Do you want to become a specialist in regional economic development in an international context with a keen eye for the role of policy?
The track in Regional Competitiveness and Trade prepares you for a career in regional economic strategies and research in regional science.
The track, which is part of the Master in Economic Geography and organized in cooperation with the Faculty of Economics and Business, focusses on regional and global competitiveness related to trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Trade and FDI importantly govern the interconnectivity between countries and regions and their subsequent economic development. The ongoing fragmentation of value-chains - an iPad is manufactured all over the globe - leads to increasing trade between countries and a growing global presence of multinational firms.
How do global linkages between regions and countries influence their competitiveness? You will learn the latest theoretical (New Economic Geography) and methodological (Spatial Econometrics) approaches to address the issues of interconnectivity between regions through trade and FDI.
Our graduates are specialists in regional economic development with a keen eye for the role of policy. They are well versed in the latest theoretical and empirical Economic models of regional growth.
If you are interested in following a two-year programme in Economic Geography in two different countries (the Netherlands and Germany), then our Double Degree Master International Programme in Economic Geography is the master programme for you!
If you are looking for a two-year programme and are interested in doing research, you can also integrate the master in Economic Geography with our two-year Research Master in Spatial Sciences.
I chose for the master track Regional Competitiveness and Trade because it offers three economic courses where contemporary economic models are discussed which are used often, especially in regional economics.
For example: how do regional spillovers occur, and how do you measure this? But also more practical examples like what can possibly happen to Groningen if the infrastructure to the Randstad will be improved? Will the region gain, or not? This is the first time I get in touch with these really practical models, which assures me that I am learning skills that I can use in my future career.
Groningen is one of the only universities who offers a programme in Economic Geography. In other universities, the focus is more on human geography. Furthermore, the University of Groningen is unique because it is one of the few universities that have their own faculty for geographers and planners; the Faculty of Spatial Sciences. It’s a rather small faculty, so teachers know you and if you have questions they can help you right away. I think this is a real benefit.
If you are interested in geography, but you’d also like to use economic models, especially for geographers, this is probably the best course you can choose. After graduating, your future options are countless.
- Jan Sander
