Dear members of the RSAI,

I hope this email finds you all well.

I am writing you because the RSAI Council met on Nov 11, 2021, and decided to activate three new committees meant to further enhance the diversity of the association, its capability to attract young scholars, and to reach out a broader community.

Following up to the good experience of the election of the RSAI Dissertation award committee, we would like to invite applications from all of you to participate in the activities of these committees. The aims and rules for each of the three committees (Diversity and inclusion; Communication; and Honors) are presented in the attached power point. For each committee, we would like to ask your candidatures to be presented within Nov. 30, 2021 at the latest by submitting a 2-page CV to the address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., specifying for which committee your candidature is meant. A public ballot among RSAI members will then be organized, with the possibility to vote open until Dec. 15, 2021. Winners of these elections will be shortly disclosed and I'll be happy to get in touch with the new committee members, so that they can start working on their duties as of Jan. 1, 2022.

As you may see from the power point, a member from each supranational section (LARSA; NARSC; ERSA; PRSCO) should be elected, and maximum attention to diversity in the composition of these committees should ideally be sought.

We thank you all in advance for your participation and service,

Kind regards,

ISSUE INFORMATION

Free Access

Issue Information

Pages: 1 | First Published:17 November 2021

INTRODUCTION

Free Access

Effects and policies of COVID‐19

Tomaz Ponce Dentinho, Neil Reid

Pages: 2-3 | First Published:17 November 2021

RESEARCH NOTE

Free Access

Modeling region based regimes for COVID‐19 mitigation: An inverse Gompertz approach to coronavirus infections in the USA, New York, and New Jersey

Kingsley E. Haynes, Rajendra Kulkarni

Pages: 4-17 | First Published:24 March 2021

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Free Access

Welfare costs of travel reductions within the United States due to COVID‐19

Hakan Yilmazkuday

Pages: 18-31 | First Published:29 May 2021

Free Access

The impact of COVID‐19 on global value chains: Disruption in nonessential goods production

Joao-Pedro Ferreira, Pedro Ramos, Eduardo Barata, Christa Court, Luís Cruz

Pages: 32-54 | First Published:05 April 2021

Free Access

Impact of Covid‐19 on the convergence of GDP per capita in OECD countries

Vítor João Pereira Domingues Martinho

Pages: 55-72 | First Published:12 May 2021

Free Access

Unraveling spatial patterns of COVID‐19 in Italy: Global forces and local economic drivers

Eleonora Cutrini, Luca Salvati

Pages: 73-108 | First Published:21 August 2021

Open Access

On the link between temperature and regional COVID‐19 severity: Evidence from Italy

Vicente Rios, Lisa Gianmoena

Pages: 109-137 | First Published:06 September 2021

Free Access

Is there a relationship between industrial clusters and the prevalence of COVID‐19 in the provinces of Morocco?

Ilyes Boumahdi, Nouzha Zaoujal, Abdellali Fadlallah

Pages: 138-157 | First Published:24 February 2021

Free Access

The subnational supply chain and the COVID‐19 pandemic: Short‐term impacts on the Brazilian regional economy

Eduardo Rodrigues Sanguinet, Augusto Mussi Alvim, Miguel Atienza, Adelar Fochezatto

Pages: 158-186 | First Published:07 June 2021

Free Access

Vulnerability interactive geographic viewer against COVID‐19 at the block level in Colombia: Analytical tool based on machine learning techniques

Oscar Espinosa, Jhonathan Rodríguez, Adriana Robayo, Lelio Arias, Sandra Moreno, Mariana Ospina, David Insuasti, Juan Oviedo

Pages: 187-197 | First Published:02 September 2021

Cultural and economic discrimination by the Great Leveller

Annie Tubadji, Don J. Webber, Frédéric Boy

Pages: 198-216 | First Published:17 July 2021

Statistics South Africa invites you to join us in celebrating

African Statistics Day 2021

This event raises public awareness on the importance of statistics in all aspects of social and economic life

The event will be hosted virtually on Thursday, 18 November 2021 from 10h00 - 12h00

Venue: Microsoft Teams virtual event

PLEASE CLICK ON BELOW MENTIONED LINK TO GAIN ACCESS TO EVENT

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NjI0MjQwODktN2NjZi00MTJiLTlkYmEtZjQxMmNiNjQ0OTll%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22ca38a9e5-8ce2-41e8-a41e-647c7b50db4a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22d6ad6662-c776-4aad-af37-88a1fd7d3e80%22%7d

With South Africa’s first ever digital census scheduled to go into field from 3 February 2022,
the focus for this event will be on the modernization of data collection systems to enable
more efficient and effective data collection.

Theme: "Modernizing National Statistical Systems to support sociocultural development in Africa"

Keynote speaker:

Dr Fredrick Okwayo - Technical Advisor , Population Data Policy at

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Please RSVP by 13h00 on Wednesday, 17 November 2021

to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Associate Director of the School of Landscape Architecture & Planning and Chair of the Department of Urban & Regional Planning in the UF College of Design, Construction and Planning

Job Description

The University of Florida’s Department of Urban & Regional Planning (URP) seeks a visionary leader and proven educator who is committed to advancing issues of equity, diversity and inclusion to serve as Associate Director of the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning and as Chair of the Department of Urban & Regional Planning.

