Germany - Research Positions with Possibility for PhD in Agricultural Economics

Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany

Department of Agricultural Economics

At the Department of Agricultural Economics of the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel the following positions have to be filled as soon as possible:

4 research positions
salary according to BAT IIa (75% for junior researchers)

the positions are limited for 2 years with the possibility of extension. Moreover, researchers have the possibility to obtain a PhD degree in agricultural economics or economics.

Work description:
All positions are linked to the interdisciplinary EU-research project „Advanced-Eval“, which develops and applies advanced methods for the ex ante und ex post evaluation of EU-rural development policy programs. At the methodological and theoretical level the
following research topics are of interest within the project:

1. Agent-based Modeling of rural economy as a complex social and economic system incorporating social network relations among agents. In particular, the following research questions are addressed: How can the organization of economic action in social network relations be modeled quantitatively. What is the impact of social network relations on economic performance at the micro- and macro-level.
2. Applied Econometrics. Application of propensity-score matching methods and methods of spatial econometrics to analyze ex post the economic impact of various rural development programs.
3. Political Economy Modeling of EU-Rural Development Policy (EU-RD policy). Quantitative analysis of the impact of formal and informal political institutions on local government performance regarding the implementation of EU-RD policy. Empirical hypotheses are derived from game-theoretical or agent-based models of political decision making.
4. Simulation of an Economic-Ecological System based on a Multi-Agent-model. Incorporation of RD-policies into an economic decision-making model of farmers and a model of implied biological and physical processes at the regional level.

Researchers are directly integrated into a international and interdisciplinary research team within the EU-Project Advanced-eval. Moreover, all positions have access and are related to the
Interdisciplinary Center of Numeric Simulation in applied Sciences as well as the DFG-Graduate School „Loosely connected systems and Electronic E-Business“ at the CAU.

A master degree or a comparable University degree in agricultural or food economics, Economics or social science, mathematical or computational economics is essential. A good knowledge in quantitative methods of economics or social science, Agent-based Modeling or positive political theory would be an asset.

The University seeks to increase the proportion of women on its staff and applications by suitably qualified female candidates will be preferred. Qualified candidates with physical disabilities will be given preferential consideration.

Please send applications and accompanying documents in the English language to:

Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Henning, Institut für Agrarökonomie,
Wilhelm-Seelig-Platz 7, D-24098 Kiel
or via e-mail to uschwarz [ at ] agric-econ.uni-kiel.de

Application has to be received by 30 October 2007.