How much is LaTeX used in Economics Papers in Korea, the U.S., and Europe?
Korea: Still Centered on Hangeul/Word, But Signs of Change
LaTeX is not mandatory, but it’s recognized as an optional alternative!
Most Korean universities provide thesis templates in Hangeul (HWP) or MS Word format.
Looking at the guidelines from major universities such as Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University, LaTeX templates are either unofficial or only informally available.
However, signs of change are emerging in recent years:
Korea University Graduate School: Official LaTeX template released starting in 2023
KAIST, Seoul National University Math Department, etc.: LaTeX environment has long been available
Seoul National University Economics Department: Students informally sharing LaTeX templates are appearing
USA: LaTeX is Practically a Standard Tool
Papers = LaTeX. More students are now being taught LaTeX from the undergraduate level.
At major U.S. economics departments and graduate schools, the use of LaTeX is relatively normalized and often institutionally supported. Due to the complex formatting and structure typical of economics papers, many Ph.D. and master's students tend to write their theses using LaTeX.
According to a leading overseas economics professor:
“In academic economics, around 50–75% of research papers and doctoral theses are written in LaTeX.”
This aligns with the notion that LaTeX is effectively the standard tool in the economics research community, widely adopted for academic writing.
MIT: Official LaTeX thesis templates provided
Harvard GSAS: Offers Overleaf accounts + LaTeX writing guides
Stanford: Publishes LaTeX templates for Honors theses
Major journals like the American Economic Review also officially support LaTeX submissions.
Europe: LaTeX is Standard for Academic Papers in English
LaTeX is a must-have tool for compatibility with international journals.
LaTeX is widely used in European economics departments and academic institutions. Especially in environments that focus on international research, LaTeX is seen as a standard tool—similar to the United States. While some universities still use Word for papers written in native languages, LaTeX is commonly used for English-language theses or publications.
Many universities also offer their own LaTeX templates or LaTeX editor services.
European academic journals, including those based in the UK, are also accustomed to LaTeX. For example, submission guidelines for The Economic Journal, published by the Royal Economic Society, state:
“We strongly recommend using LaTeX and the journal’s TeX template for manuscript submissions.”
The journal even provides its own TeX style files and supports editing of LaTeX-based manuscripts into camera-ready formats.
UK universities such as Oxford and Cambridge traditionally have high LaTeX usage for academic theses. In particular, Cambridge has a strong LaTeX culture centered around math and science departments. Cam-thesis LaTeX templates are actively used, and LaTeX workshops are held at institutions like LSE (London School of Economics), which also incorporates digital tools into economics training—covering R, LaTeX, and more.
Erasmus University (Netherlands): Official LaTeX templates recommended for undergraduate/graduate theses
Cambridge, Oxford: LaTeX class files for academic writing provided
LSE: LaTeX training offered even at the undergraduate level
Academic departments often provide pre-made LaTeX templates, and LaTeX is valued for helping maintain standardized formatting in English-language papers.
Comparison of LaTeX Usage by University/Department
The table below summarizes whether and how LaTeX is used for writing theses and dissertations in economics departments (or related institutions) at major universities in Korea, the U.S., and Europe:
University/Institution (Department) | Region | Official Templates/Guides Provided | Level of LaTeX Usage & Preference (Basis) |
|---|---|---|---|
Seoul National University, Economics | Korea | Thesis guideline: Hangeul/Word sample formats. LaTeX not officially supported (some unofficial templates exist) | LaTeX not standard. Most students use Hangeul/Word. Some students informally use LaTeX. |
Yonsei University (All departments) | Korea | Thesis format guide: Hangeul (HWP) or Word templates | Similar to SNU. LaTeX not officially supported; students generally use Hangeul/Word. |
Korea University (Dept. of Life Sciences, etc.) | Korea | Since 2023: Word and LaTeX templates officially supported | Increasing LaTeX usage. Previously Hangeul/Word-centered. |
MIT Economics (MIT Libraries) | USA | Official LaTeX thesis templates provided by MIT Libraries | LaTeX widely used. Most graduate students write theses in LaTeX. |
Harvard GSAS Economics | USA | GSAS Writing Toolkit, Overleaf (LaTeX) guide available | Strong LaTeX usage. Overleaf accounts supported. Department provides detailed LaTeX writing support. |
Stanford Economics (Honors students) | USA | No official guide, but students share LaTeX Honors Thesis templates | LaTeX use is widespread. Faculty recommend LaTeX for thesis writing. |
American Economic Association (AER Journal) | USA | LaTeX submission templates for journals (Word templates also available) | Strongly recommends LaTeX for submissions. Word accepted but LaTeX is the standard. |
Erasmus School of Economics (NL) | Europe | Officially recommends LaTeX templates for undergrad/grad theses | LaTeX usage common. Many students write papers in LaTeX. |
The Economic Journal (Royal Economic Society, UK) | Europe | TeX style files provided (journal website) | “Strongly recommend LaTeX templates for journal submission” – aligns with Europe's LaTeX culture. |
University of Cambridge, University of Oxford | Europe | University-wide LaTeX templates and classes (via official site) | Traditionally high LaTeX usage. Strong LaTeX culture especially in math/science departments. Workshops held at LSE. |
Will LaTeX Become the Standard for Economics Papers?
So far, we’ve explored the current status of LaTeX usage across different regions.
In Korea, the Hangeul/Word-centered culture still dominates, though LaTeX adoption is gradually increasing.
In the U.S. and Europe, LaTeX is already widely used as a standard tool, especially in economics papers with complex formatting requirements—it is often the preferred and more efficient choice.
Overall, while the extent of LaTeX usage varies by region, the global trend among academic experts is clear: LaTeX is becoming the norm in the field of economics. Korea is still in a transitional stage, with many institutions reliant on Word/HWP, but the U.S. and Europe show an established LaTeX culture supported by infrastructure, templates, and guidelines.
As more Korean students engage in international academic work or aim for publication, there’s a growing need to become familiar with LaTeX as a practical academic writing tool.
If you want to publish or write on the global stage, it’s a great idea to start learning LaTeX now.
We especially recommend using platforms like Murfy, which help you easily get accustomed to LaTeX!