Research projects

Abstract

The content of my sabbatical comprises of continuation of the existing research agenda and new research and collaboration opportunities in an international context. (1) During the first half of my sabbatical at the Institute of Economics Centre for Economic and Regional Studies in Budapest, I will work on two research projects with Anna Adamecz and Ágnes Szabó-Morvai, which examine the effects of years of education on the labour market and fertility outcomes of the affected cohorts. Both projects are positioned within my ongoing research agenda on the relationship between education and fertility timing. (2) During my stay in Budapest, I will continue and expand further regional collaborations nearby of Budapest: With Lara Lebedinski (Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade and University of Vienna), I will organize the Third Applied Economics Conference in Belgrade on September 19-20, 2024. We will also work on a joint research project on the consequences of the NATO bombing in 1999 on children's outcomes in Serbia. We also plan to start a new project on the effect of pollution on children's outcomes in Serbia. As an alumnus of the Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, I also plan to revisit this institution during my sabbatical, to give a research seminar and reconnect with colleagues Andrea Weber, Adam Szeidl, Miklos Koren, and Martin Kahanec. Together with Ria Ivandić (University of Oxford, University of Zagreb, and London School of Economics), I plan to apply for funding within Erasmus exchange program and/or the FWO-WEAVE initiative, which supports bilateral collaboration between Flanders and Croatia. (3) During the second half of my sabbatical at the Department of Economics of Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, I will establish new collaborations with leading scholars in economics of crime such as Kevin Schnepel and Krishna Pendakur (SFU), as well as Samuel Norris and Marit Rehavi at the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia (UBC), thereby continuing my research agenda on the relationship between education and crime. (4) During my sabbatical, I will continue supervision and ongoing research with my PhD students, to submit our joint work to top-tier economics journals.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The content of my sabbatical comprises of continuation of the existing research agenda and new research and collaboration opportunities in an international context. (1) During the first half of my sabbatical at the Institute of Economics Centre for Economic and Regional Studies in Budapest, I will work on two research projects with Anna Adamecz and Ágnes Szabó-Morvai, which examine the effects of years of education on the labour market and fertility outcomes of the affected cohorts. Both projects are positioned within my ongoing research agenda on the relationship between education and fertility timing. (2) During my stay in Budapest, I will continue and expand further regional collaborations nearby of Budapest: With Lara Lebedinski (Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade and University of Vienna), I will organize the Third Applied Economics Conference in Belgrade on September 19-20, 2024. We will also work on a joint research project on the consequences of the NATO bombing in 1999 on children's outcomes in Serbia. We also plan to start a new project on the effect of pollution on children's outcomes in Serbia. As an alumnus of the Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, I also plan to revisit this institution during my sabbatical, to give a research seminar and reconnect with colleagues Andrea Weber, Adam Szeidl, Miklos Koren, and Martin Kahanec. Together with Ria Ivandić (University of Oxford, University of Zagreb, and London School of Economics), I plan to apply for funding within Erasmus exchange program and/or the FWO-WEAVE initiative, which supports bilateral collaboration between Flanders and Croatia. (3) During the second half of my sabbatical at the Department of Economics of Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, I will establish new collaborations with leading scholars in economics of crime such as Kevin Schnepel and Krishna Pendakur (SFU), as well as Samuel Norris and Marit Rehavi at the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia (UBC), thereby continuing my research agenda on the relationship between education and crime. (4) During my sabbatical, I will continue supervision and ongoing research with my PhD students, to submit our joint work to top-tier economics journals.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This research project focuses on spouses' behavior and joint decision-making within households, with a particular emphasis on gender inequality. Gender inequality persists and is often fueled by entrenched stereotypes in contemporary society. One significant but often overlooked contributor to inequality is the household, where significant gender disparities exist in time and consumption allocation between spouses. For instance, an unequal division of unpaid domestic tasks and unequal labor market involvement. This project aims to explore the underlying mechanisms behind these unequal outcomes. Specifically, it seeks to reduce gender inequality within households through three primary approaches: mitigating gender wage gaps and increasing joint leisure flexibility, expanding women's labor opportunities by abolishing religious bans, and addressing gender norms in everyday activities. The study holds significant societal implications in three aspects. Firstly, it helps to improve household members' welfare by promoting a more equitable gender role in family duties. Secondly, it strives to expand females' professional opportunities by advocating for flexible working arrangements and lifting religious constraints in workplaces. Thirdly, it provides insights for crafting policies and initiatives aimed at reshaping gender norms in daily life. In essence, the research project contributes to the reduction of persistent gender inequality and improves individuals' welfare not only within the household unit, but also in the labor market and on a broader societal scale.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cosaert Sam
• Fellow: Lu Wenqi

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The nature of trade agreements has changed in recent decades. While they were centered around mutual tariff reduction, they have now a much broader scope which involve cooperation on (re)definition of domestic regulations, e.g. the regulation of product standards for environmental, sanitary and safety reasons. This proposal, DEEPTRADE, builds on state-of-the-art tools to provide a thorough assessment of the impact of these new features of trade agreements. DEEPTRADE has three related work packages. WP1 studies the effect that these features have on trade disputes between countries. WP2 investigates the response and adaptation of exporters to these new regulations. WP3 offers a comprehensive framework to assess the welfare effect of these agreements. Assessing the impact of comprehensive trade agreements is challenging. This project not only creates a novel dataset linking trade disputes and trade agreements [WP1], but also combines detailed firm-level data with rich modelling to deepen our understanding of the effects of these new provisions [WP2 and WP3].

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Leromain Elsa
• Fellow: Erdogan Oguzhan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The spread of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has generated a variety of responses, ranging from excitement about its capabilities to debates on how to regulate AI. Although much is written in the media about the influence of AI on several sectors of the economy, little research exists on how exactly AI is spreading on the labor market in the EU. After conducting a thorough literature review, this research project will (1) empirically document the spread of AI in the labor market, (2) highlight the change in skill requirements by employers, (3) evaluate which non AI skills and AI skills are complementary, (4) use characteristics of firms that adopt AI to observe spillover effects and (5) formulate policy implications based on the research results. These objectives will be completed using job vacancy data signalling the demand for AI related skills. Alongside skills data, information on firms from employer-employee matched administrative datasets will be used to analyze firm dynamics. Using a combination of econometric methods and machine learning techniques magnitude of changes related to AI on the job market will be evaluated. Our hypothesis is that AI can rapidly replicate many complex tasks in jobs especially requiring high skilled workers, if this hypothesis holds, it would result in redefining the skill requirement in high skilled workers and defining AI complementary in skills. Policymakers and other stakeholders could use this research to design sound policies.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Leromain Elsa

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Non-pecuniary factors influence people's willingness-to-work, but most labor supply models abstract from this. According to these models, labor supply is the result of a trade-off between consumption and free time. The problem is that this overestimates the individual cost of work (because part of work can be enjoyable, like free time) and underestimates the cost of work for the household (because market work by one individual can disrupt work-life balance for all members). This proposal, NONPECUN, adjusts state-of-the-art labor supply models to make them more suitable to studying non-pecuniary aspects of work. NONPECUN has three related work packages. WP1 models the idea that workers enjoy part of their work as leisure. WP2 proposes a structural analysis of job choice with non-pecuniary characteristics. WP3 finally zooms in and studies disutility spillovers between spouses in a collective framework. We test these models nonparametrically. In principle, the nonparametric approach –combined with less tangible benefits and costs of work– hampers empirical tractability. This is why NONPECUN relies on the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social sciences. The LISS has information on Dutch household characteristics, economic outcomes, and social and personal attributes. Data on experienced utility from work [WP1], job amenities [WP2], and conflicting opinions in households [WP3] help to discipline fundamental elements of the models and to sharpen their testable implications.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cosaert Sam

