Measuring the potential economic impact of the Einstein Telescope project for Flanders. (ongoing)
The Einstein Telescope is an ambitious innovative European science project includes a large underground infrastructure to detect gravitational waves, and will be built deep underground in an equilateral triangle with each side measuring 10km. One of the potential locations is near the border of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and these countries have jointly submitted a bid to host the infrastructure on their territory.
Together with Oscar Lemmers (UHasselt & Statistics Netherlands), we have the opportunity to work on this project led by Econopolis to assist the Research Foundation Flanders - FWO in its assessment of the potential economic benefits. Using multi-country, input-output analysis, we developed a new methodology incorporating insights from experts on the role of new technology development in constructing and operating the ET infrastructure in Flanders and abroad. The final outcome of the model comprises calculating (direct, indirect and induced) employment and output multipliers. The conceptual form of this model, in a scheme, can be found here.
FWO granting our research project (2023-2026) (with Bart Leten) on crime and organizations. The goal of the project is to investigate which firms employ individuals with a criminal background and how the employment of such individuals in both leadership and the workforce affects strategic decisions and firm performance. The Research Foundation Flanders - FWO compiled our research in a nice video.
The economic impact of Ford Genk’s closure (in Dutch), with L. Peeters, Over.werk. Tijdschrift van het Steunpunt WSE, 23(2), pp. 76-83. Leuven: Steunpunt Werk en Sociale Economie, 2013.
We studied the economic impact of the closure of the Ford's Genk assembly plant and local suppliers for the Limburg region. We calculated that around 11000 jobs risk being lost as a result of the closure . This figure comprises (in the province of Limburg) around 4000 jobs with Ford, around 3000 jobs with suppliers and 1000 jobs as a result of falling consumption, and (in Flanders) 3000 jobs with suppliers. Our study was cited in the European Parliament in its Cars 2020 action plan, where the Commission announced that resources from the ESF could be used in support of the suppliers who might need additional time to find new clients following a closure/downsizing of an automotive plant. At the province level, it also announced a launch of a SALK action plan ("Strategisch Actieplan Limburg in het Kwadraat") where we concluded that in additon to creating jobs in 'new' sectors (biotech/medtech, ICT, innovative healthcare, etc.), attention must also be paid to strengthening 'traditional' sectors (manufacturing, logistics and transport, build, ...).
SALKturbo-analyse van economisch Limburg
Took part of a steering group (UHasselt, POM Limburg and VDAB Limburg) of SALKturbo action plan financed by the provincial government where we provided an analysis of the evolution of the Limburg economy in recent year. In the link above you see our Dean Prof. Piet Pauwels explaining this analysis in a webinar.
POM, Province Limburg: Labor market dynamics, productivity and internationalization
This (2022) study aims to map a number of important trends in developments on the labor market in Limburg compared to the other provinces and the Flemish Region as a whole - by means of a number of non-traditional indicators of labor market dynamics (e.g. churning, mobility)– with an emphasis on movements. The results of this study can be useful for policy substantiation and the formulation of concrete action plans.