1 PhD position on Corporate Control in Contemporary Global Capitalism in Netherlands | University of Amsterdam (UvA)

CORPNET seeks to do what has so far eluded existing scholarship: to fully explore the global network of corporate ownership and control as a complex system. Using cutting-edge network science methods, the project explores for the first time the largest database on ownership and control covering over 100 million firms. Exploiting the longitudinal richness of the new data in combination with state-of-the-art methods and techniques makes it possible to model and empirically test generating mechanisms that drive network formation.

PhD Project: Corporate Control in Contemporary Global Capitalism

This project engages in a fundamental discussion on the relationship between corporate control, ownership and corporate power. In a world of dispersed and fragmented ownership, corporate directors and managers are the more powerful actors. In a world of (re)concentrated ownership however, directors lose power and influence. The question, then, is the extent to which new concentrated owners such as states and large asset managers, and the corporate elite of directors are separable entities. This is an important question with regard to financial intermediaries and for venture capital, but also for the re-emergence of the state as corporate owner in the global economy. Where and how do the network ties of ownership and of managerial control reinforce each other? Are ownership ties an additional tool for the corporate elite to strengthen their grip on big business? Or can we discern opposing groups of corporate managers and directors on the one hand and the (new) owners of corporate capital on the other?

Tasks:

The successful candidate will be expected to have a high level of competence and motivation to undertake the following tasks:

• complete and defend a PhD thesis within the official appoint- ment duration of four years;
• develop a theoretical framework to study corporate power in a globalised world;
• carry out original empirical research through quantitative and qualitative (network) methods on global corporate governance and corporate power under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and/or other senior team members;
• contribute (as a co-author) to the writing up of research papers to be submitted to high-quality and high-impact peer reviewed journals;
• regularly present intermediate research results at international workshops and conferences, and publish them in proceedings and journals;
• participate in the organisation of research activities and events such as conferences, workshops and joint publications;
• (limited) teaching activities.

Requirements

Ideal candidates:

• have obtained a (research) masters degree with excellent grades in a relevant field, such as political science, organizational studies, socio-economics, sociology, business administration;
• have a thorough social scientific understanding of corporate governance and its differences across the globe;
• are able to demonstrate significant empirical research skills that are relevant to the project;
• have affinity with large-scale network analysis and network science;
• are persons with initiative, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work in a team as well as independently;
• have well-developed analytical skills, creativity, precision, and perseverance;
• have a sincere interest in working in a multi-disciplinary research team;
• possess excellent academic writing and presentation skills; mastery of both written and spoken English;
• have the ability to contribute to academic papers to be submitted to peer-reviewed journals;
• have experience with the broad field of corporate power / corporate governance research;
• strong interest in a scientific career.

Conditions of employment

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period of 3 or 4 years for 38 hours per week. In the first instance, a contract will be given for 12 months; if positively evaluated, the contract will be extended for another 24 and possibly up to 36 months. On the basis of a full-time appointment, the gross monthly salary will be €2,174 during the first year, rising to €2,779 during an eventual fourth year, excl. 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end of year bonus.