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Private pensions are currently of increasing importance within Europe as a result of population aging and its pressure on social security, and more specifically on public pensions. Women in particular will be at increased risk, due to their shorter and more fragmented labour market trajectories, reducing their possibilities to accumulate pension rights. Despite its importance, little research focusses on private pension saving behaviour and more specifically on gender differences. However, knowledge about private pensions can offer important insights for policymakers. Therefore, this project will focus on examining the determinants of private pension saving decisions, both for occupational pensions as well as personal private pension plans. The objectives are to: 1) estimate selection into receiving a pension income for the three pension pillars, and its effect on the overall pension gap, 2) examine whether there is a trade-off between wages and occupational pensions, and if this differs by gender by means of a discrete-choice experiment, 3) analyse what happens when selection into occupational pension schemes is automatic, by evaluating the effects of auto-enrolment in the UK, and 4) estimate the effect of children on private pension saving participation and contributions. Different from previous research on the gender gap in private pensions, the focus will be on behaviour of the current working population instead of looking at the pension income of the retired population.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica
• Fellow: Guillemyn Inés

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The decision to migrate is complex. One potential influence of international migration is the anti-immigration attitudes held in a host country. Such attitudes represent a barrier for immigrants' success, when associated with discrimination. They add a 'cost' on immigrants and reduce the likelihood of perceiving the benefits of migrating greater than the costs. Thus far, however, little research exists on this. After a thorough literature review and theoretical contribution, this project will (1) empirically isolate the causal effect of anti-immigration attitudes on the inflow of migrants and return migration, (2) examine whether any heterogenous effects exist in terms of migrant characteristics, (3) uncover the role of media reporting in transmitting the attitudes from destination to origin countries, and (4) formulate policy implications and recommendations. These objectives will be achieved by exploiting unexpected events (natural experiments) that gave a signal of a country's public opinion, namely the Brexit referendum and Trump election. Using multiple econometric methods, we will examine various migration indicators. We expect that the events led to less immigration and a small increase in return migration. We hypothesize that media reporting functioned as a transmission mechanism. Our research will gain insights into how policymakers can approach natives' anti-immigration attitudes, which consequences to expect, and how these consequences can be mitigated.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica
• Fellow: Homburg Ines

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Individuals care not only about income per se, but also about how much they earn compared to others. Social comparisons and interdependent preferences have a profound effect on individual welfare. With negative interdependent preferences, better material outcomes for peers reduce the well-being of the individual. Social comparisons also shape the behavior of individuals. To describe, explain, and predict this behavior, the current proposal (STANDING) incorporates social comparisons in state-of-the-art labor supply models. The research has two distinguishing features. First, it shifts attention from identifying peer groups –a notoriously difficult task– to discovering properties of the relative income concerns. STANDING focuses on relative income concerns between given parties (players in an experiment, spouses in a couple) or simply uses reference points stated by the respondents. This will facilitate integration of social comparisons in commonly used economic models. Second, STANDING will develop novel nonparametric, revealed preference, methods to bring the models to the data. These methods impose very few ad-hoc restrictions on the preferences for material outcomes and relative income, and this allows a robust analysis of the latter. STANDING will use the new structural analysis, based on revealed preference methods, to study interdependent preferences in a variety of contexts. First, individuals who dislike their position in the income distribution may be willing to reduce others' –and own– income to improve it. Money burning experiments demonstrated that individuals sometimes destroy others' pay-offs even if this is costly. This raises the question whether choices driven by negative interdependent preferences are still consistent with basic economic theory. WP1 implements a modified version of the money burning experiment that is well-suited for testing choice consistency. Second, a household may judge its position in the income distribution by the visible consumption of others. But visible, conspicuous consumption sends biased signals about the true income distribution. What is the effect of misperceptions on the household's willingness-to-work? WP2 builds a model in which households value leisure and their (perceived) position in the income distribution. The perceived position may differ from the actual one. A counterfactual analysis will demonstrate how misperceptions distort labor supply decisions. Finally, negative interdependent preferences may also exist within (!) the household, in the form of gender identity norms. How will female labor supply respond to a wage raise if there are strong breadwinner norms in favor of the husband? WP3 proposes a structural nonparametric analysis of interdependent preferences in the household. This can be used outside specially tailored laboratory experiments. We will apply the analyses of WP2 and WP3 to data from the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social sciences in the Netherlands. This dataset contains detailed information on perceived income distributions and gender norms.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cosaert Sam
• Fellow: Daans Jasper

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

It is now widely recognised that social interactions play a crucial role in economic decision-making and outcomes. Taking such interactions into account is of first-order importance to identify the true mechanisms underlying microeconomic behaviour and to assess individual and social welfare. Almost all empirical work that studies these interactions, however, proceeds by invoking strong parametric assumptions in the econometric model. This does not only obfuscate the empirical content of the model; it also leads to biased estimates, and therefore to biased conclusions. In response to these issues, this project makes a double contribution. First, I will develop a flexible model that significantly generalises the widely-applied linear-in-means model of social interactions, in which the outcome of an individual arbitrarily depends on the characteristics and outcomes of her connections. I will subsequently show that this model can be identified and estimated with nonparametric IV techniques using the average characteristics of connections-of-connections as an instrument, extending previous results from a linear to a nonlinear context. Second, I will investigate the channels through which social interactions can arise in structural models of demand. Drawing from the literature on differential demand and revealed preferences, I will then characterise what are the testable implications of these models. An experiment will empirically validate various specifications of the model.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cosaert Sam
• Fellow: Maes Sebastiaan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Vrouwen bereiken consequent slechtere resultaten op de arbeidsmarkt dan mannen, in termen van lonen, participatiegraden en werkloosheid. Deze verschillen zijn nog groter geworden door de economische crisis die is veroorzaakt door de huidige Covid-19-pandemie. Recente literatuur benadrukt dat: (i) een belangrijk deel van deze kloven te wijten is aan loondiscriminatie door monopsonistische werkgevers die de lage elasticiteit van het aanbod van vrouwen aan de individuele onderneming benutten; (ii), hoe koppels gezamenlijke beslissingen nemen met betrekking tot het arbeidsaanbod en baankeuzes, is belangrijk voor het begrijpen van deze kloven. Familiebeslissingen zijn het resultaat van een onderhandelingsproces tussen de leden van het huishouden, wiens voorkeuren de uitdrukking zijn van de sociale normen waaraan zij zich houden. In dit project willen we de rol van het gezin bestuderen bij het verklaren van beslissingen over het arbeidsaanbod van koppels en hun gevolgen voor genderkloven. De uitdaging is dat het arbeidsaanbod afhankelijk is van onderhandelingsposities binnen het huishouden, maar onderhandelingsposities zelf veranderen met relatieve economische prestaties binnen het huishouden. Om dit endogeniteitsprobleem op te lossen, stellen we voor om grote macro-economische schokken te gebruiken als natuurlijke experimenten. De hypothese is dat grote veranderingen in de economische omstandigheden ons een exogene variatie in de onderhandelingspositie binnen de huishoudens geven die de onderhandelingsprocedure zelf kan beïnvloeden als ze voldoende persistent zijn. In het bijzonder willen we in dit onderzoeksproject: (i) begrijpen in welke mate veranderingen in hoe de onderneming concurreert voor werknemers van elk geslacht  dat wil zeggen, genderkloven in monopsonistische concurrentie  de evolutie van genderkloven op de arbeidsmarkt in de economische cyclus verklaren; (ii) om deze resultaten te gebruiken om te onderzoeken hoe het besluitvormingsproces binnen het huishouden (zoals bepaald door sociale normen over genderrollen in het gezin) verandert als gevolg van de economische omgeving. Eerst zullen we een raamwerk ontwikkelen waarmee we een oorzakelijk verband kunnen leggen tussen macro-economische schokken en genderkloven op de arbeidsmarkt, die leiden tot veranderingen in de onderhandelingspositie binnen het huishouden. Vervolgens zullen we analyseren hoe die veranderingen in onderhandelingspositie in het huishouden, zoals geïnstrumenteerd door de economische cyclus, de gezinsbeslissingen van het gezin beïnvloeden. Het begrijpen van de evolutie van sociale normen zou van grote waarde zijn voor het ontwerpen van beleid dat gericht is op het herdefiniëren van de gendernormen binnen het huishouden. Aangezien het banenverlies tijdens de Covid-19-pandemie bijzonder ernstig is voor vrouwen en vrouwen ook de meeste extra kinderopvangtaken geïmpliceerd door de sluiting van kleuterscholen en scholen op zich namen, zou deze crisis decennia van vooruitgang in de richting van gendergelijkheid kunnen uithollen. Ons project beoogt een leidraad te bieden om deze trend te keren door beleidsinterventies te ontwerpen die op lange termijn veranderingen in sociale normen kunnen veroorzaken.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Decancq Koen
• Promoter: Merlino Luca Paolo
• Co-promoter: Winkler Roland
• Fellow: Mandrisch Lucas

