend to pay substantially more than PS. And top candidates are leaps and bounds better than everyone else. As a search committee chair and participant in 30 searches over the year it is clear that these candidates have more than literacy. It may not be your cup of tea, but for some of us studying the mind numbing PS world is more than painful. It's all about your perspective. We do actually need people that understand administration and management.
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PA programs tend to pay substantially more than PS. And top candidates are leaps and bounds better than everyone else. As a search committee chair and participant in 30 searches over the year it is clear that these candidates have more than literacy. It may not be your cup of tea, but for some of us studying the mind numbing PS world is more than painful. It's all about your perspective. We do actually need people that understand administration and management.
You mean graduates of top PA schools are much better than graduates of top PS schools? Is PA admissions much more competitive?
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PA is different from PP (like comparing IR to AP). I have experience in PP, so I can tell you that PP salaries are much higher than in political science (they go by the economics scale). Accordingly, the market is dominated by economists and you will need a top methodological training to be competitive. Because PP schools are scarce, competition is fierce. PP positions not only come with nice salaries and research packages but they usually involve future consulting additional income. To get tenure is tough too.
Hope this helps.
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So are the best PA candidates better than the best PS candidates?
That is irrelevant. If you are in a PA program presumably you are seeking out work in the field of PA not PS. Though some PA programs are in PS depts, we study different stuff. YOu can be PS candidate and work on PA work, thus be interested in a PA program.
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So are the best PA candidates better than the best PS candidates?
That is irrelevant. If you are in a PA program presumably you are seeking out work in the field of PA not PS. Though some PA programs are in PS depts, we study different stuff. YOu can be PS candidate and work on PA work, thus be interested in a PA program.
Right, so if a top PS candidate is competing against a top PA candidate for a PA position, who do the odds favor?
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^It also depends on the teaching priorities of the school or department. PA candidates will likely be favored for teaching MPA students regardless of PA or PS setting. If there's an expectation that the person would teach PS classes, many PA candidates aren't trained to do that.