The following ESRC funded CASE studentship is available.
University of Birmingham
School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences with the Birmingham Business School
ESRC COLLABORATIVE (CASE) PhD STUDENTSHIP (2010-2013) with Community Development Finance Institutions (West Midlands)
Title: Alternative ‘Social’ Financial Institutions and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: the Social, Economic, and Environmental Impacts of Community Development Finance Institutions
Applications are invited for an ESRC Collaborative (CASE) PhD studentship under the supervision of Professor John Bryson, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Professor Andy Mullineux, Birmingham Business School, in collaboration with Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) located in the West Midlands. The research aims to investigate the social, economic, cultural and financial impacts of CDFI enterprises. CDFIs are alternative financial institutions that function as lenders of last resort providing loan finance to small and medium–sized enterprises (SMEs) unable to obtain loan finance from the mainstream banks. Measuring the social benefits and impacts of a CDFI is a challenging problem. Existing approaches suffer from a number of methodological and conceptual weaknesses including a focus on existing clients and a failure to explore impacts on former and failed clients. The focus on existing clients introduces selection and survivorship bias and current studies may under-estimate the impacts of CDFI lending. Failed and defaulting borrowers need to be explored to assess the social benefits of the loans. A failed business will have created local multipliers, but will also have enhanced the skill sets of the borrowers and may also have ultimately led to the formation of other business ventures.
The studentship consists of an ESRC Maintenance Payment of £13,590, plus £2k from the SSP for 3 years (plus home fees). Preference will be given to applicants who have an ESRC-recognised Research Training Masters level degree (+3 route) and/or relevant research experience and training. Applications must meet ESRC residential eligibility requirements. Applicants should send their CV, letter of application and two references to Gretchel Coldicott (0121 414 6935, email: [log in to unmask]). For further details contact Professor John Bryson ([log in to unmask]; Tel: 0121 414 5549) or Professor Andy Mullineux ([log in to unmask], 0121 414 6642)
Closing Date for Applications is Monday 15th November 2010
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