NSF Economics DDRIG

[flagler20]

The deadline is around the corner and I couldn't find any previous related threads so I thought I'd start a new one.  

I was just wondering if anyone else has applied for this before?  I have a budget related question.  It seems the budget is restricted to only travel expenses, "special equipment", and participation costs.  That doesn't allow for much.  I emailed someone in the program my questions but thought I'd ask here too in case anyone has experience.  Although it excludes "cost-of-living" support, do you think it makes any difference if the research is at a field site abroad?  I mean it would make sense to exclude living costs if a student is conducting the research while at their university in the US, but if the sole purpose of travelling and living abroad is data collection then I could potentially see an exception to that rule.   

 

Also, in the solicitation is this line: "The Economics program supports research designed to improve the understanding of the processes and institutions of the U.S. economy and of the world system of which it is a part."

It makes it sound as if the program emphasizes research specifically related to US interests (including the world system but only to the extent that it has implications for the U.S.), and not economics and economic theory in general.  Otherwise, why explicitly refer to the U.S. economy?  My research has more to do with development in poor countries and I'm wondering if it's not exactly appropriate for this DDRIG.