Research team(s)

• Economics
• Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Britain's referendum vote to leave the European Union (EU) seemingly came as a shock to the public. "Voting Leave" can be interpreted as a trigger of society's dissatisfaction with the state of the economy and the EU's role in it, which resulted in emotional responses and action from the British and foreign nationals. In the months following the referendum, there was an observed increase in the number of citizenship and permanent residence applications from the EU citizens living in the United Kingdom (UK), and a change in migration patterns to and from the European Union. Motivated by the observed societal response, this project aims to establish (i) whether the Brexit referendum vote caused observed changes in migration patterns (or merely exacerbated a previous trend), (ii) what were the specific mechanisms behind it, (iii) which heterogenous effects can be identified, (iv) what was the role of the (social) media reporting as a transmission mechanism, and (v) what are the expected future migration trends and policy issues. Using an array of robust empirical (econometric) techniques, we will consider these changes for the UK as a whole and its regions and investigate whether the effects are temporary or long lasting. Further analysis of other influential factors such as labour market and socio-economic characteristics of the locality, ethnic and national diversity of the area will complement the main results. An extended period of analysis will allow us to (i) assess robustness of the main findings, (ii) evaluate the effect of earlier and subsequent "shock" events in the UK (e.g., the announcement of the referendum, triggering of Article 50, the COVID-19 effect, and actual UK exit from the EU in January 2021), which will be important for assessing the relative strength of the Brexit referendum effect and (iii) analyse the effect of the Brexit referendum vote as well as the complete Brexit process on migration policies and trends in the UK and in Europe. Proposed research will be of interest to academics in the fields of economics, sociology and social policy, demography, social geography, and political studies and will further contribute to it.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica
• Fellow: Homburg Ines

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Despite the abundance of research on the gender wage gap, there is relatively little research on the extent to which women's lower lifetime labour market outcomes translate into lower pension outcomes, taking cross-country perspective. This becomes even more relevant having in mind an ageing population, the falling ratio of the number of people of working age for every person of pensionable age, and the rising proportion of single-person households in Europe. This research aims to: (a) estimate the gender differentials in pension coverage/income in Europe based on the most recent available data, taking into account the life-course perspective, demographic and economic factors, household roles and preferences, and individual country heterogeneity; (b) answer the question whether there is a trade-off between the wages and occupational pensions and whether this differs by gender; (c) quantify the gender differences in the discount rate, i.e., the extent to which men and women differ in terms of valuing the present over the future; and (d) answer what is the role of the family members (partner, children) in securing women's old-age income. The findings will extend the theoretical knowledge in pension economics, indicate whether the current retirement systems in Europe are able to provide adequate pensions and offer insurance against an unexpectedly long life for both men and women, and shed light on policy challenges when trying to narrow the gender gap in old-age income.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Recent trends in migration trends in Western countries remind us that diversity is inevitable in human societies. Ensuring that this does not hinder their well-functioning is a primary challenge. The aim of this project is to understand the mechanisms through which social contact among people of different backgrounds affects behavior. In particular, we will provide causal estimates investigating when contact with minorities induces positive effects on behavior in two economic relevant contexts: the family and the labor market. To do so, we will exploit administrative data from Denmark and a unique survey conducted in the US to measure variation in inter-ethnic exposure across cohorts within schools. Using these data, we will analyze the impact of different types of contact in schools on the quality of interracial marriages and on labor market integration. Finally, we will rationalize these findings in a model where agents decide with whom to interact and provide a local public good to their neighbors, a strategic interaction that captures cooperation in an abstract way. Indeed, to design effective policies that change group composition we believe that it is important to understand how people would change their patterns of socialization after the intervention. Answering the basic question of whether increasing contact between diverse groups in schools improves intergroup relations has direct policy implications on the best way to mix pupils.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Promoter: Merlino Luca Paolo

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This intersectional study has four research objectives: (1) Describe the participation and employment rates of women of non-EU origin (based on migration status, evolution over time, geographical distribution and regional differences, relationships with socio-demographic characteristics), and compare them with other groups such as men of non-EU origin and Belgian women and men; (2) Investigate the reasons for the relatively low employment rates among women of non-EU origin; (3) Identify the main challenges for the integration of women from outside the EU into the Belgian labour market; and (4) Propose policy recommendations to overcome these barriers based on best practices from other countries and interviews with Belgian experts and individuals from the target group to create engagement and awareness on this research topic. The first two research questions are the subject of a quantitative (statistical) study, while the last two questions are investigated through qualitative research. Examining the nature and factors behind labour market disparities can shed light on measures that can be taken to address inequalities and improve non-EU women's access to economic opportunities, thereby harnessing their potential and creating conditions for economic growth.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Despite the availability of large amount of data about economic, social, and political phenomena, misinformation is ubiquitous in society. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow agents to receive and share a lot of information in a very short time and to have an easy access to each other's opinion. This leads to faster dissemination of news and faster social learning. But it also leaves the door open to the spread of misinformation such as fake-news, as well as to opinion manipulation. This project aims at studying to key factors of the spread of misinformation: (i), how misinformation arises and, (ii), how it propagates. I will investigate the origin of misinformation and of initial biases in processing information. To do, I will consider both cultural and psychological factors, such as community identity, the intergenerational transmission of values, and the role of emotions (i.e., frustration and anger). I will study how behaviors and information spread through different kinds of social and strategic interactions. The project will analyze how social interactions, and the induced structure of the network of communication, influence the aggregation of information, the incentives to share or to gather information, and the failure of social learning processes.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Promoter: Merlino Luca Paolo
• Fellow: Della Lena Sebastiano

