Andrii Tymchuk

Andrii Tymchuk began his PhD education in 2023. His research concern relationships between demographic structure and sectoral composition of the economy.

What inspired you to pursue a doctoral degree in economics?

I fell in love with the subject when it was briefly introduced to me during my last year of high school and this has heavily shaped my further life trajectory. So the idea of progressing further after the Master's program in Economic Analysis at Kyiv School of Economics and applying for a PhD position looked like a logical next step in my mind, like the ultimate challenge I was destined to pursue.

Can you tell us about your ongoing research?

I am interested in various relationships between demographic structure and sectoral composition of the economy. One of my projects aims to investigate how fertility decline and an increase in life expectancy contribute to the structural shift from manufacturing to services in the United States. Another project focuses on a different aspect of demographic change, studying how immigrant inflows in different parts of Sweden affected demand for goods and services produced by firms in different industries.

How do you envision applying your economic expertise in the real world and in your future career?

I have intentionally chosen to work on the topic I consider extremely relevant, both for the current and even more so for the near future. Aging and migration are something all the developed countries have already experienced to some degree, while the developing countries will inevitably go through the same processes soon. Even if we cannot completely stop or even slow down these processes, I hope to bring a better understanding of what to expect and how to adapt our economies to the expected changes.

What advice would you give to those considering applying for the PhD programme in economics at Uppsala University?

The Department of Economics at Uppsala University is truly a unique place to pursue doctoral studies in many respects. Among its strongest competitive advantages are the friendly atmosphere and the flat hierarchy. If you feel lost during your research process and need advice, you will certainly not be left alone—so never hesitate to ask! Those who value strong support systems and openness when choosing an institution should definitely consider Uppsala as one of the best options and make full use of these opportunities from the very beginning.

What opportunities for collaboration and networking have you found within the department?

I regularly participate in seminars within the Macro/International group and meetings at the Uppsala Immigration Lab. The department brings together researchers with very diverse specialisations within economics, which enables both close collaboration within more specialised groups and valuable feedback from researchers in other fields. I am also grateful to have gained early access to rich Swedish administrative register data through collaboration within my supervisor’s project, which has allowed me to use these data in my own research as well.