Department of Economics, Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) and the Competition and Market Authority are offering a fully funded PhD studentship in Economics.
The Department invites applications for one ESRC CASE PhD studentship.
The post-holder will engage in four-year, full-time, Economics PhD training from October 1, 2025. The successful candidate will need to have knowledge of econometrics methods (panel data and VAR analysis) and economic theory. The candidate will be expected to develop skills and experience in research that uses large and complex datasets – for example, in machine learning methods.
The Economics PhD programme at Lancaster is aimed at high-calibre students who wish to pursue a research career in academia, government, research organisations, international and third-sector organisations, or in consultancy/business. Applicants should normally have or be on track to obtain an MSc degree in Economics, but candidates from wider quantitative backgrounds could be considered.
The Department is an independent self-contained department within LUMS, and LUMS is a world-ranked management school that has a reputation for outstanding research. In the UK’s latest Research Excellence Framework, REF 2021, 90% of our research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent, and we were rated first for Research Power – recognising the breadth and depth of our work.
The quality of our PhD programme is high. Our PhD graduates obtain skills and research experience that reflect and demonstrate our commitment to high-quality research. Many former students have published their research in the most prestigious journals, and they can be found in professional economist roles in quality institutions around the globe—the majority in academic positions.
As our PhD student, you will have access to advanced research training courses offered by the Department and by the ESRC-funded North-West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP). You will enjoy close supervision by a group of well-established and highly qualified faculty members. Specialist training will be sourced externally where appropriate.
Furthermore, you will be expected to participate in many departmental activities such as our internal/external/PhD seminar series, subject-specific reading groups and departmental workshops and conferences. There will be opportunities to present your own work within the research group, and the departmental internal workshops. We strongly encourage and fully fund presentations at national and international levels. There are opportunities to gain training in teaching and teaching experience.
Successful applicants will acquire knowledge and skills in economics through initial coursework and continuing training and a mix of single- and co-authored research papers, enabling them to launch a career, academic or otherwise, in the fields of health economics or family economics.
The ESRC studentship is outlined below. While the project has a broad objective, there is flexibility for the student to diversify the portfolio of activity. We aim to co-design the project details with successful candidates.
Project title:
Market Competition, Firms’ Market Power, and Price Setting
Project supervisors:
- Primary Supervisor: Professor Lorenza Rossi
- Secondary Supervisor: Dr Stefano Fasani
- Partner Institution Supervisor: Dr Jakob Schneebacher
This project will address the following two questions:
- To what extent does the growing market power of large firms influence how unexpected events (known as economic shocks) affect individual businesses and, consequently, the broader UK economy?
- To what extent does a company’s ability to raise prices in response to higher costs depend on factors such as industry competition, overall economic conditions (eg, high or low inflation), and the nature of the event—whether it is driven by changes in demand or supply?
The project aims to identify demand and supply shocks at both the economy-wide and industry levels by exploring how events that impact individual companies influence the broader economy. The ultimate goal is to investigate how changes in costs are reflected in prices by analysing data from various companies and industries during periods of high and low inflation.
How to apply
To apply, please visit: Applying for PhD study in LUMS
Applicants should provide a personal statement outlining their background, suitability, and motivation and mentioning that they are applying for this ESRC-funded post(s).
In addition, please submit a research statement which outlines your research interests - including any ideas that YOU have that may be a good fit for the project. Tell us about any research projects that you might have participated in. In the application portal, please submit this research statement in lieu of a research proposal.
Applicants must also submit: a CV, Academic transcripts (bachelor's and master's), two academic references, and evidence of English language proficiency (if necessary).
Important dates
Application deadline: 20 March 2025
Informal enquiries can be addressed to Professor Lorenza Rossi.
Economics PhD