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The global financial crisis reignited interest in understanding how credit fluctuations affect macroeconomic outcomes. It is now widely recognized that private debt cycles shape macroeconomic fragility and crisis risk. In response to the crisis, many countries adopted countercyclical fiscal policy, which moved government spending, taxation, and deficit financing to the forefront of policy debates. The aim of this project is to understand the interplay of credit cycle fluctuations, business cycle fluctuations, and fiscal policy. First, we will develop a business cycle model in which household debt matters for the propagation and amplification of fiscal interventions. The model will be used to test the significance and magnitude of the private debt ccelerator effect with respect to fiscal policy changes.Counterfactual policy simulations will provide insights into how the credit cycle influences the fiscal transmission mechanism. The second part of the project will explore how fiscal policy by itself shapes private credit cycles. In particular, we will provide evidence on the effects of fiscal policy shocks on credit growth. Finally, we will turn to systematic (rule-based) stabilization policy and explore whether there is a trade-off between business cycle stabilization and credit cycle stabilization. Understanding the interplay between fiscal policy and credit cycles would be of great value for the design of policies aiming to promote macroeconomic and financial stability.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica
• Promoter: Winkler Roland
• Fellow: Jansen Babette

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The aim of this project is to understand the interplay between the search for partners, household formation and economic decisions. Making an investment in the ability to search for a better partner affects the characteristics of the match, but also the bargaining position in the relationship by determining the quality of the outside options in case of divorce. We will introduce search frictions in the marriage market proposing a matching model where search frictions are captured by a matching function or by search of partners via social networks. Modeling search behavior implies a better description of the intra-household decision process, which in turn yields a more powerful analysis of household choice behavior and its welfare implications on spouses and their children. The aim of this project, which is part of a bigger research agenda, is to estimate non-parametrically these models using revealed preferences analysis to provide a structural description of the within-household allocation as a function of the search behavior defining the current and future outside options on marriage markets.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Merlino Luca Paolo
• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica
• Fellow: Yurdakul Ekin

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Professor Koopman will give the following lectures within the Scientific Chair International Francqui Professor 2019-2020: 1. The Econometrics of Time-Varying Parameters 2. Macroeconomic forecasting 3. Stochastic Volatility Modelling 4. Dynamic Factor Models

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In the context of the government contract 'Establishing a decision method for vaccination policy in Flanders' issued by the Flemish Agency for Care and Health, all statistical aspects will be performed of the discrete choice experiment that will be conducted among the Flemish population and among vaccination experts. This includes (1) the design of the experiment, (2) the cleaning of the data sets that are retrieved, (3) the analysis of the resulting data sets, (4) the formulation of conclusions, (5) summarizing and writing down the studies in one or more reports and (6) developing these reports into international publications in renowned journals. For the interpretation of the discrete choice experiment, reference is made to the technical file with specification N° AP/IZ-VAC/2018/2.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Kessels Roselinde

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project will provide causal evidence on the impact of Britain's vote to leave the European Union on changes in hate crime and migration patterns. Using an array of robust econometric techniques, we will consider these changes for the UK as a whole and its regions and investigate whether the effects are temporary or long lasting. Further analysis of other influential factors such as media and social media activity, labour market and socio-economic characteristics of the locality, ethnic and national diversity of the area will complement the main results.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The aim of this project is to explicitly integrate marriage decisions in the wider context of household decisions when divorce is a possible option. This project wants to better understand the interplay between the search for partners, household formation and economic decisions. The idea is that making an investment in the ability to search for a better partner affects the characteristics of the match, but also the bargaining position in the relationship by determining the quality of the outside options in case of divorce. We will introduce search frictions in the marriage market using two approaches. First, we will propose a matching model where search frictions are captured by a matching function. Secondly, motivated by the empirical observation that most spouses meet through friends, we will study a marriage market where the choice of partners is constrained by one's social networks. We will estimate non-parametrically the models using revealed preferences to provide a structural description of the within-household allocation as a function of the search behavior defining the current and future outside options on marriage markets. Overall, modeling search behavior implies a better description of the intra-household decision process, which in turn yields a more powerful analysis of household choice behavior and its welfare implications on spouses and their children.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cosaert Sam
• Promoter: Merlino Luca Paolo

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

DRC lacks necessary resources to provide efficient and equitable health services. Reinforcing local capacity is essential to constructively evaluate all health-care financing alternatives, to demonstrate the economic burden of health-related conditions, and to meaningfully determine the value of proposed programs and interventions, appropriate within the Congolese context. To provide efficient and equitable health services for improving the health of the Congolese population, the present project aims to: (1) set-up a concerted research program in health economics (HE) at the Kinshasa School of Public Health (KSPH); (2) strengthen the research capacities in HE at KSPH; and (3) increase the visibility and outreach of research activities and outputs in HE.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana
• Co-promoter: Vujić Sunčica

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

It has long been recognized that most economic transactions do not take place on anonymous markets but rather they are bilateral transactions among two parties that need to know each other and to meet in order for the exchange to take place. Hence, one's network of social interactions is important in shaping own economic outcomes. This is the case for example on the labor market: many studies showed how relevant one's social ties are in determining wages and employment opportunities. In my future research I intend to continue my work on the understanding of the interplay between social interactions and economic activities, from two complementary perspectives. First, I will empirically study the effect of social interactions on economic outcomes in two applications, that is, the marriage market and the labor market. In many situations and countries, people have a negative attitudes towards the members of a certain group because of statistical discrimination or preferences. Stereotyping have implications in many markets, such as the marriage market and the labor market. In my research, I will test the so-called contact hypothesis: social interactions with member of the discriminated group might affects one's expectations regarding their behavior or characteristics, and in turn reduce statistical or taste discrimination. Regarding the marriage market, I will analyze whether the racial composition of school students' cohorts impacts romantic relationships later in life. In the case of the labor market, I will focus on gender differences in the allocation of workers to firms. Second, I will study the implications of the fact that, once agents realize that their social ties can affect their economic outcomes, they might strategically invest in social interactions. As a result, it is difficult to disentangle the effect of peers on behavior from peer selection. Since, it is not always possible to devise strategies according to which there is an exogenous variations in peers, I will develop models that can inform us on how to disentangle empirically the effects of peer selection and peers effects on behavior. I will apply these techniques to three applications: the use of referrals in the labor markets, the diffusion of rumors in social networks and taxation in the private provision of public goods. On the one hand, my domain covers both modern social and economic network theory and the more traditional search and matching literature. On the other hand, it also ranges from theoretical and to applied work: I strongly abide with the view that, while theory is needed to guide empirical analysis, empirical analysis provides a constant source of inspiration and discipline for theoretical developments. My research will hopefully advance our understanding of economic activity by providing a framework that explicitly takes into account the fact that most economic interactions are influenced by social relationships among people. This will provide us with policy implications to alleviate the inefficiencies and inequalities that emerge in decentralized networked markets.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Merlino Luca Paolo
• Fellow: Merlino Luca Paolo

