Professor for Public Economics/Wellbeing Policy (0.8 FTE)

The Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E.) is expanding its Applied Economics Section. With the appointment of a new Chair in Public Economics/Wellbeing Policy the School wants to invest in strengthening education and research. The chairholder is expected to make an essential contribution to research and education in the field of public economics and wellbeing policy. The chair in Public Economics/Wellbeing Policy focuses on doing research and providing Bachelor's, Master's and postgraduate education on public economics in a broad sense.

In terms of research, the candidate’s profile should preferably have connections to areas such as public choice, economics of wellbeing and happiness. Even though the research focus of the chair needs to be on public economics, connections to other research themes at U.S.E. (future of work, entrepreneurship, sustainable finance, and sustainability and economic development) and to the Utrecht University strategic themes Institutions for Open Societies and/or Pathways to Sustainability are highly appreciated. The chair is also expected to play a key role in the Utrecht University Better Wellbeing Index (BWI) programme.

In terms of teaching expertise, the chair is expected to be knowledgeable of the full domain of public economics. This includes Master's courses such as public choice and welfare, Bachelor's courses such as economics of the public sector, public economics and policy, and courses in the Bachelor's programme in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, such as Economics and Social Justice.

More specifically the tasks and responsibilities of the chair will include:

• performing and encouraging scientific research in the field of public economics within a multidisciplinary setting;
• supervision of PhD theses;
• contribution to a flourishing research climate, by stimulating and supervising multidisciplinary research;
• contribution to the financial sustainability of the chair and its education, research and impact activities, with attracting external funding;
• engaging in collaborative research with various institutes and organisations in the hub activities in the research theme Institutions for Open Societies;
• participation in, and develop education in the U.S.E. Bachelor's and Master's programmes;
• coordinate and develop impact and valorisation activities related to Utrecht University in general, and the LEG faculty and research theme Institutions for Open Societies in particular.