PhD Opportunity: Climate change and globalisation: how important is economic integration in the fight against climate change?

Project summary: The aim of this project is to combine a New Trade Theory model which exhibits increasing returns to scale (and hence gains from global integration and connectedness), with a standard Climate-Economy model, and use this model to answer policy relevant questions about the Climate Transition and the future of the global economy.

Deadline: 31 March 2023

Duration: 36 months full-time

Funding details: Fully-funded scholarship for 3 years covers all university tuition fees (at UK level) and an annual tax-free stipend. International students are also eligible to apply, but they will need to find other funding sources to cover the difference between the home and international tuition fees. Exceptional international candidates may be provided funding for this difference.

Number of places: 1

Eligibility: Candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• A strong performance at master’s level where Economics is the primary focus, with the expected completion date of the master’s degree no later than September 2023, along with at least 2.1 performance, or the equivalent, in a relevant undergraduate degree.
• An interest in applied economics analysis and modelling techniques, including programming skills.
• A demonstrable aptitude to undertake research and develop into an independent researcher.
• Other relevant experience or skills will also be considered so please highlight these in your application.

Project details: This project looks at the intersection of climate change economics and international economics. Climate change is the defining issue of global economic policy for the 21st century. International economics is the study of global trade and economic integration, and New Trade Theory proposes many mechanisms via which gains from trade arise. Gains from trade imply benefits from large integrated economies: interconnections enable productivity, well-being, and the capacity to solve complex problems and deploy resources on a large scale. This boost to society’s capabilities that comes from global economic integration, is part of society’s ability to tackle climate change; and likewise, the impacts of climate change may affect global economic integration.

In this project we seek to explore this interaction. For example, the relationship between international trade and climate change might get into a vicious cycle: economic losses due to climate change might be accompanied by reduced trade. Lower trade volumes, in turn, further reduce economic activity and wealth. As a result, fewer resources to tackle climate change are available, thus further exacerbating climate damages. What is the magnitude of the additional losses from climate change when we consider this vicious cycle (or “multiplier effect”) as compared with standard climate economics which does not consider this mechanism?

Primary supervisor: Dr David Comerford

Contact: david.comerford@strath.ac.uk  

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