The Department of Spatial Economics, jointly with the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) and the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency is looking for candidates for a PhD position on 'Enhancing food system sustainability: Policy options for influencing consumer demand'. There is a lively debate in the Netherlands and beyond on the sustainability of the food system with respect to its environmental impacts. One prominent example is the impact of meat consumption on global greenhouse gas emissions as well as local impacts of livestock farming on water, soil, and air quality. One of the main challenges is the design of policy interventions that effectively change unsustainable consumption habits. In this project, the candidate will explore, design and (ex ante) evaluate such policy interventions, focusing on combinations of policy instruments ranging from fiscal to other policy instruments, and taking into account the multitude of behavioural aspects that pertain to individuals' food consumption decisions.

This multifaceted project is guided by expertise from both PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency as well as faculty from two departments of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Embedding the project in this cooperative setting allows the candidate to not only conduct research at the scientific frontier in environmental economics but also to appreciate aspects related to applicability and informing of national policy.

Candidates are expected to have an excellent university MSc degree in economics or a comparable field, preferably with a specialization in environmental, agricultural, or behavioral economics. Candidates are expected to have a strong interest in policy aspects related to food system sustainability. Proficiency in English in speaking and writing is essential. Rudimentary knowledge of Dutch is an asset.

The initial appointment will be for a period of 12 months. Upon a positive evaluation an extension of the appointment with three more years will follow. The project is carried out in close cooperation between the two departments of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and the candidate will work at each of the three units, depending on the stage of the project. You can find information about our excellent fringe benefits of employment at http://www.workingatvu.nl.

The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel, and amounts € 2.222 gross per month during the first year and increases to € 2.840 gross per month during the fourth year, based on a full-time employment.

http://www.vu.nl/en/index.asp

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a leading, innovative, and growing university that is at the heart of society and actively contributes to new developments in teaching and research. Our university has ten faculties which span a wide range of disciplines, as well as several institutes, foundations, research centres, and support services. Its campus is located in the fastest-growing economic region in the Netherlands (the Zuidas district of Amsterdam), and provides work for over 4,500 staff and scientific education for more than 23,000 students.

The School of Business and Economics (SBE) aims to combine high quality education with excellent research. The School offers four Bachelor’s programmes (Economics and Business Economics, Econometrics and Operations Research, Business Administration and International Business Administration), seven Master’s programmes among which the MSc in Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics (STREEM), two research masters among which the Tinbergen Institute’s MPhil programme, and seventeen postgraduate programmes. The school has several research groups with an outstanding international reputation. SBE accommodates approximately 4,300 students and 1,700 postgraduate students. Over 500 staff members are employed at the School.