Government measures to contain economic fallout from the Covid-19 crisis: A comparative study across the United Kingdom and European Union

MPhil/PhD Scholarship
Ref: VCS-FBUS-01-20
Faculty of Business, Greenwich Campus

This PhD project will investigate two broad questions:
1. How did European policymakers converge on a more-or-less uniform policy of domestic economic shutdown, coupled with a more varied set of wage subsidies and direct controls on industries?

2. What were the short-term economic effects of these policy packages, and how did they differ across different countries?

The first question could be approached by means of semi-structured interviews with policymakers and policy economists, using a snowball sampling technique. The second question could be approached by cross-country statistical analysis using high frequency economic indicators.

The project will also consider the role of structural factors such as gender relations, unionisation rates, and informal and casual employment practices in shaping both the choice and effects of different policy packages across European countries. For example, the student might assess why certain countries imposed restrictions on worker lay-offs alongside firm-level subsidies while other countries did not, and analyse the socio-economic consequences of these decisions.

The project will be supervised by Dr Robert Calvert Jump, Professor Ozlem Onaran, and Dr Alexander Guschanski.

For further information please contact the supervisor: Robert Calvert Jump, [Email Address Removed]

Bursary available (subject to satisfactory performance):
Year 1: £15,285
Year 2: In line with UKRI rate
Year 3: In line with UKRI rate

The successful candidate will receive a contribution to tuition fees equivalent to the university’s Home/EU rate, currently £4,407, for the duration of their scholarship. International applicants will need to pay the remainder tuition fee, currently £10,593, for the duration of their scholarship. This fee is subject to an annual increase. Scholarships are available for three years, full-time study from the date scholars first register as an MPhil/PhD student with the university. Applicants must meet the programme entry requirements.

For additional information about the scholarship please go to: https://www.gre.ac.uk/research/study/research-studentships-and-scholarships

How to apply
Please read this information before making an application. Applications need to be made online via https://www.gre.ac.uk/research/study/apply/application-process. No other form of application will be considered.

All applications must include the following information. Applications not containing these documents will not be considered:
• Scholarship Reference Number (Ref) – included in the personal statement section together with your personal statement as to why you are applying
• a research proposal *
• a CV including 2 referees *
• academic qualification certificates/transcripts and IELTs/English Language certificate if you are an international applicant or if English is not your first language or you are from a country where English is not the majority spoken language as defined by the UK Border Agency *

*upload to the qualification section of the application form. Attachments need to be in PDF format.

The closing date for applications is midnight (UTC) on 19th October 2020.
The scholarship must commence before 31st December 2020.