On 11th October, 2021, Prof. Manfred M. Fischer was awarded the bronze medal of the Masaryk University in Brno for his contribution to the development of the PhD-programme „Regional Eonomics“ and for the formation of the economic faculty of the universtiy. The award ceremony took place in the course of the 30th-anniversary-conference of this faculty.

Fischer, M.M., Nijkamp, P. (Eds.) (2021): Handbook of Regional Science. Second Edition. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36203-3

The Handbook of Regional Science, edited by Manfred M. Fischer and Peter Nijkamp, is a multi-volume reference work providing state-of-the-art information, prepared by respected scientists in the field. This second edition includes new sections on the history of regional science, and on regional policy. It has been thoroughly updated to reflect new developments, including new chapters on R&D collaboration networks, knowledge spillovers, web-based tools for exploratory spatial data analysis, fuzzy modeling, multivariate spatial process models, heterogeneous coefficient spatial regression panel models, and endogeneity in spatial models, among others. The multi-volume handbook covers the field of regional science comprehensively, including topics such as location and interaction, regional housing and labor markets, regional economic growth, innovation and regional economic development, regional policy in emerging markets, new economic geography and evolutionary economic geography, environmental and natural resources, spatial analysis and geocomputation, as well as spatial statistics and spatial econometrics. The book is intended to serve the needs of graduate students, beginning and experienced scientists in regional science and related fields with an interest in exploring local and regional socio-economic issues.

2318 pp, 238 illustrations available in print, eReference or combined. For more information about the handbook visit Handbook of Regional Science: an Exclusive interview with the editors (2021-01-18)

Fischer, M.M., LeSage, J.P. (2020): Network dependence in multi-indexed data on international trade flows. Journal of Spatial Econometrics.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s43071-020-00005-w

Faced with the problem that conventional multidimensional fixed effects models only focus on unobserved heterogeneity, but ignore any potential cross-sectional dependence due to network interactions, we introduce a model of trade flows between countries over time that allows for network dependence in flows, based on sociocultural connectivity structures. We show that conventional multidimensional fixed effects model specifications exhibit cross-sectional dependence between countries that should be modeled to avoid simultaneity bias. Given that the source of network interaction is unknown, we propose a panel gravity model that examines multiple network interaction structures, using Bayesian model probabilities to determine those most consistent with the sample data. This is accomplished with the use of computationally efficient Markov Chain Monte Carlo estimation methods that produce a Monte Carlo integration estimate of the log-marginal likelihood that can be used for model comparison. Application of the model to a panel of trade flows points to network spillover effects, suggesting the presence of network dependence and biased estimates from conventional trade flow specifications. The most important sources of network dependence were found to be membership in trade organizations, historical colonial ties, common currency, and spatial proximity of countries. (2020-11-02)

Manfred M. Fischer's book "Spatial Data Analysis: Models, Methods and Techniques" (Springer Briefs in Regional Science) which he authored together with Jinfeng Wang in 2011 was also published in Chinese language (Renmin University Press).

The book aims to provide an introduction into spatial data analysis to graduates interested in applied statistical research. Exploratory techniques as well as more formal model-based approaches are presented, and both area data and origin-destination flow data are considered.

Full text of the English edition available via WU library. (2020-09-09)

Em. Univ.Prof. Dr. Manfred M. Fischer has been granted a project by the OeNB anniversary fund entitled "The impact of fiscal policy on the term structure of interest rates within the Eurozone", which will be carried out in cooperation with the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (Univ.Prof. Dr. Florian Huber and colleagues). The project is endowed with a budget of € 198,000 and covers the time frame from November 1st, 2019 to October 31st, 2022. (2019-09-16)

The Nancy and Richard Ruggles Memorial Pirze was awarded to our institute member Franziska Disslbacher for the joint paper with Stefan Angel (WU Wien), Stefan Humer (WU Wien) and Matthias Schnetzer (AK Wien) on "The Drivers of Measurement Error in Survey Income Data".

It was awarded by the International Association for Research on Income and Wealth at the IARIW conference held in Copenhagen in September 2018 and recognizes the outstanding scholarship of researchers aged under 35.

Mathias Moser recently published an adapted version of his paper "Bivariate Jointness Measures in Bayesian Model Averaging" together with coauthors Jesus Crespo, Paul Hofmarcher, Bettina Grün and Stefan Humer.

In this methodological contribution the authors tackle a recent issue in measuring the relationship of explanatory variables in BMA procedures and propose a new indicator which improves on previous approaches.

Read the pre-print version of the article here.

Franziska Disslbacher published an article on the macroeconomic effects of increasing monopoly power. She surveys the recent empirical literature on the topic and complements the new stagnation hypothesis from a political economy perspective.

Link to the journal: http://www.beigewum.at/kurswechsel/jahresprogramm-2018/heft-12018-die-macht-von-unternehmen-im-neoliberalen-kapitalismus/

Jürgen Essletzbichler, Franziska Disslbacher and Mathias Moser published a new paper on the role of regional political economies on the populist vote in Austria, the U.K., and U.S in the Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society.

