Jun Du

PhD opportunity at The University of Manchester , hosted by Alliance Manchester Business School and fully sponsored by The Productivity Institute . The project is titled “MNE Location Choice and Productive Investment in Middle Powers” and sits at the intersection of International Business , Economic Geography , Industrial Policy , and productivity research. The study examines what drives durable productivity outcomes from foreign investment in middle-power economies, with a focus on multinational enterprise (MNE) location choice , cross-border investment, and firm- and sector-level productivity outcomes. The research programme includes three linked studies: (1) a novel typology of middle-power economies, (2) an analysis of MNE location choices using large firm-level and trade datasets such as Orbis , and (3) a qualitative case study of the UK with comparative international analysis. The project also references strategic sectors such as financial services, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and energy. This is a strong fit for candidates with a background in economics , international business , or a related field, especially those with strong quantitative skills and an interest in productivity, foreign direct investment, and industrial strategy. The post states that both UK and international students are eligible. The studentship is described as fully funded / fully sponsored and starts in October 2026 . For formal applications and informal enquiries, use the linked application page and project information page provided in the post.