Dear
colleagues,
The
LATTS (Laboratoire Techniques, Territoires et Sociétés) research centre of the
Paris-based Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées offers a 3-year
Ph.
D. Grant as
detailed below. Please be kind enough to circulate this email to
potential applicants and any colleagues who may be interested in this research
opportunity. Apologies for any cross-postings.
Ph. D. Grant: LATTS, Ecole
Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (Paris)
(starting October
2007)
The
Financialisation, real estate and
city-regions development:
an
international comparison
Ph. D. supervisor: Dr. Ludovic Halbert, CNRS
researcher at LATTS
Context:
Over the last ten to fifteen
years, large firms have outsourced the management of their office park
encouraging the development of a real estate sector that is becoming more
international, more professional and more financialised. This participates in a
concentration of an increasing amount of capital in large metropolises where
commercial real estate is fast-growing and fast-changing. Global city-regions
are thus becoming the support of a financial geography of which relatively
little is still known today.
Consequently, investments in
commercial real estate (offices, warehouses, etc.) tend to shape the forms and
the modalities of the production of metropolitan spaces. According to market
‘rules’ or in the framework of public-private partnerships, the geography of
international real estate investments needs to be addressed, especially in the
light of the two contemporary debates on i) Sustainable Urban Development and
ii) the Societal Responsibility of Firms (i.e. investment funds).
The project:
The research will analyse the
transformation of metropolitan spaces and the modalities of their production in
the light of the changes happening in the commercial real estate sector, with a
particular interest in on-going financialisation processes. Strategies and
representations of the main actors of the real estate industry will be observed
(promoters, commercial agents, asset managers). The research will be multi-scalar (inter and
intra-city-regions), comparative
(between several metropolises, including the
Profile:
Applicants will have achieved (or
be about to achieve) a social sciences Master's degree in an area such as
planning, geography, economics/finance or sociology. They should be familiar
with qualitative research methodologies (documentary research, interviews),
although a grasp of basic statistics and cartographic tools would also be
positive. There are no restrictions on nationality. The working language will be English,
but knowledge of (or a willingness to learn) basic French will be beneficial. A
solid sense of rigour and a hard-working capacity will help the applicant to
successfully develop an innovative and intellectually demanding research
project. Prior research experience concerning real estate, financialisation,
location strategies of firms, etc. will be looked upon favourably. Applicants
should be willing to work in several city-regions in
Practical
information:
The successful applicant will
receive a fully equipped office within LATTS and full access to library
facilities. The Ph. D. grant amounts to 1 400 euros net per month for
a period of 3 years starting in October 2007 or as soon as possible
thereafter.
For further information and
details of how to apply, please contact Ludovic Halbert ([log in to unmask]). Applications
should be received before
Best
Regards,
Ludovic
Halbert