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

We investigate the effects of lowering co-payments on medical consumption of low income families. To this end, we exploit a large scale, randomized policy intervention aimed at encouraging take-up of the Beneficiary of Increased Reimbursement Statute. We use administrative health insurance data to measure the budget impact and the effects on specific medical consumption patterns. We perform an additional survey to analyze the effect on subjective unmet need.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

By developing real options models that address uncertainty, advances have been made in ecological economics and resource economics. Recently, the real options theory itself has advanced towards real option games. These models also consider the interaction of economic actors within a competitive or cooperative setting. Because the transition towards resource and energy efficient economies requires the involvement of all economic actors, the theory of real option games form an opportunity to further combine research in environmental economics and dynamic decision making. For different environmental challenges, it will be studied when it is optimal to invest and how cooperation can take place. Also advances in the field of real option games will be made: (1) the sequence of the investments and the direction of the cash flows are not predefined, (2) the interdependence between complementary investments will be studied, and (3) focus is on cooperative strategies. The cooperation with various European research groups, will allow me to improve my competences and to create an own research line that combines research in the field of environmental economics and dynamic optimization. My expertise on the development of real options games will extend the existing economic expertise at the Department of economics at Antwerp University and because these economic models address environmental economic issues, cooperation between different research departments will be strengthened.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Kort Peter
• Co-promoter: Van Passel Steven
• Fellow: Compernolle Tine

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project studies the economics of balancing mechanisms in electricity markets. Besides a technical goal, namely balancing injections and offtakes in real time, the design of these mechanisms has important economic consequences. In the CWE market context where intermittent production technologies are rapidly integrated, it crucially affects investment and production decisions. The well-functioning of the balancing market is essential to ensure system stability and to prevent blackouts. Countries will benefit from more economic insights when they decide to coordinate their policies at this stage.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Fellow: Van Moer Geert

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The aim of this project is to examine whether fractionalisation and partitioning, two measures of ethnic composition, can explain the quality of public policies observed in developing countries. The project re-estimates the findings of the seminal paper by Easterly and Levine (1997), extends the data with observations from the past two decades, and tests robustness to different measures of policy quality.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a research contract awarded by the University of Antwerp. The supervisor provides the Antwerp University research mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions stipulated by the university.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Erreygers Guido

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

We study the effects of lowering co-payments on medical consumption of low income families. To this end, we exploit a large scale, randomized policy intervention aimed at encouraging take-up of the Beneficiary of Increased Reimbursement Statute. We use administrative health insurance data to measure the budget impact and the effects on specific medical consumption patterns. We perform an additional survey to analyze the effect on subjective unmet need.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana
• Co-promoter: Lefevere Eva

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project studies the economics of balancing mechanisms in electricity markets. Besides a technical goal, namely balancing injections and offtakes in real time, the design of these mechanisms has important economic consequences. In the CWE market context where intermittent production technologies are rapidly integrated, it crucially affects investment and production decisions. The well-functioning of the balancing market is essential to ensure system stability and to prevent blackouts. Countries will benefit from more economic insights when they decide to coordinate their policies at this stage.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Fellow: Van Moer Geert

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a formal research agreement between UA and on the other hand the client. UA provides the client research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vujić Sunčica

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In this research project, we will analyze the economic effects of different environmental policies in the EU market. We will build a structural model, which starts from a rich demand system for differentiated products, adds an oligopoly model and introduces dynamics, using insights and techniques from the fields of empirical industrial organization and environmental economics. Based on this structural approach, the project intends to produce at least three papers on the effects of environmental policies in the European car market. In addition, the project aims to exploit the data set further in order to evaluate the effects of various specific policies as natural experiments using treatment effect approaches.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Borger Bruno
• Fellow: Reynaert Mathias

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The purpose of this project is twofold. First, we study the relation between production capacities for intermittent and flexible energy sources under different market structures. Second, we analyze the efficiency implications of various government policies for the functioning of the energy market.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to study the role of local governments (cities and municipalities) in controlling transport externalities (congestion, pollution, noise, accident risks). The instruments local governments can potentially use may include investing in capacityreduction, imposing local speed limits, tolls, traffic lights, increasing the red phase of traffic lights, road bumps, investing in bypass capacity around the city or municipality, building noise walls, implementing low emission zones, etc.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Borger Bruno

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The professional sports industry in Europe and the USA conducts several practices which appear to be textbook cases of anti-competitive behavior. Famous examples include sharing gate revenues, geographically splitting up markets and collective sales of TV rights, advertising and merchandise. Still, in many instances antitrust authorities have neglected to outlaw these practices. This research project bundles four contributions that look into some major competition policy issues in the sports industry. First, it examines how a league may use revenue sharing as a device to coordinate talent investments when sports fans are diversified. Second, the project evaluates how the choice of different contest success functions influences the results of previous contributions in the literature. In a third contribution it introduces a model of platform competition among clubs to investigate the effects of jointly selling advertising on sports consumers and advertisers. A final empirical contribution looks into the importance of factors that may impact on the distribution of playing strengths between teams in a league. This has great relevance to antitrust policy, as it is a crucial issue in the discussion around allowing collective sales of TV rights in Europe.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Fellow: Peeters Thomas

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Until now, policy recommendations and decisions have been based on the Net Present Value (NPV) rule. However, the NPV rule disregards the lost value of flexibility when making decisions with irreversible consequences. Real options theory naturally incorporates these elements. Policy recommendations based on real options theory will, therefore, improve NPV-based policy recommendations. The real options approach will, as a result, have consequences for policymakers' decisions, firms' interests, and consumer welfare. In this project, we will take a real-options approach with respect to the clearing or blocking of mergers, state aid, licensed entry fees, and regulation of vertically integrated firms.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Kort Peter
• Co-promoter: Bouckaert Jan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In this research project, we will analyze the economic effects of different environmental policies in the EU market. We will build a structural model, which starts from a rich demand system for differentiated products, adds an oligopoly model and introduces dynamics, using insights and techniques from the fields of empirical industrial organization and environmental economics. Based on this structural approach, the project intends to produce at least three papers on the effects of environmental policies in the European car market. In addition, the project aims to exploit the data set further in order to evaluate the effects of various specific policies as natural experiments using treatment effect approaches.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Borger Bruno
• Fellow: Reynaert Mathias

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The professional sports industry in Europe and the USA conducts several practices which appear to be textbook cases of anti-competitive behavior. Famous examples include sharing gate revenues, geographically splitting up markets and collective sales of TV rights, advertising and merchandise. Still, in many instances antitrust authorities have neglected to outlaw these practices. This research project bundles four contributions that look into some major competition policy issues in the sports industry. First, it examines how a league may use revenue sharing as a device to coordinate talent investments when sports fans are diversified. Second, the project evaluates how the choice of different contest success functions influences the results of previous contributions in the literature. In a third contribution it introduces a model of platform competition among clubs to investigate the effects of jointly selling advertising on sports consumers and advertisers. A final empirical contribution looks into the importance of factors that may impact on the distribution of playing strengths between teams in a league. This has great relevance to antitrust policy, as it is a crucial issue in the discussion around allowing collective sales of TV rights in Europe.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Promoter: Kesenne Stefan
• Fellow: Peeters Thomas

