PhD Investigating the economic consequences of investment screening mechanisms

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Belonging to the best research universities of Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.



Faculty of Economics and Business

The Faculty of Economics and Business offers an inspiring study and working environment for students and employees. International accreditation enables the Faculty to assess performance against the highest international standards. It also creates an exciting environment of continuous improvement. FEB's programmes, academic staff and research do well on various excellence ranking lists.



FEBRI, the graduate school and research institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business has available

One PhD position in the field of “Investigating the economic consequences of investment screening mechanisms”



Project description

In recent decades, the global economy has seen a rapid increase in foreign investments. However, foreign investment inflows, particularly those leading to substantial foreign control over strategically vital sectors, such as infrastructure, defence, and advanced technology, have raised concerns about national security. In response, a growing number of countries have introduced new investment screening mechanisms (ISMs) to safeguard national security, requiring foreign investors to gain approval from national authorities for investments in security-sensitive sectors. Stricter investment control policies are expected to block and deter foreign investments. However, these policies may also select for better-quality investments, benefiting local companies and the broader economy. This project will analyse the economic consequences of investment screening mechanisms, aiming to contribute to the current debates on introducing these policies in many developed countries.



Do you want to contribute to a transformation in global investment policies, ensuring that economic growth and national security go hand in hand? Join us in this project to explore the balance between attracting foreign investments and safeguarding national interests. Your research will provide valuable insights into designing investment screening mechanisms that maximize economic benefits while minimizing security risks.



Organisation

The PhD position is embedded in the research programme Global Economics and Management (GEM) of FEB’s Research Institute. The project will be supervised by prof. dr. Harry Garretsen, dr. Dea Tusha, and dr. Feicheng Wang.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate is ambitious, highly motivated and wishes to make a career in research. He or she has a thorough training in research skills, speaks and writes English fluently, and has obtained excellent results in the master phase.



The PhD candidate should have a background (MSc, research master) in Economics or Econometrics, preferably with a specialization in international economics. Programming skills with Stata or a similar software are required. Experience in working with large datasets especially firm-level data is a bonus.

Salary Benefits:

The full-time appointment is temporary for a period of four years, under the condition of a positive assessment at the end of the first year. The gross monthly salary is € 2,901, which increases yearly to a maximum of € 3,707. Based on the gross salary you will receive an additional 8% holiday allowance each year in May, and an additional 8.3 % end of year bonus in November. PhD candidates contribute 20% of their time to teaching in years 2-4.



Starting date: Preferably per September 1, 2025



An assessment may be part of the procedure, consisting of psychological tests and an interview.

38 hours per week

Broerstraat 5