Our mission is to prepare future practitioners and scholars committed to advancing the efficacy, impact, and knowledge of the discipline of urban and regional planning, to engage in research and scholarship that enhances the understanding and practice of the profession, while addressing societal challenges and serving to the communities of our state, nation and the globe.

We seek applications from candidates who align with our mission, are passionate about working with faculty and students, are committed to research and creative scholarship, are respected researchers and educators, and who operate with the highest levels of ethical standards and integrity.

The position is a twelve-month appointment and is available from July 1st, 2022.

The Department and School

The University of Florida (UF) is a top-tier public, comprehensive, land-grant research institution, currently ranked 5th among all U.S. public universities by U.S. News and World Report. UF is dedicated to achieving and maintaining a culture of educational and research preeminence and the Department of URP within School of Landscape Architecture and Planning shares this drive while continuing to build on a strong tradition of research and teaching excellence, external engagement, and student achievement.

The Department of Urban & Regional Planning benefits from a collaborative environment with the Department of Landscape Architecture (LAE), also housed in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning. The School builds on the synergies of the two disciplines and enjoys fostering rich opportunities for collaboration with scholars and experts in sustainability, environment and design, systems thinking, policy making, and regionalism. The School, created in 2009, benefits from a unique association with other allied design disciplines in the College including Architecture,   Construction Management, Historic Preservation, Interior Design, and Sustainability. The Department’s mission is further supported by interdisciplinary research pursued by integrative research institutes, including the College’s Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER), the Florida Water Institute, and Florida Climate Institute, as well as multiple other Centers within the School and College.

This is a pivotal and exciting moment for the profession and the Department of URP. The Department of URP consists  of a collegial faculty of twelve core, full-time members, as well as faculty affiliated with College research centers and programs. The Department, founded in 1975, was first accredited in 1978 and offers a master’s degree in URP (we are the first and only in the country to include accredited degrees being delivered both fully-online and via a traditional campus-based program), a large STEM designated Ph.D. program, a graduate minor, an undergraduate minor, a combined undergraduate-master’s degree (4+1), a graduate certificate in Urban Analytics and is in the final approval stage of a new Master of Science in Urban Analytics.  Our growing and vibrant faculty are nationally and internationally recognized and are among the most productive in the country consistently attracting significant amounts of research funding every year.

The Associate Director and Chair will be responsible for contributing to the impact, focus and reputation of the Department of URP. As Associate Director and Chair, the position will directly report to the Dean of the College of Design, Construction and Planning, and works closely with the department chairs, faculty and key stakeholders in or affiliated with the Department of URP. As Associate Director, this position will work with the Director of School to create a cohesive vision for the School. It requires a certain type of leadership; someone who is able to lead dynamic new initiatives while developing current strengths within the respective programs; and identify and support focused research engagement and creative scholarship; and is able to cultivate student learning and foster alumni relations while promoting impactful outreach on the campus and in local, state, national and international contexts.

Importantly, the Associate Director and Chair position places a premium on innovation supported through a collegial environment. Openness to diverse ideas as well as openness in decision-making are essential skills for this position. Other leadership qualities include a vision to identify and develop a cutting-edge agenda in research, creative scholarship, teaching and service.  Importantly, the Associate Director and Chair should be able to cultivate shared synergies between landscape architecture and urban & regional planning. He/she also needs to contribute to college- wide planning, fundraising, and engagement at the university level.

Finally, the Associate Director and Chair will also need strong interpersonal skills as an advocate for the Department’s stakeholders, including the professional community and program alumni. Further, it is critical to uphold an academic culture in the Department and School that demonstrates a commitment to diversity and equal opportunities across race, ethnicity and gender. In sum, the Chair sets the vision for the Department and establishes new opportunities while building on existing strengths for the Department and School through shared governance with stakeholders. In addition to administrative responsibilities, the Associate Director and Chair will also be asked to lead by example, create and support a research culture within the Department and School, and is expected to assist with meeting the departmental teaching needs (albeit at a reduced load).