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a formal service agreement between UA and on the other hand IDEWE vzw. UA provides IDEWE vzw research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The Credit Crunch and the economic crisis that followed has cast doubt on the validity of the ubiquitous new-Keynesian DSGE model favoured by many macroeconomists. The basic assumptions made in these models are too unworldly to be able to yield a realistic picture of an essentially unstable globalised environment. A drastic overhaul imposes itself. A differentiation of types of agents, the introduction of a commercial banking system, the replacement of the rational expectations assumption by a more realistic one, movements in employment also along the extensive margin, the embedding in a 2- or multicountry setting, and the return to the more traditional nonlinear estimation of the structural model are only the most obvious candidates for change. What is needed now is a thorough feasibility study w.r.t. the estimability and solution of these revamped new-Keynesian macroeconomic models.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Meeusen Wim

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The majority of the existing studies concerning the determinants of capital flows focus on foreign direct investment, which is considered the most stable component of total capital flows and is generally associated with positive spillovers such as transmission of managerial skills and technology transfer to the recipient countries. On the other side, portfolio and short-term capital flows, while generating positive effects on consumption and investments, are also an important source of vulnerability and instability for the recipient economy. The associated overheating of the economy, large current account deficits, an overvalued currency and the decrease in the domestic interest rate make investments in the host economy less attractive in the eyes of international investors. Therefore, sudden stops and reversals (i.e. outflows) of short term capital inflows are likely to take place because (as opposed to FDI) they do not involve "disinvestment" costs and they can be easily reversed.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vanneste Jacques

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project aims at investigating the impact of global financial and trade shocks on growth and inequality in Sub Sahara Africa (SSA). We assess the ability of Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models to explain the impact of shocks on a typical SSA economy, and examine which modifications are required to make the conventional models applicable to SSA. The modified models will be estimated using data from a sample of SSA countries.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Erreygers Guido

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Borger Bruno

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The main purpose is to make a synthesis of documents from family and public archives concerning the French Jesuit mathematician Maurice Potron (1872-1942). The synthesis will serve both for the English edition of Potron's economic papers, currently under preparation by Christian Bidard and Guido Erreygers (Routledge), and for a more deatailed book in French, by Christian Bidard, on the familial, social historical and religious roots of this remarkable work.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Erreygers Guido

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Gelieve aan te vullen a.u.b.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Most of the recent transport economics research has been dealing with normative issues (see, among many others, Small and Verhoef (handbook urban economics forthcoming), Arnott, Rave and Schöb (IFOmonograph,2005), De Borger and Proost EE book (2001)). The central question in this literature was: what are the most efficient pricing and investment policies taking into account different market imperfections? These imperfections are not only situated in the transport sector (e.g., the absence of time-differentiated pricing, the case where not all alternatives can be priced correctly, imperfect competition for some transport modes) but also in the rest of the economy (distortive labour taxes, imperfect redistribution instruments, etc.). This normative research has shown that new forms of pricing (road pricing) may generate important efficiency gains if the revenues of these new pricing instruments are used efficiently. In practice, however, one observes rather inefficient pricing and investment policies in many countries. Moreover, new forms of pricing (road pricing, cordon tolls, kilometer charges, ect.) that may clearly be beneficial for society face serious opposition and are only very slowly implemented. In this proposal, we take a positive approach to transport policy, extensively building upon political economy models. The main research question is how we can explain current transport pricing and investment policies that countries and federations implement. This is an area that received relatively little attention. The research question opens a wide field.. We therefore suggest concentrating the attention on a few specific topics in order to progressively build and test theories for their practical relevance.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Borger Bruno

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project aims to explain economic and sociologid differences in job retention between native and non-native workers following an individual in company on the job training. It consists of a statistical analysis of a database of characteristics and a two year job history of 9978 unemployed workers after an in company on the job training, complemented with a qualitative pilot study based on interviews.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Nonneman Walter
• Co-promoter: Okkerse Liesbet
• Co-promoter: Timmerman Christiane

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project studies the influence of religiosity on specific preferences of key importance in economic behaviour. The hypothesis that religiosity has a significant influence on time preference, social preferences and the preferences for work are tested using survey data and experimental data. More specifically, the focus is on possible differences in effects of religiosity in societies with a Christian and Islamic background.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Nonneman Walter
• Co-promoter: Timmerman Christiane

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Borger Bruno
• Fellow: Okkerse Liesbet

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This research project offers an economic analysis of decision processes regarding mergers. The role of communication between competition authorities and firms is a central part of the study. The following themes will be investigated: 1) the role of communication and information exchange between firms and authorities; 2) the effect of communication on the choice of the welfare standard; 3) the effect of third parties on communication and descision processes.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Fellow: Renckens An

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project represents a formal research agreement between UA and on the other hand the Flemish Public Service. UA provides the Flemish Public Service research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Coppieters Piet
• Co-promoter: Nonneman Walter
• Co-promoter: Rymenans Rita

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

We continue our current work on university personnel management. This work package consists of two themes. The first theme is in the field of labor and personnel economics and considers the relationship between promotions, job assignments and incentives to perform in universities. The second theme is in the field of human resource management and relates to work experience, work stress, and management of professionals in a university context.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The aim is to extend the real options framework with the large body of work in game theory. In this way a much richer description of optimal investment behavior can be obtained. We want to investigate decisions of firms about whether to enter a market or when being an incumbent, how to deter, blockade or accommodate entry. Moreover we focus on merger incentives induced by the desirability to enter new emerging markets. We are interested in effects of uncertainty.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Co-promoter: Kort Peter
• Co-promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

A large body of literature has gathered evidence demonstrating that agents often cooperate in social dilemmas. The typical pattern in repeated-game experiments is that cooperation starts well above the standard theoretical prediction and either stays at high levels or slowly declines up until the final rounds when it breaks down. We use laboratory experiments to examine the weight of the two most prominent forces behind this pattern, i.e. reciprocity and reputation formation ('strategic' cooperation).

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Suetens Sigrid

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The overall prupose of this project is to study the fiscal treatment of company cars within an integrated optimal tax policy towards both the labour and the transport market. The model takes into account the implications of the tax structure for the prevalence of company cars, and it captures the role of company cars for external transport costs (mainly congestion). The project studies both the optimal tax structure and several revenue neutral tax reforms. The obtained theoretical insights are illustrated by means of numerical models applied to the Belgian situation.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Borger Bruno

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Smet Mike

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Smet Mike

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Nonneman Walter

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vanneste Jacques
• Fellow: Suetens Sigrid

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project investigates the relationships between economic growth, poverty and environmental degradation in a village economy of northern Ethiopia. A village social accounting matrix (VSAM) and a village computable general equilibrium (VCGE) will be constructed to perform micro-simulations. The analysis will help to identify which strategies are appropriate to move in the direction of sustainable development.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Erreygers Guido

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project focuses on the interaction between port competition and hinterland congestion. We first theoretically study the impact of hinterland congestion and local congestion policies on price and quality competition of ports. Next we analyze the effects of congestion and port pricing policies on optimal congestion taxes in the hinterland network. We finally derive results on optimal investment policies that take account of the relation between port competition and hinterland congestion. We illustrate all theoretical results using numerical simulation techniques.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Borger Bruno

