Are you interested in conducting research about the lack of economic convergence in the euro area? Join our joint project with the Dutch central bank.

The Department of Macro, International and Labour Economics (MILE) at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) of Maastricht University offers a 4-year PhD position, starting September 1, 2024.

We are looking for a candidate who has – proven – interest in and wants to work on a research project that focuses on – the lack of – economic convergence and resilience in the euro area. The project aims to adding to the empirical evidence why economic convergence so far lags expectations. The empirical evidence should contribute to designing policy options strengthening and improving the functioning of EMU. The project is a joint project with the Dutch central bank(De Nederlandsche Bank, DNB) in Amsterdam.

You are expected to spend part of your time at DNB, increasingly so during the tenure, and will do your research in the context of the research and policy work of the Economic Policy and Research Department of DNB. You may also be involved in actual DNB policy work. We also expect you to contribute to teaching activities at the department, taking max. 20% of total time.

More in detail, the research will focus on (1) the state of convergence and possible explanations for its slow speed; (2) how vulnerable individual euro zone members are to asymmetric shocks; and (3) which private and public shock-absorbing mechanisms are in place to make the system more resilient. From the convergence side, it raises the issue how far convergence should go and under what conditions incomplete convergence could still lead to a stable equilibrium. High persistence of regional differences in per capita income and living conditions within nation states is a well-known phenomenon. It raises questions on the underlying determinants of these differences as well as the characteristics of the institutional framework that appear to make it a status quo. Moreover, some argue that EMU itself has been contributing to divergence. We intend to investigate how asymmetric shocks as well as asymmetric responses to common (policy) shocks have played a role in widening the gap between countries. From the resilience side, the main question is which mechanisms exist to cope with asymmetric shocks. Both the academic and societal debate focus on creating sufficient national shock absorbers on the one hand, and on the added benefits of building cross-country shock absorbers on the other.

Requirements:
We are looking for you if you have successfully completed a – preferably 2-year (120 ECTS) – Master’s degree (MSc or MPhil) in (Quantitative) Economics, Econometrics, or a related area (before September 2024).
Next to this you:

• have an excellent command of English;
• have a record of high academic achievement (e.g., good grades and/or involvement in other academic activities) and the skills required to become an excellent researcher;
• are self-motivated, curious and interested in high quality policy-relevant research.

What we offer

As PhD position at the Department of Macro, International and Labour Economics, Maastricht University at School of Business and Economics, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale P according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2770,00 and €3539,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 18 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 2.5 years will follow.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.
  The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?
At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM.

The School of Business and Economics
The School of Business and Economics (SBE) is one of Maastricht University’s six faculties. Our mission is to contribute to a better world by addressing societal problems, by co-creating knowledge and developing team players and leaders for the future.

By joining SBE, you will be part of the 1% of business schools worldwide to be Triple Crown accredited (EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA). You will join an inspiring and international environment, where learning and development is priority.

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact prof. dr. Clemens Kool (c.kool@maastrichtuniversity.nl) or prof. dr. Olaf Sleijpen (o.c.h.m.sleijpen@dnb.nl) for more information.

For more information on the department MILE click here

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD position at the Department of Macro, International and Labour Economics, Maastricht University? Apply now, no later than 04/28/2024, for this position.

Please upload the following documents in your application:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter
• Diplomas/degrees including a grade transcript of previous education at Master level
• Names and details of two references who support your application (e.g., professor/supervisor from MSc program)
• Formal evidence on analytical skills (GRE/GMAT) and/or language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS), if available
• Proof of academic writing skills by one of the following: BSc thesis, MSc thesis, or research paper.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.