This search is following an aggressive timeline. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Applications will be reviewed beginning November 29th

Job Qualifications Required:

• Ph.D. in urban and regional planning or related field, such as urban studies, city planning, spatial planning, urban geography, etc.
• Distinguished record in teaching, funded research, creative scholarship, and service, sufficient to merit tenure upon hire at the rank of Professor.
• Academic administrative experience including management of budgets, personnel, and curriculum development at undergraduate or graduate levels
• Excellent communication skills
• Understanding of the importance of fundraising and alumni relations
• A demonstrated record of:
  • Advancing the knowledge of urban and regional planning and its evolving role in society and effectively communicating its value within government, industry, and academic sectors
  • Experience with extramural funding for research or funding that supports creative scholarship
  • Commitment to undergraduate and graduate education, including online education, engagement with students, and promotion of student success
  • Commitment to faculty development and mentoring
  • Commitment to advancing issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion

Desired:

• Certification with the American Institute of Certified Planners
• Experience with professional program accreditation at undergraduate and graduate levels
• Experience with online education
• Experience establishing and implementing a strategic plan with clear goals and outcomes
• Experience working with intercollegiate, interdisciplinary, and international partnerships and programs
• Commitment to collaboration across college disciplines, institutes, and centers
• Experience with attracting, developing, and retaining outstanding faculty and staff
• Experience in fundraising and working with donors
• Experience with marketing and communications
• Experience working with advisory boards and maintaining relationships with alumni and industry professionals
• Experience in leading and/or actively participating in the field’s professional and academic organizations

INSTRUCTIONS

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants are required to apply at https://jobs.ufl.edu. To ensure full consideration, the required documents should be submitted by November 29, 2021 when the Search Committee will begin reviewing applications and will continue until the positions are filled. A completed application should include a CV, letter of interest and vision for the department/school, research agenda/portfolio, and names and contact information for a minimum of three references (the references will not be contacted prior to receiving permission from applicants). For additional information, contact Robert Cox, Ph.D., Search Committee Chair (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Final candidate will be required to provide official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff.

The University of Florida is An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352/392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800/955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

The Department of Applied Economics at Oregon State University is seeking to fill two tenure-track faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Professor with a start date of September 2022.  The focus areas for the faculty positions are:  agricultural production including agricultural and food business management; and regional/community economic development.  Both positions afford the opportunity to integrate an extension/outreach emphasis with applied research and teaching and build working relationships with other faculty across campus and across the state.  The positions are addressing a broad range of issues relevant to Oregon’s urban and rural communities and innovative agricultural and food industries and are supported from the Oregon cooperative extension service, the College of Agricultural Sciences  experiment station research, and university teaching resources.

Assistant Professor (tenure-track), Applied Economics.  Focus area:  agricultural economics and agricultural and food economics and business management.  The Department of Applied Economics at Oregon State University seeks to hire a faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor, tenure-track, to engage in extension, outreach and applied scholarship, and teaching with a strong emphasis on food and agribusiness economics and management and/or agricultural production.  Position posting: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/110147.

Assistant Professor (tenure-track) Applied Economics.  Focus area:  Regional and Community Economic Development. The Department of Applied Economics at Oregon State University seeks to hire a faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor, tenure-track, to engage in extension/outreach, research and teaching in the area of regional and community economic development including applied policy analysis .This is a faculty position with significant responsibility in developing an integrated extension and research program to address sustainable development using economic foundations, quantitative methods and data-informed analytics.  Position posting: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/110134. 

Priority consideration:  search committee will review applicants starting December 15, 2021. Full consideration:  submit application materials by January 15, 2022.  Please email search committee chair Susan Capalbo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with position-related questions.

Oregon State University's 2019-23 strategic plan (SP4.0): Transformation, Excellence and Impact articulates the university’s distinctive focus on academic excellence in all aspects of learning, discovery and engagement. Faculty are committed to innovation and collaboration with other faculty and students within their department and across the university.  Outputs and impacts from faculty efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion are included in promotion and tenure dossiers. OSU is also committed to addressing the needs of faculty, including  dual career and spousal accommodations. For further information about our commitments to well-being and healthy work-life opportunities please visit our resource page

The College of Agricultural Sciences is committed to enhancing student success by engaging students in quality academic, research, internships, global studies, and other experiential learning opportunities. Positions with primary responsibility for extension and outreach are likewise committed to learner success through programming appropriate for diverse audience.

Dear RSAI members,

I hope this email finds you well.

I am pleased to write you to send you the newest issue of the RSAI Newsletter (download). This marks another step forward for our association. On the one hand, it lands on your desks while the first in-presence meeting of the North American Regional Science Council in two years is taking place in Denver, Colorado. Moreover, it is also the first issue of the newsletter co-edited by Mina Akhavan, whom the RSAI Council chose to join Martijn Smit in drafting this important vehicle of information for our members. Welcome Mina!

Enjoy the read, and please do not hesitate to get in touch with Martijn (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Mina (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to propose new material for the newsletter.

Kind regards,

Andreas Diemer is chosen as the winner of the RSAI dissertation award in 2021 for his work "Essays in the Spatial Economic Analysis of Social Interactions."

The dissertation develops an interdisciplinary approach to identify the role of social networks in determining economic outcomes of both people and places, and discusses how social and geographical spaces interact to shape the fortunes of individuals and regions, using big data.

The committee found his dissertation to be novel and creative in the research framework, analysis and implications.

He received his Doctorate from London School of Economics, and was supervised by Professor Simona Iammarino and Prof. Michael Storper. Dr. Diemer is now at Swedish Institute for Social Research.

Congratulations!