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About us FEB Research / FEB Graduate School of Economics and Business PhD programme Info prospective PhD candidates Themes

Future Prosperity

To assure future prosperity, it is crucial that economies have the institutions in place to realize their full potential and that production and consumption decisions are made in a sustainable manner. The researchers in this theme are driven to understand how globalization, socio-economic networks, and technological change shape the structure of the economy and thereby the business and economic landscape for firms and people. Globalization and technological change are generally beneficial but create winners and losers, by affecting job opportunities and wages, opportunities for firms to innovate, source and sell abroad, and by raising new challenges for structural transformation in lower-income countries. Healthy competition is crucial for an environment conducive to innovation. Through effective competition policy, we can make sure that market power is kept in check, providing room for new and innovative firms to prosper. This also closely relates to sustainable development. For societal welfare to improve, we need to understand how average living standards change, but also how markets and institutions can foster sustainable forms of consumption and production that avoid negative social and environmental consequences, including inequality, limited social mobility and diminished perspectives for future generations.

Key researchers

Sjoerd Beugelsdijk
Sjoerd Beugelsdijk
Jutta Bolt
Jutta Bolt
Steven Brakman
Steven Brakman
Erik Dietzenbacher
Erik Dietzenbacher
Pedro de Faria
Pedro de Faria
Harry Garretsen
Harry Garretsen
Marco Haan
Marco Haan
Robert Inklaar
Robert Inklaar
Herman de Jong
Herman de Jong
Robert Lensink
Robert Lensink
Bart Los
Bart Los
Adriaan Soetevent
Adriaan Soetevent
Marcel Timmer
Marcel Timmer
Last modified:13 December 2022 1.02 p.m.