Master Internship in Environmental Economics – Ex-post analysis of a pesticide regulation
Background and research question:
The intern will be attached to the FOODCoST project. As part of this European project, a team of economists and ecologists at France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), including Toulouse School of Economics (TSE), aims to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of pesticide regulations on biodiversity and the environment, as well as on the food value chain. The objective of the internship is to assess the potential effect of a ban on neonicotinoids (known as ‘bee-killing’ pesticides) on yields and productivity in France, and thereby shed light on the economic costs associated with this regulatory approach at the farm level.
Main objectives of the internship:
The internship will be divided into two parts.
* Data cleaning and analysis: The first part is to analyze confidential French farm accountancy data over the period 2015-2022. From this data, the intern will be able to calculate yields, accounting profit and an index of total factor productivity for each farm and each year.
* Econometric modeling: In the second part, he or she will evaluate the effect of the policy ban on production costs, yields and profit at the farm level using quasi-experimental approaches.
The two parts will draw on the existing work carried out by the researchers involved. This internship is a good opportunity for those seeking first-hand experience in advanced economic methodologies and collaborative research environments!
Candidate profile:
* Education: M1 or M2 in Economics
* Skills: Strong knowledge in Applied Economics/Econometrics and data analysis
* Proficiency in R is required
* Advanced level in English is required (C1 or C2); Advanced level in French is a plus but not required
Funding, and practical details:
* Duration: Full-time internship for 5-6 months, starting from April (start date is flexible)
* The person recruited will be based at Toulouse School of Economics and will work under the scientific direction of Marine Coinon, Sylvain Chabé-Ferret and Céline Bonnet. An office will be provided at TSE in Toulouse. A day trip to Paris will be necessary for access to confidential data (travel-related expenses will nevertheless be covered).
Expected Outputs:
1. Preparation of dataset and descriptive statistical analysis (approx. 2 months)
2. Econometric analysis
Supervisors: Marine Coinon, Céline Bonnet and Sylvain Chabé-Ferret, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE, INRAE)
Contact: Marine Coinon,
Nature of the job : CDD
Contact person : Coinon Marine,
Application deadline : 15/03/2024