The paper is available at https://academic.oup.com/cjres/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cjres/rsx025/4821297

Jürgen Essletzbichler joins the editorial board of Review of Regional Research. The journal pursues an interdisciplinary approach and publishes theoretical and empirical research in all fields of regional science. https://link.springer.com/journal/10037

Franziska Disslbacher and Mathias Moser attended this year's Momentum conference - located in midst of the beautiful landscape of Hallstatt, Austria - which targeted the topic "diversity" ("Vielfalt"). A interdisciplinary group of researchers, featuring fields such as economics, socioeconomics, sociology, political economy, together with practioniers came together to discuss recent advances in critical research and lessons learned from hands-on experience.

As a co-organizer of Momentum, Mathias Moser is looking forward to Momentum18: "Class" ("Klasse") from Oct 18-21, 2018 - Save the date!

Petra presented a paper on ´The dynamic impact of macroeconomic aggregates on regional housing prices in the US: Evidence based on factor-augmented vector autoregressions’ at the 57th Congress of the European Regional Science Association in Groningen, The Netherlands. The abstract of this joint research with Florian Huber (Institute for Macroeconomics, WU Vienna) and Manfred M. Fischer (Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience) can be viewed from the 2017 ERSA Congress website (go to "Search" menue).

Jürgen presented a paper on ´The victims of neoliberal globalization and the rise of the populist vote: A comparative analysis of three recent electoral decisions’ at the 10th Annual Conference of the Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society at the University of Cambridge. Presentations can be viewed at http://www.cpes.org.uk/globalisation-in-crisis-conference-presentations/

We are pleased to announce that Mathias Moser joined the Institute as Assistant Professor. Mathias has a PhD in Economics and is affiliated with the Institute of Inequality. He works on the distribution of income and wealth, taxation and tax evasion, and regional inequality and migration. His current research projects examine the regional development of income inequality in Austrian municipalities, the effect of inequality on political participation, and the impact of relative deprivation on inter-municipal migration in Austria. At the Institute Mathias will contribute to the research areas on uneven development and socio-spatial inequality.

European Urban and Regional Studies “provides a forum for dialogue across the different intellectual fields that inform European urban and regional development issues. In addition to exploring the ways in which place, space and scale make a difference to the cultural, economic, social and political map of Europe, European Urban and Regional Studies highlights the connections between theoretical analysis and policy development. The journal conceives Europe in broad terms as a highly variegated regional system shaped by interconnections and dynamics stretching from the local to the global.” https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/journal/eurjoiopean-urban-and-regional-studies#description

The Institute of Economic Geography and GIScience congratulates Emer. o.Univ.-Professor Dr. Manfred M. Fischer for topping, once again, the publication ranking of Economic Geographers in German speaking countries. These rankings are carried out by the Institute of Economic and Cultural Geography at the Leibniz Universität Hannover since 2006. Manfred has occupied the top spot in every year since the rankings´ first appearance spearheading a new generation of economic geographers who have transcended the narrow confines of German speaking geography and published their work in international, highly ranked journals. Detailed information on the ranking exercise can be found at https://www.wigeo.uni-hannover.de/zitart.html

The Stephan-Koren-Prize is awarded for an outstanding PhD thesis by a jury of WU University Professors. Philipp received the prize for his thesis on „Model Uncertainty in Spatial Growth Regressions“  supervised by Professor Dr. Manfred M. Fischer. Phillipp now works for the Austrian institute of Economic Research but maintains his ties to Economic Geography as external lecturer on our course in Spatial Economics.

The Institute congratulates Philipp for this outstanding achievement!

The Institute is delighted that Franziska Disslbacher has joined our team as research and teaching associate. Franziska has an MSc in Economics and is affiliated with the Institute of Inequality where she worked on “Inequality in regions of the U.S.” and where she completed her MSc thesis “Joint Inequality in Income and Wealth in Euro Area Countries. An Empirical Assessment based on Copula Functions". Franziska also co-published on pluralism in economics, work-sharing for a sustainable economy, and Austria´s political-economic position between Germany and Eastern Europe.  At the Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Franziska will strengthen the research areas on socio-economic inequality and uneven development. 

Jürgen Essletzbichler delivers public lecture of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) at the 9th Geoffrey J.D. Hewings Regional Economics Workshop on 3rd October 2016. The lecture was based on the co-authored paper “The Evolution of Specialization in the EU 15 Knowledge Space”.  

Manfred M. Fischer is Researcher of the Month September 2016

A Life dedicated to research

Congratulations!

Professor Manfred M. Fischer has been awarded the RSAI Founder's Medal,  the highest honour bestowed by the RSAI, in recognition of his lifetime contributions to the field of Regional Science and to the Association. The Award Ceremony had taken place during the opening ceremony of the ERSA Conference at WU on 23 August 2016. Watch out the awarding ceremony at WU-tv. 

Congratulations!

Jürgen Essletzbichler gives keynote on the perceived strengths and weaknesses of Economics Geography at the Young Economic Geographer's meeting in Bern. The keynote was followed by an engaging discussion with an excellent, international group of PhD students from Europe and the U.S., Professor Heike Maier and Dr. Tina Haisch from the University of Bern and Magnus Nilsson from Lund University.

Professor Manfred M. Fischer received the Jean Paelinck Award for Distinguished Lifelong Scholarship in Regional Science Methods, one of the highest honours bestowed by RSAI (Regional Science Association International). The Jean Paelinck Award recognizes and honours the truly outstanding scholarly achievement of a senior and internationally recognized regional scientist in the field of Regional Science Methods and it is awarded with the nomination of five RSAI Fellows, with the selection of the Jury and with the approval by the RSAI Council.