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Little is known about preferences of consumers of out of office hours medical care. Discrete choice analysis allows quantification of these preferences. In Deurne Borgerhout (large city, large proportion of immigrants) we collect data from 300 respondents at consultations of child welfare centres. Data can be used to improve services to the community.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In this project we use recent insights from the theory of industrial organization to study pricing and regulatory proposals in a number of specific economic sectors, including transport, sports and broadcasting. The emphasis lies on studying the positive effects of various policy proposals (access pricing of infrastructure, capacity competition on transport networks, allocation of television rights of sports games, etc.). Moreover, we also illustrate their welfare or normative properties. The choice of sectors is inspired by their increasing importance and the recent expertise of the promoters of the project.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Co-promoter: De Borger Bruno
• Co-promoter: Kesenne Stefan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

We intend to answer the following research questions: i) What are the tirm's optimal R&D investment strategies if there is a future possibility of setting up a standard? ii) Does the standardization encourage or discourage R&D and under which conditions? iii) Are the multi-standard market structures possible and stable? iv) Is a large alliance with an inferior technology more efficient than several smaller alliances, some of which possess a superior technology? v) What are the welfare and policy implications of a standardcreation by the innovating firms? The research will proceed in the following way. First, we develop a theory after the process of standardcreation-driven coalition formation in R&D. Secondly, we move to the issue of new market creation with the focus on competition between standards, i.e. competition between different coalitions supporting those standards.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Plasmans Joseph
• Co-promoter: Kort Peter

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ourti Tom

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The existing literature on the working of the corporatist modelof macroeconomic policy making is extended in two ways. First, the importance of asymmetric information is analyzed for the bargaining between the parties involved. Secondly, the fiscal policy of the government is also incorporated into the analysis. These improvements of the theory should ultimately lead to a better empirical specification of the examined empirical relations.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Pauwels Wilfried
• Co-promoter: Van Poeck André

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Fellow: Renckens An

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In Belgium, the importance of research into public expenditure is emphasised in the federal policy document on drugs of 2001. To this end, the research "Drug policy in Figures, A study into the actors involved, public expenditure and target groups reached" (hereafter called Drugs in Figures I) was carried out between 2001 and 2003 by order of the then Belgian Federal Services for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs, now the Belgian federal science policy office, under the promotorship of Prof. dr. B. De Ruyver. The present proposal will refine and update the methodology for measuring public expenditures as it was developed in the research Drugs in Figures I, taking into account the recent developments in the field, as well as the recommendations and bottle-necks identified in Drugs in Figures I and the studies recently carried out by (order of) the EMCDDA. The proposal pays more attention to the methodology itself and to the reporting on the methodology. Next to that, the research will perform a new measurement using the refined and updated methodology. In doing so, insight is gained into the evolutions in public expenditure concerning the approach to the drug problem in Belgium, highlighting the influence of the policy options and action points of the 2001 federal policy document on drugs. More specific, the present research intents to trace the existence of a relation between the priorities of the Belgian drug policy and the public expenditure for these priorities. Next to that, it will also be examined if a relation exists between the prioritized target groups of the Belgian drug policy and public expenditure for these target groups

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Kesenne Stefan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project consists on three parts: 1) A longitudinal analysis of the correlation between socio-economic status and health: dynamics and causality. 2) Econometric modelling of the determinants of the number of visits to various health care types. 3) A conceptual framework for the measurement of socio-economic inequalities in the health care sector: alternatives and decompositions.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vanneste Jacques
• Fellow: Van Ourti Tom

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Smet Mike

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Access to medical care is of primary concern to the government and the public in general. In this study, we will analyze whether the evolution in direct out-of-pocket payments (especially supplements) and private insurance has a negative impact on access. More specifically we will: -do a literature review on the effects of out-of-pocket payments and complementary private insurance; -calculate the amount and type of supplements in Belgium over the period 1996-2003 as well as determine the socio-economic characteristics of the patients generating or paying these supplements(on the basis of the IMA-data); -on the basis of appropriate econometric techniques *estimate the determinants to take out private health insurance *estimate the impact of supplementary private insurance on the probability and duration of hospitalization after correction for behavioral effect of supplements.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Removal of legal entry barriers is often considered as an important step to make markets more competitive. Incumbents, however, may have incentives to create institutions that limit entry possibilities in order to create market power. This project will study several institutions that considerably determine the degree of competition in banking markets. In particular, this project contributes to the analysis of information asymmetries between banks (both between entrants and incumbents), switching costs (both informational and transactional), and contracts (short-term vs. long-term).

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

We perform laboratory tests of the assumption often made in traditional theoretical R&D models that R&D cooperation does not translate in collusion in the output market.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Suetens Sigrid

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The aim of the project is to document, explain and simulate the Rhineland labour market paradox. A key feature of the Rhineland model is the existence of a dual labour market. On the one hand there is an official labour market dominated by collective bargaining between social partners and with 'good' but rationed jobs. On the other hand a sizeable shadow economy flourishes. The paradox lies in the coexistence of structural underemployment in the official economy with job shortage in the underground economy.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Nonneman Walter

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

As becomes apparent from the standard textbooks in industrial organization (cf. Tirole (1988)), the analysis of the effects of uncertainty within this field is yet underdeveloped. The aim of this project is to fill this 'empty hole'. To do so use will be made of the theory of real options. This is a relatively new concept meant to evaluate capital investment decisions of firms stressing the irreversibility of most investment decisions and the ongoing uncertainty of the economic environment in which these decisions are made. Until now real option theory mainly considers single decision maker problems of firms operating in monopoly or perfect competition markets.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Kort Peter
• Co-promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Co-promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The principal objective of this project is to further understanding of the changing structure of Euro-area labour markets, through an empirical investigation of the country specific wage curves, using a consistent cross-country microeconomic data set from 1985 to 1998. This is an important policy issue since the success of EMU will depend critically upon the structure and conduits of the constituent national labour markets.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Poeck André
• Co-promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to study various different policies to cope with congestion externalities within the framework of formal time allocation models (Becker (1966), DeSerpa (1971), Jara-Diaz (2000)). We first consider optimal congestion pricing in a standard Becker-type time allocation model under two hypotheses: (i) assuming only the commodity input in transport production can be taxed (e.g., via fuel taxes); (ii) assuming the activity 'transport' can directly be taxed (e.g. via road pricing schemers or kilometre taxes). Second, we extend this basic model to reconsider the optimal differential treatment of non-commuting and commuting transport derived in earlier models in the literature. Third, we look at the role of the time dimension in designing appropriate economic policies towards carpooling.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Borger Bruno

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

A new game-theoretic approach to the study of interpersonal trust is proposed. The proposal is a variant of the well known Berg et al. (1995) trust game, in which the money multiplier is applied to the stage 2 transfer instead of the stage 1 transfer. As a result, altruism is largely eliminated as a driving force of player 1's decision to transfer money to player 2, and so this transfer is a more natural measure of trust.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This research proposal focuses into the monetary and financial risks for the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) after accession to the EU. Indeed it is to be expected that soon after their accession the 8 CEECs will posit their candidature for EMU-membership. In this phase they will be especially vulnerable to capital inflow reversals and to currency crises. Thsis project will study: 1. The vulnerability of CEECs to currency crises. In this section wel stress the potential role of combined current account and government deficits (twin deficits) in increasing the vulnerability of CEECs to currency crises. 2. Capital movements and fiscal consolidation in accession countries. Our research objective is to estimate the sensitivity of fiscal consolidation to capital movements in accession countries.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Poeck André
• Co-promoter: Vanneste Jacques

