Job offer

The PhD will be carried out within the EconomiX research unit and within the EOS doctoral school of Paris Nanterre University. Established in 2005 following the merger of four research units of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), EconomiX is a Joint Research Unit (UMR 7235) jointly supervised by the CNRS and Paris Nanterre University. It is affiliated with the Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (INSHS) and falls under the Economics and Management section of the CNRS National Committee. With approximately 180 members, EconomiX is one of France’s leading centers for economic research. Its research activities are organized around three main areas:

• Transitions, Environment, Energy, Institutions, and Territories
• Behavior, Rights, and Well-being
• International Macroeconomics, Finance, Commodities, and Financial Econometrics The doctoral research would be conducted more specifically within the Behavior, Rights, and Well-being research area, to which the PhD candidate will be affiliated.

“Vulnerability to data exchange risks : firm strategies and consumer perceptions “

The doctoral project is part of an inter-institutional research program dedicated to competition in digital markets. It focuses in particular on the cyber risks associated with the increase in data exchanges resulting from the development of advanced digital infrastructures, such as next-generation networks (6G and beyond), as well as the vulnerability of businesses and consumers to these risks.

Context and Scientific Objectives : The development of next-generation networks opens the way to a considerable increase in data exchanges as well as greater heterogeneity among data producers. This evolution creates new opportunities and potential new uses that can both generate value and improve efficiency. However, it also increases the risks of data degradation and/or unauthorized data disclosure. This risk is reinforced by the widespread use of algorithms based on artificial intelligence, since, to fully exploit the potential of AI, algorithms must be fed with data.

This research project will examine these issues by focusing on three main areas:

• Legal liability and risk prevention - to understand how operators define their risk prevention strategies within the context of evolving regulatory frameworks, particularly regarding AI and data.
• Corporate data security strategies - Companies are increasingly required to open up their information systems to leverage the benefits offered by digital networks. However, this openness simultaneously makes them more vulnerable to the risk of data leaks or breaches. The aim is therefore to determine how companies should balance these competing priorities amidst intense corporate competition.
• User perceptions and behavioral responses - to study how users perceive these risks and how these perceptions influence their acceptance of digital products or services.

Methodology : The doctoral research may combine complementary methodological approaches, namely: theoretical models developed in law and economics to analyze liability regimes; theoretical models from industrial organization and game theory; and the analysis of questionnaires and/or the use of experimental economics.

The candidate must hold a Master’s degree demonstrating a very strong background in theoretical modeling (game theory and theoretical models used in industrial organization), digital economics (knowledge of the digital ecosystem and the challenges associated with the digital economy), as well as quantitative methods (econometrics). Knowledge of experimental economics would also be appreciated. The position requires excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present research findings at academic conferences and to write articles intended for publication in peer-reviewed academic journals.

Required application documents: a cover letter, a PhD research proposal, the Master’s thesis, and the academic transcripts for the first and second years of the Master’s program.