University of Luxembourg, Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance 9 PhD (Doctoral Candidate) Positions in Economics The University of Luxembourg is a multilingual, international research University. The University of Luxembourg (UL) and the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) invite applications for up to 9 PhD (Doctoral Candidate) Positions (m/f) in Economics. - Ref: R-AGR-3077-10-C - Fixed- term 14 months initial contract, extendable to 36 months, 40 hours/week (full time) - Student status within the newly established Doctoral Training Unit on "Migration, Inequality and Labour Markets", in the research fields of Economics and Quantitative Sociology. YOUR ROLE: The objective is to improve knowledge on three major contemporary issues in modern societies namely: migration, inequalities and labour market mismatches. The training programme will provide the researchers with the skills and knowledge that will allow them to take up this challenge. An indicative list of potential topics is proposed below. This list is by no mean exhaustive and candidates are encouraged to propose their own research topics. YOUR PROFILE: - Master's degree in Economics or Master's degree in Economics or quantitative Sociology - Eligible for the Doctoral Schools: Economists should (be near to) hold a degree equivalent to a Research Master1 - Strong background in at least one of the three fields: migration, inequalities and labor market. - Good English language skills - Willingness to work in an inter-cultural and international environment - Ability to work independently and as part of a team - Curiosity and self-motivation WE OFFER: - A dynamic and well-equipped research environment - Intensive training in scientific and transferable skills, participation in schools, conferences and workshops - Enrollment as a PhD student in the Doctoral School of Economics and Finance or the Doctoral School in Social Sciences at UL - Personal work space at UL or LISER (depending on project) GENDER POLICY: UL and LISER strive to increase the share of female PhD students. Therefore, we explicitly encourage women to apply. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Before proceeding with the submission of your application, please prepare the following documents in English: - Curriculum vitae. - Motivation letter detailing how you meet the selection criteria. The motivation letter must clearly highlight your preference for up to three topics listed above or of your own, indicating your priorities and explaining your choice. - Publication list (if applicable). - Coordinates of two persons willing to send a letter of recommendation. - Copies of diplomas, transcripts with grades, with English translation. All documents should be uploaded in pdf format. Please note that incomplete applications or applications without project priorities will not be considered. SELECTION PROCESS: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview or interviewed by phone/skype. The positions will be offered to candidates following approval by the steering committee of the Doctoral Training Unit. Applications submitted online by 30.09.2016 will receive full consideration. Link: http://emea3.mrted.ly/15des INDICATIVE LIST OF TOPICS: a. Understanding the efficiency of immigration policies to attract skilled workers in the presence of asymmetric information between prospective immigrants and immigration authorities or in the presence of the competition between countries to attract skilled workers with a focus on the impact in terms of inequality. b. Understanding the competition for skilled migrants and economic growth. Does competition for human capital improve economic welfare for all the competing jurisdictions? Are there losers? Does size asymmetry across the competing countries impact the distribution of welfare effects? c. Understanding the sustainability of policies for free movement of workers in the context of many countries, unemployment issues, skill heterogeneity, language barriers and income redistribution. Calibration to EU d. Improving econometric methodologies to predict missing observations in the merging of migration, labour and income inequality databases. e. Understand the determinants of erosion of fiscal autonomy when countries experience economic integration and less restrictive migration policies, which enhances the tax base mobility and possibly regional/national asymmetries in economic activities. f. Studying the effects of economic insecurity of the socio-economic conditions and the impact of humanitarian crisis on health outcomes. Reconsidering the "healthy living in hard times" paradigm according to which health actually improves during economic downturns. Econometric studies. g. Differentiating conflicts and economic incentives as the determinant of emigration decisions. Understanding how the nature and location of conflicts and the local inequality matter for emigration. Empirical research. h. Inequality and intergenerational socioeconomic mobility: education, migration and labor intensity. Revisiting the "Great Gatsby Curve" with EU-Silc surveys. i. Explaining income, health and wealth inequalities in aging with whole-life factors (socioeconomic status, education, social network, work ability, migration and cognitive function in older age) in Europe with Share Panels. j. Analyzing the impact of taxation on the migration of skilled and unskilled labour across occupations and across countries or regions. Assessing the capability of EU labour markets to absorb the country or regional disparities and job polarization. k. Studying the long-term distributive impacts of social protection and tax-benefit mechanisms. Understanding how social protection, taxation and labour market institutions affect inequality, distribution and mobility (within and across generations). Use of tax-benefit microsimulation models and micro-econometric analysis.