On-Site
Phd candidate
101097924
18500 - 24000 EUR
Annual gross salary:
- First year 18.500,00 €
- Second year 20.000,00 €
- Third year 21.500,00 €
- Fourth year 24.000,00 €
Jeroen van den Bergh
Climate change has revived the limits-to-growth debate. Current research on support for climate policy neglects the role of this debate and associated opinion dynamics. This ERC Advanced Grant project, titled "Climate Policy versus Economic Growth: Views, Models and Innovative Strategies” (CLIMGROW), studies to what extent concerns about economic growth, ranging from pro- to anti-growth, hamper social-political support for ambitious climate policy, and how this can be amended. The project covers 4 PhD students and 3 postdocs. We are now looking for candidates for the 4 PhD-student positions.
Using surveys, experiments and interviews, part I of the project assesses whether beliefs about growth-vs-environment affect opinions of stakeholders (voters, experts, policy-makers, NGOs, etc.) about climate policy, and if this is moderated by their preferences regarding instruments. It further tests the role of information by comparing the communicative appeal of distinct beyond-GDP metrics in laboratory experiments. In addition, it studies how growth concerns have affected the design of pledges in the Paris Agreement, as these demarcate national climate policies. Based on collected data and insights,part II of the project undertakes market equilibrium or system dynamics and agent-based modelling to study co-dynamics of climate-policy design and support. It involves the comparison of growth strategies and climate policies under distinct beyond-GDP metrics, connecting this to stakeholder opinion dynamics, to assess which dynamic policy paths can count on stable and sufficient support under diverse economic and climate scenarios. Informed by results of parts I & II, part III explores strategies, including agrowth and post-growth, that can increase support for ambitious climate policy. Given stakeholder diversity, this involves interviews to formulate tailored strategies.
We invite now applications by candidates for 4 PhD-student positions, with one of the following skills/experience or interest: For part I of the project: questionnaire surveys among citizens or other stakeholders; or laboratory experiments in economics or psychology; and experience with data handling and applied statistics/econometrics. For part II: experience with economic or policy modelling (micro or macro); or experience with modelling of social networks (e.g., opinions, information diffusion or imitation processes). We invite all kinds of modelling expertise: market/equilibrium, agent-based, dynamic systems, or networks.
Please contact project leader Prof. Jeroen van den Bergh for further information or to indicate your interest before applying (jeroen.bergh@uab.es); include your cv in any emails.
When formally applying through the university’s website (see below), please upload in any case a cv and cover letter, and mention in these three names and addresses (email contacts) of people who can be contacted to give an informed opinion about you (e.g., former supervisors).
If you have not yet obtained your Master degree but will do so soon, please first contact Prof. van den Bergh before applying online.
Skills/Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor end or Master degrees in one of the following: Economics (behavioral economics, environmental economics, economic modelling, etc.), social or environmental psychology, applied mathematics/computer science, or applied statistics.
- Languages: A good knowledge of English is required.
Selection process: The most suitable candidates will be invited to an online interview.
How to Apply:
- Website https://seleccio.uab.cat (2023DILIFRUA149)
- You will find the bases of the call in the following link: https://tauler.seu.cat/pagDetall.do?idEdicte=464150&idens=11
Calle de les columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, Edifici ICTA-UAB
08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès , Spain
