Grad school is a big decision. If you are still mulling over whether to apply for PhD programs, ask yourself these questions. 1. What am I hoping to get out of the PhD? The way I see it, you should do a PhD if you need to or if you want to (or both). Take some time to reflect on your career goals and ask yourself if you really need a PhD to get there? If you intend to go into academia...

Although it is certainly not expected to have a publication before entering a doctoral program, having a published paper can give you a leg up. Even if your paper is not published, you will learn a lot from the experience of writing a paper and going through the submission process. Plus, this will be a great topic for discussion in your PhD program interviews. Academics love learning about others' work in progress, seeking feedback, and sharing thoughts. 

If you're an undergrad student and thinking about a PhD, one of the best things you can do for yourself is do your own research project and present it at a conference. This is a great way to understand what the research world is really like. Plus, it will show PhD admissions committees that you already have what it takes to carry out a new research project and present your work in front of a group of experts...

If your research interests are multidisciplinary and you are unsure of what field to do your PhD in, Professor Noah Smith makes a compelling case for getting an econ PhD (https://noahpinionblog.blogspot.jp/2013/05/if-you-get-phd-get-economics-phd.html). Many professors of public policy, political science, and public health are trained as economists. Of course, econ may not be the right path for everyone, but if you do choose to apply to PhD programs in economics, check out these resources to maximize your chances of getting accepted...