Full-time postdoctoral researcher in economics or related social sciences at CERDI to explore the role of economic inequality in the preparedness behaviors of populations exposed to disaster risk

The position. We are hiring a full-time postdoctoral researcher (duration: 12 months; starting date: September 1, 2024) to take a leading role in our project “Economic inequality and preparedness behaviors in the face of disaster risk” (INEG_RISQUE) for which we received funding from the International Research Centre of Disaster Science and Sustainable Development (I-SITE CAP 20-25; https://cap2025.fr/). This project will be coordinated by Florent Bresson (Associate Professor in Economics, CERDI (CNRS, Université Clermont Auvergne & IRD; https://cerdi.uca.fr)) and Alice Normand (Professor of Social Psychology, LAPSCO (CNRS & University Clermont Auvergne; https://www.lapsco.fr/)).

The contract. The postdoctoral researcher will benefit from a 12-month contract, preferably starting September 1, 2024. The funding also includes a €5,000 research allowance. The gross annual salary is €31,500-34,000 depending on experience and includes a benefits package (health insurance plus retirement and unemployment benefits).

The project. The “INEG_RISQUE” project aims to carry out an in-depth analysis of the role of economic inequalities, at both national and local levels, in risk perception, confidence in risk management actors, and the level of preparedness and resilience of populations in the face of natural disasters. Drawing on the expertise of two research laboratories in economics (CERDI) and psychology (LAPSCO), the first part of the project involves an in-depth exploration of major international databases to identify factors of interest. This phase’s novelty lies in using a variety of income distribution indicators. Beyond the commonly used Gini coefficient and other known inequality indicators, the study will also consider polarization, which reflects the concentration of income at the extremes of the economic spectrum accompanied by a shrinking middle class (Wolfson, 1994, Esteban & Ray, 1994; Permanyer, 2018), with the help of bipolarization indices (e.g. Bresson, Kozny, & Yalonetzky, 2023). The second part of the project (2nd year) adopts a confirmatory approach and plans to carry out agent-based numerical simulations based on the findings from the first part of the project.

Your role. The postdoctoral researcher recruited will take part in the development of the first part of the INEG_RISQUE project. Task 1 will be to collect and consolidate several international databases integrating information on natural catastrophic events (e.g., the Emergency Events Database (EMDAT) from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, https://www.emdat.be/), socio-economic factors (e.g., World Bank datasets, notably from the Poverty and Inequality Platform (https://pip.worldbank.org/home) and its Statistics On Line (SOL) tool), cultural and psychological factors (e.g., the World Risk Poll from Lloyd’s Register Foundation, https://wrp.lrfoundation.org.uk/data-resources). Once identified and acquired, the databases will be consolidated as far as possible into a single, unified database. Task 2 will involve conducting analyses on the database created in order to assess the relationships between the level of economic inequality in a given country or locality and various outcomes linked to risk perception, confidence in the information provided by decision-makers or risk management bodies, and the level of preparedness and resilience in the face of natural disasters. The postdoc will be expected to publish the research findings in international generalist peer-reviewed journals in economics or psychological and behavioral sciences, as well as interdisciplinary journals of disaster science. The postdoc is also expected to present the results at major conferences. The results will also be disseminated to researchers from both laboratories involved and to the International Research Centre of Disaster Science and Sustainable Development (UCA).

The ideal candidate. The ideal candidate holds a PhD in economics with a strong background in data analysis, excellent written and spoken communication skills (in English), a strong interest in disaster events. The ideal candidate is also expected to be very well-trained in R and Stata and to be familiar with distributional issues. Finally, the ideal candidate is also enthusiastic about interdisciplinary collaborations within the large spectrum of Disaster Science.

Our lab. The CERDI is a research center on international development established in 1976. At that time, it was the first joint unit between the CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research) and a French university dedicated to development economics. The CERDI gathers around 35 scholars from the CNRS, the IRD (French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development), and faculty from the Université Clermont Auvergne. Our economists are working on the macroeconomic and microeconomic aspects of economic development. The publications and expertise of the members of the CERDI cover all the aspects of economic development: the engines of growth along with the social, economic, and environmental consequences of development. Key research areas are i) sustainable development paths, ii) development financing, and iii) the integration of developing economies into the world economy. The successful applicant will be based in and have access to all research facilities of the CERDI, including its technical support and funding schemes. Additional funds can be solicited. While no teaching duties are attached to the position, postdoctoral research associates may participate in the teaching program if mutually agreed.

Clermont-Ferrand. Clermont-Ferrand is a medium-sized French city located in an exceptional natural environment, the Regional Natural Park of Auvergne Volcanoes (https://www.auvergnedestination-volcans.com/), and with an excellent quality of life.

How to apply? The call is open until April 15, 2024. Applicants must submit their application to https://api.dsi.uca.fr/paybag/registration/form/event/INEG-RISQUE.
The application should include i) the job market paper ; ii) a CV; iii) the name of two referees (with contact details). The selected candidates will be invited to an online interview.

Equal opportunities. Applications from under-represented group members are very welcome. Applications will be judged on merit only.

Any questions? Feel free to write to florent.bresson [at] uca.fr and alice.normand [at] uca.fr.