Job Faculty of Law - PhD position Interactions between Gas, Electricity and Carbon Markets (0,8 fte)

The position concerns PhD research in the field of EU energy law and economics, more particularly on 'Interactions between Gas, Electricity and Carbon Markets'. This project has been granted by the Energy Delta Gas Research (EDGaR) consortium as part of a larger project in which also Delft University of Technology and Energy Research Centre of The Netherlands (ECN) participate. The PhD candidate performs institutional-economic, legal and empirical analyses to answer the following central question: how does the regulation in the EU of the markets for gas and electricity influences the regulation of the carbon market et vice versa? The project focuses on finding potential efficiency improvements in energy market policy and regulation. The analysis will be based on an integrated approach of transaction cost economics and path dependence. The former operationalizes efficiency by looking at the alignment between legal rules and economic transactions; the latter introduces dynamics by focusing on legal change and inertia. Indicators will be developed to measure transaction characteristics and legal intrusion in the private sphere of market parties. For each of the three markets (gas, electricity and carbon), panel data will be gathered and analyzed for a set of EU Member States.

Preferred starting date: January 2011.

- MA in Law and Economics, with excellent marks. Also possible is MA in Economics with sufficient regulation courses, or MA in Law with sufficient economics courses. Outstanding students near graduation are also encouraged to apply
- preferably knowledge of law and economics, including theories of new institutional economics, regulation of markets as well as an active interest in energy law
- good knowledge of English (written and oral) and excellent communication and reporting skills
- demonstrable competences: flexibility, independence, analytical skills.

The University of Groningen offers a salary of € 2,042 gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 2,612 gross per month in the final year based on a full-time position. It is a temporary appointment for a period of 4 years. The initial 1.5-year appointment may be prolonged by another 2.5 years. After the first year a formal performance assessment will take place concerning the feasibility of successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next 2.5 years.

Please provide the names and contact information of at least two academic referees in your curriculum vitae.

The University of Groningen (founded in 1614) has a highly international character and a long tradition of academic excellence and is one of the oldest research universities in Europe. Currently some 27,000 students are enrolled and every year about 250 PhD students defend their theses. The University also has a special connection with the energy sector as it is situated on top of the Groningen gas field and has close ties with the energy industry. The Board of the University has chosen 'energy' as one of the key areas for its research and teaching.

The Faculty of Law is building on its long-standing tradition of four centuries. It is known for its solid legal research and its degree programmes have been rated the best in The Netherlands. The Faculty gives high priority to the international dimension of teaching and research.

Groningen Centre of Energy Law (GCEL)
Within the Faculty, the Groningen Centre of Energy Law coordinates all research involving various parts of the energy sector. Its research covers the legislation and regulation of the entire energy chain, the promotion of renewable energy sources, the need to secure energy supplies as well as issues concerning climate change and environmental protection. Economic analysis of the law is a vital part of the centre's expertise.

Groningen holds the largest gas field in Europe. The carbon market in the EU is based on the largest cap-and-trade scheme in the world. European electricity producers partly use gas-fired plants and are subject to EU regulation of carbon emissions. The interaction between the regulation of those markets is therefore an important research subject for GCEL.

Dr Edwin Woerdman, Associate Professor of Law and Economics
+31 50 3635736,
e.woerdman@rug.nl
Prof. Oscar Couwenberg, Professor of Law and Economics
+31 50 3636882,
o.couwenberg@rug.nl
Faculty of Law
Groningen Centre of Energy Law