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The proposed project is preceded by an exploratory research project funded by the University of Antwerp. The proposed research project will analyse the collected material in order to focus on two main issues : (1) the history of higher education in economics in Belgium, and (2) scientific research in economics with international relevance and will analyse this material in order to clarify the national and international role of Belgian economists and their research. Impact will be measured using citation analysis, recorded interventions at national and interantional meetings and membership (active of otherwise) of scientific organisations.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Pauwels Wilfried
• Fellow: Mosselmans Bert

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Kesenne Stefan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The policy background to the present proposal concern over equity in the fields of health and health care. This project aims to address the pertinent questions regarding the causal mechanisms underlying the systematic associations between health and income. It will mainly rely on theoretical advances in the health economics literature to guide the empirical analysis and take advantage of the availability panel date to test and estimate these relationships.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana
• Co-promoter: Van den Bosch Karel

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Since December 2001 research is started, in collaboration with a Dutch colleague Albert Jolink (Erasmus University Rotterdam), on the almost completely forgotten Antwerp engineer-economist Bernard Chait. The proposed project aims at deepening and rounding off this research, and at publicizing its results to a wider audience.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Erreygers Guido

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The research focuses on the derivation of macroeconomic stabilisation policies in the European Monetary Union (EMU) area. The overall objective is to model (in a dynamic context): a) the design of national and common stabilisation macroeconomic policies and b) the effects of the interactions among policymakers (national governments of 'blocs' of governments and the European Central Bank (ECB) in setting these policies. Our project aims to consider the EMU by stressing the role played by: i) asymmetries (in both structural and preference parameters) and ii) the existence of a multi-country context in a dynamic set-up. Asymmetries allow to consider the bargaining power distribution among EMU members in setting a common policy, different asymmetric transmission mechanisms of economic policy among countries, and different economic structures (e.g. small vs. large economies).

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The main objective of this project is to study the position of the government with respect to an optimal industrial organization of an economy. More specifically, we pay attention to the recent international trend of many Western governments moving from an active market player and market distorting regulator towards a more market oriented regulator and watchdog. In particular, the research project investigates the theoretical relationship between ex ante regulation an ex post intervention. Specific sectors will be the subject of this research project. The research methodology follows the New Industrial Economics approach where the analysis happens at the level of the industry with its specific characteristics. The research will in particular have applications for Belgium where the role of government in the organization of the Belgian industry is growing but only slowly compared to a country like The Netherlands of the UK.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Nonneman Walter

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Meeusen Wim

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Meeusen Wim

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: van den Broeck Julien

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The goal of the project is to explore new developments in the theory of organizations and of regulation, and to apply them to the specific case of universities.While the project has a strong microeconomic theory component, it also relies on general management, human resource management and organizational sociology perspectives. The focus is twofold: (1) the government is primarily interested in the use, the design and the effects of various funding formulas and regulatory mechanisms; (2) the university itself has also to design its own policy.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Pauwels Wilfried
• Co-promoter: Nonneman Walter
• Co-promoter: Vloeberghs Daniel

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The aim of this project is to examine situations which are characterised by uncertainty, complementarities in actions, and scattered information among agents. Potential applications include initial public offering of stock, currency crises and industrial investment under imperfect competition. In these analyses use will be made of the work of Cooper (1999). Cooper considers key macroeconomic problems (on growth theory, trading costs, synchronisation of activity ...) explicitly as co-ordination games. Doing so he forces economists to rethink classic papers and the role of government. Morris and Shin (2000) present a research path for the future. Specific analyses for the topics from Cooper (1999) could offer very interesting policy descriptions.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Pauwels Wilfried
• Fellow: De Bock Reinout

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The objective of this research is to extend the study about the firms' strategic competitive R&D investment subject to technological and market uncertainties. It will contribute to strengthening both the theoretical and empirical knowledge base in this subject. This implies that optimal R&D behavior is determined while taking into account the rivals' behavior, the possibility of coalition creation, and the difference in size among firms, i.e. The dynamic oligopolistic R&D behavior model must be considered. In the empirical part of the research we aim at the following targets: i) analyze firms' individual R&D investment and innovative production strategies using cross-section and panel data for Belgian enterprises

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Plasmans Joseph
• Co-promoter: Kort Peter
• Co-promoter: Laveren Eddy

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan
• Fellow: Bouckaert Jan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The main objective of this unit is the construction of longitudinal data-sets with regard to the transition from school to work as well as the analysis of and reporting on the results obtained. To this order the unit will design and operate surveys, specifically set up to collect flow data for several birth cohorts at different ages, most notably the special module on the transition from school to work included in the Labour Force Survey.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Coppieters Piet

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Migration raises several important social issues. Does worldwide liberalisation of international trade lead to decreasing migratry pressure? What effects has the economic integration of Central and Eastern Europe into the EU on East-West migration? Does migration lead to diminishing employment opportunities or wages for locals? What are the benefits of migration and for whom? How can the social choice for a stop in the migration be explained? What are the costs and benefits of such a policy? How can integration of immigrants be encouraged in a cost-effective way? In this research project a number of questions will be adressed. The goal of the project is to deepen the knowledge of the determinants and the consequences of migration and to strenghen policy making views. The cetral theme of the project is the study of the causes and cosequences of migration in general, but more specifically thedevelopment of a paradigm on the relation betwaan illegal migration and organised crime

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Nonneman Walter
• Co-promoter: Tharakan Mathew
• Co-promoter: Van de Voorde Eddy

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The objective is to extend Plasmans et al. (1998) and Lukatch en Plasmans (2000) both theoretically ands empirically. Theoretically, by introducing assymetry of firms and by deriving optimal static and dynamic innovation strategies and R&D related policy measures of national governments. Empirically, by performing five types of analyses: (I) present an overview over time of alle EU firms' patent (trademark) applications and patents (trademakks) granted by major patent and trademark offices (European, Japanese and American); (ii) study 'patent-to-patent citations' and 'patent-to-publication citations' as a possible efficient measure for knowledge spillovers; (iii) & (iv) estimation and testing of dynamic panel data models patent (trademark) appications, patents (trademarks) granted and the corresponding patent (trademark) intensities for 22 sectors in core EU countries (sample period 1989-2000); (v) if there are significant knowledge spillovers, the creation of e.g. a Research Joint Venture (RJV) may actually improve social welfare and be at the same time beneficial to the firms involved; we want to perfor a profound comparativeanalysis on the motives for starting RJV's, Joint Research and Development Agreements, Joint Research Pacts, and Research Corporations on the basis of an updated version of the MERIT-CATI database.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Coppieters Piet

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Plasmans Joseph

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project will provide further evidence on the sociale characteristics of the Belgian health care system and contribute to the existing international evidence on three different aspects. 1) Provide factual information about the link between an individual's income and its liability for user charges over time. To which degree has the increase in copayments led to an increased share of medical care in household income over time and what is the impact on poverty? 2) Analyse the current impact of health care payments on households. What individuals are most vulnerable with respect to medical payments? What are the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients having payment problems? 3) Analysis of the (actual) degree of vertical and horizontal equity of the different payment sources for health care in Belgium and international comparison.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Graeve Diana
• Co-promoter: Cantillon Bea

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bouckaert Jan

Research team(s)

• Economics

Project type(s)

• Research Project