Global Change and Climate Economics

PhD program in

Global Change and Climate Economics

at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Deadline for application 1st April, 2014

Background
The overall aim of this program is to contribute to sustainable development and the alleviation ofpoverty in the poorest countries. In the last decades, development has spread outside the confines of the OECD countries and hundreds of millions have lift themselves out of dire poverty, particularly in Asia and Latin America. Development in the Anthropocene is however surpassinga number of planetary boundaries. Many of the bio-geochemical cycles that are the foundation for our ecosystems are stretched and stressed and we constantly risk crossing vital thresholds. For these reasons we are collaborating closely in research and teaching with interdisciplinary and natural science groups such as the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, The Stockholm Resilience Centre and Physical Resource Theory at Chalmers University of Technology.

One of the prominent features of the Global Change we are experiencing is climate change and another is the concomitant loss of biodiversity. These challenges have risen to become serious threats to the ability of poor countries to emulate other countries in the pursuit of a sustainable development. Many of these problems are, like climate change, truly problems of the management of global commons. It is nothing short of a scandal that African and other low income countries do not even have enough intellectual capacity to be properly represented at the international negotiations over these commons. Beyond negotiations, low-income countries are in great need of capacity to develop strategies and implementation plans to handle the challenges of global change and forge a truly sustainable development. The more specific purpose of this PhD program, and the research that goes with it, is to train researchers in poor countries to better understand the socioeconomic causes for Global Change as well as the appropriate design of policy instruments for sustainable development in the Anthropocene.

The Department of Economics at the University of Gothenburg and the BeijerInstitute of Ecological Economics has a long history of support for PhD candidates from developing countries. Currently 11 young researchers are enrolled in the PhD program at various levels. Since 1997, 30 PhDs from 15 developing countries have graduated from the Sida-funded PhD program.

Program outline in brief
The Environmental Economics Unit (EEU) at the University of Gothenburg, in collaboration with the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, offer sixfull scholarships in a PhD programme on Global Change and Climate Economics with admission September 2014, under the condition that the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) approves the continued funding of the program.

These scholarships are only open to applicants from developing countries. The Swedish government has decided on a few countries with which to engage in long-term development cooperation,and applicants from the following countries will therefore be given priority:

Please note that we accept electronic applications.

Detailed description of the program
The program spans four and a half years (nine semesters), of which the first two years consist of intensive coursework. The first year is identical to the general PhD program in economics, i.e. involving mathematics, statistics, econometrics, micro- and macro economics. The second year includes a sequence of courses in global change and climate economics such as environmental valuation, natural resource economics, climate economics and policy instruments, together with optional courses such as advanced econometrics, development economics, Ecology and Economic management, public economics, industrial organization, fishery and forestry economics etc. There are also courses in ecology and natural sciences related to climate and global change that will be given in cooperation with the Beijer Institute and Chalmers University of Technology. Please note that this programme is in English.

The theses may contain both theoretical and empirical parts. A number of trips back to the home university are made possible in order to facilitate the choice of thesis topic as well as data collection and continued contact with the home institution. We are very keen to make sure that our students work is grounded in the appropriate local contexts of poverty alleviation and ecosystem resilience and management which we hope will facilitate the return of the students to their home countries.

After the first academic year, students are encouraged to hold discussions with advisors in Sweden and at home to discuss their thesis topics. During thesis work, students have the opportunity to return in order to collect data, or simply to maintain contact with their home institution. Since environmental data is rarely available, special funds are provided for data collection.

Practical arrangements
There is no tuition fee. The program will pay excursion airfares as well as an appropriate monthly allowance (SEK 16000) to cover personal expenses and accommodation (which will be arranged for). Computers, books and data collection are covered by the programme. The program starts in the first week of September 2014. Students are requested to arrive a few days before this.

Selection criteria
We receive many applications to the program; usually around 150 to 200 applicants for only six scholarships. Our selection follows a number of criteria, including the following:

1. You must have a strong economics background, i.e. at least a masters' degree in economics, preferably with an environmental economics specialization.

1. The programme is funded by Sida and its aim is to help build capacity in developing countries. For this reason, we give priority to the building of institutions rather than the education of individuals. Therefore, it is important for applicants to show the context within which they are working, and how they will use the education acquired. It is important to show what institutional affiliation you have, and your experience from teaching, research, policy advice, etc. It is useful if letters of recommendation highlight whether the applicant is designated to hold certain courses, build up research or do similar work in the future at their home institutions, etc.
2. We also give priority tocertain countrieswhere Sida has a long-term commitment. These countries are:
   

1. This is a demanding programme, which also implies a number of stringent criteria. Candidates must have a very good analytical ability and a good knowledge and understanding of economic theory and econometrics.
2. We strongly recommend that applicants take a GRE test and submit a copy of the results with their applications.
3. We give priority to women from countries where women are underrepresented in academia.
4. Finally, this is a program in which we will be seriously integrating ecological and economic sciences and working closely with the boundaries of science when it comes to dealing with the resilience of ecosystems and economies to global change and we encourage individuals who have shown a documented interest in resource and environmental issues, or who have had professional training in environmentally relevant sciences.

The six candidates will be selected by a programme committee.

Application submissions should include:

-The application form

-A detailed CV, including academic transcripts, teaching experience and current employment

-Your CV must be detailed concerning your knowledge of economics, particularly micro, mathematics, statistics and econometrics. Be sure to include grades that can easily be interpreted, and if in doubt describe the content, literature, length, etc. of key courses

-We also need to receive at least two letters of recommendation, in particular statements indicating how the candidate performs academically and how he or she could contribute to existing plans for building capacity in climate and environmental economics

-Enclosure of previous research is strongly encouraged; you may for instance send us a copy of a recent paper or article. If you have been teaching, please provide detailed information on the courses taught.

-Personal statement regarding why you want to study climate and environmental economics.

-GRE-test

For information on our PhD Program, specialization courses and scholarships,NOT APPLICATIONS, please contact EEU´s project coordinator

Elizabeth Földi, Phone: +46-31-786 13 47

Responsible for the PhD Program in global change and climate economics is: Thomas Sterner, Phone

+46 31-786 1377,

Please note that we accept electronic applications.

Soft copies to:

PLS DO NOT SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO ANY OTHER E-MAIL ADDRESS.

Hard copies to:

Elizabeth Földi

University of Gothenburg

Department of Economics Delivery address:

Box 640Vasagatan 1

405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden411 24 Gothenburg, Sweden