Ph.D. student Position -MISCEA thesis offer ESR13 – How do energy prices shape the demand for mobility: a retrospective and prospective analysis

Transportation is a critical sector in modern economies, facilitating the movement of people, driving economic growth, and influencing energy consumption patterns. One of the key economic concepts related to transportation is the elasticity of travel demand with respect to energy prices. This elasticity measures to what extent individuals adjust their mobility in response to changes in the prices of energies, primarily fuel and electricity. Mobility here is multidimensional: number of trips, distance travelled, trip purpose, mode of transport used, ownership of a motorized vehicle… Understanding these relationships is essential for policymakers and industry stakeholders, particularly in the context of shifting energy markets, technological advancements, and efforts to mitigate climate change. In France for instance, electric vehicles (EV) have lower operating costs than thermic vehicles due to the relatively low electricity prices in comparison to fuel prices, which suffer from heavy taxation. Therefore, the continuous increase in the size of the EV fleet raises the question of how it will impact the competition with other modes, firstly public transit, and subsequently the use of highways, railways, etc., in the upcoming decades.

Research objectives – This PhD proposal aims to explore the elasticities of demand for mobility with respect to energy prices, both retrospectively (analyzing current and past data) and prospectively (forecasting future trends). The proposed research will seek to (i) measure the energy price elasticities, (ii) identifying key factors that influence elasticities over time, and (iii) investigating forecasts for future elasticities of demand. While other modes of transportation are also of interest, the analysis will put special emphasis on car travel – as the prevailing transportation mode for passenger travel – and on how the upscaling of electric vehicles has impacted and will keep impacting travel demand and its elasticities. Based on the findings, the research will discuss policy implications for energy and transport pricing, transportation infrastructure investments, and environmental transition.

Research methodology – The methodology will be micro-founded and data-driven. Structural models will be built and estimated using state-of-the-art econometric techniques (including the use of AI techniques). The study could rely on historical data from various sources, including national and local transportation statistics, fuel price records, speed and vehicle sales data. Revealed/stated preference surveys could also be used to estimate current or future elasticities. Furthermore, the methodology would ideally distinguish daily (short-distance) mobility from occasional (long-distance) mobility.

Requirements

Research FieldEconomics » Transport economicsEducation LevelMaster Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

econometricsLanguagesENGLISHLevelExcellent

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

Description of the project and the candidates’ eligibity criteria :

This position will be part of the EU-funded project MISCEA, which is an ambitious inter- and multidisciplinary Doctoral Training Network under the Horizon-Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. 

PhD candidates’ can be of any anationality but you have to meet these eligibity criteria :

• Not being a current employee working at ENPC.
• Not having resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in France for more than 12 months during the past 36 months immediately before the deadline of the MISCEA Programme’s call. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
• Holding a Master’s degree (or about to obtain one) or having a University degree equivalent to a European Master’s degree (5-year duration) at the deadline of the MISCEA Programme’s call.
• Researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the co-funded programme’s call. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will NOT be considered eligible.
• Signing a declaration of the veracity of the information provided (Declaration of honour, free of form).

If you comply with the eligibility criteria and you wish to submit your application, you must :

• Contact the thesis supervisor and explain your thesis project to her/him so that she/he validates your application.
• Submit a 5-pages thesis proposal under the proposed research areas, with the agreement of the future supervisor. Additionally, to the submission of the 5-pages thesis proposal, the applicant will have to complete an ethics checklist based on ethics guidance from the HorizonEurope programme guide.
• English-translated transcripts from the master’s degree or equivalent.
• Any specific requirements of the Doctoral School corresponding to the targeted MISCEA
  fellowship offer.
• English curriculum vitae, including information about the level on English language knowledge.
• A motivation letter. 
• One letter of reference, at least.

Templates are available on the MISCEA website (link).

Then your candidature is complete, please send inquiries to miscea-program@enpc.fr

Additional comments

The present offer of a doctoral contract in France is for a period of three years.

Full-Time employment : estimated monthly brut salary : ~2700euros (estimated monthly net salary before income taxes: ~2100euros)