<p>There is no universally agreed upon definition of &quot;applied microeconomics&quot;, but if you follow the <a href="https://economics.brown.edu/academics/undergraduate/areas-study/applied-microeconomics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">description by Brown University's Department of Economics</a>,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The use of data and econometric methods to test microeconomic theory.
Applied micro is an umbrella term that includes labor, urban,
education, industrial organization, public, health, and environmental
economics.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>then you are definitely doing research in applied microeconomics.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-20T11:44:46.600Z
2022-01-20T11:44:46.600Z
VARulle
<p>I'm in bit of a fix. I'm trying to define my research interests and am confused whether or not to include applied microeconomics as one area. The way I see it is applied microeconomics is more of an umbrella term indicating methodology that can be used in various domains of economics.</p>
<p>I work with household/firm level micro data to explore issues in labor and education economics, although i have not used household/firm level optimization in my work. Should I just write intersection of labor and education, or applied micro is also applicable here? What exactly is the defining feature of an applied micro work?</p>
<p>Would appreciate your suggestions.
Thanks,
J</p>

<applied-econometrics><research>
What are the defining characteristics of applied microeconomics papers?
Jan3
# What are the defining characteristics of applied microeconomics papers?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-01-20)

I'm in bit of a fix. I'm trying to define my research interests and am confused whether or not to include applied microeconomics as one area. The way I see it is applied microeconomics is more of an umbrella term indicating methodology that can be used in various domains of economics.

I work with household/firm level micro data to explore issues in labor and education economics, although i have not used household/firm level optimization in my work. Should I just write intersection of labor and education, or applied micro is also applicable here? What exactly is the defining feature of an applied micro work?

Would appreciate your suggestions.
Thanks,
J

**Tags:** applied-econometrics, research

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-01-20. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

There is no universally agreed upon definition of "applied microeconomics", but if you follow the [description by Brown University's Department of Economics](https://economics.brown.edu/academics/undergraduate/areas-study/applied-microeconomics),

> The use of data and econometric methods to test microeconomic theory.
> Applied micro is an umbrella term that includes labor, urban,
> education, industrial organization, public, health, and environmental
> economics.

then you are definitely doing research in applied microeconomics.


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