[P2P-F] Funded full time PhD on local currencies

[Kevin Flanagan]

Greetings

Here is info on a fully funded full time PhD on local currencies in
stunning Cumbria, supervised by MOOC coauthor Prof Jem Bendell

Please forward this info on to anyone you think may be interested, or any
relevant mailing list. The closing date: midnight 14 January 2018
https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/research/funded-phd-opportunities/

The Lake District Pound (LD£) initiative is the context within which the
research project will be carried out. This is an innovation in local
currency that builds on the prior work and positive outcomes of other
complimentary currency initiatives in the UK and globally. The LD£ will
operate alongside sovereign Sterling currency with a more direct purpose to
support the local rural economy.
This initiative will utilise a range of innovative methods to adapt and
extend the idea of a ‘currency with a purpose’ to a rural context with a
unique demographic including for the first time a National Park. A core aim
of the initiative is to shift visitor spending from using large external
businesses (e.g. online retailers and travel companies, remote delivery
services, etc.) towards local companies and communities. The anticipated
impact is to retain more wealth in the region to fund social and
environmental projects and through the local focus and supply chains
deliver measureable environmental benefits.
The LD£ initiative has a number of short and long-term aims, which will be
greatly enabled through this research project. The aim of the research
project is to provide a foundation and framework for measuring the success
of the local currency initiative and from that measure, to identify optimum
practice and future direction to improve such local currency initiatives.
No prior research data exists from any local currency project to describe
or quantify the benefits of local currency schemes on the local economy.
The New Economics Foundation (NEF) has some data on the benefits of local
purchasing via the Multiplier Effect, but has no substantive data from any
initiative. In the US, the AMIBA has some impressive quantified data on
local spending impact, but this relates to a different culture of use and
is not related to local spending impact of a local currency initiative.
Most significantly for the LD£ initiative, no data exists to measure the
impact of local spending in a rural context or where communities are
adversely impacted through a substantial tourist influx.

Desired outcomes of the research project include, but are not limited to:
A framework definition for measuring local economic impact from local
spending
Gathering of quantified data defining benefits to local economy through
spending locally
Direction for how to improve money supply, particularly in supply-chains,
to make the most impact and greatest difference to local economy
Quantified data on ecological benefits due to local purchasing
Recommendations for future local currency initiatives

This is an exciting opportunity to work with The Lakes Currency Project
Ltd, a small and dynamic team with a passion for the environment and the
local community. Based in the stunning Lake District National Park, UK you
will help to shape and deliver this research project in partnership between
the University of Cumbria and The Lakes Currency Project Ltd.

The Business
The Lakes Currency Project Ltd is the organisation behind the introduction
and support of the ‘Lake District Pound’. It is incorporated as a private
entity following the guidelines of a Community Interest Company to drive
the LD£ initiative as a commercially sustainable project. The generation of
revenue from the initiative will be directed in joint partnership with the
Lake District Foundation to support vital sustainability projects in and
around the National Park, and the Cumbria Community Foundation to support
critical projects to help the poorer local communities.
Their long-term aim is to develop an element of autonomy and economic
resilience within the Lake District and surrounding communities in response
to the continually increasing impact of global tourism that often serves to
impoverish rural areas.
The initiative has a number of mutually reinforcing objectives:
to support local independent business by increasing customer numbers
through the marketing of the currency
to create awareness of how a community benefits when people ‘buy local’
to create a memorable experience for visitors to the Lake District National
Park through engagement with the currency and associated activities
to enhance the sense of identity of the Lake District and surrounding area
to generate a profit to be invested back into the Lake District and
surrounding area in support of environmental and social needs
http://www.lakedistrictpound.com/

Benefits
This is a fully funded home/EU PhD supported by the ERDF funded
Eco-innovation Cumbria project www.cumbria.ac.uk/eco led by the University
of Cumbria. The University is committed to providing excellence in academic
practice together with a supportive and stimulating environment in which to
conduct your studies.
Full-time PhD – annual tax-free stipend of £15,000 p.a. for 3 years
Tuition fees paid for by the industry sponsor (Home/EU fee)
Become part of a cohort of student researchers working on industry-led
projects in eco-innovation.

Application process
https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/research/prospective-students
To apply please visit the website for details of the entry requirements
which must be met and to access the application form. Under the Research
Proposal section of the form please summarise your approach to the proposed
project outlined in this advert under the following headings: General
Overview of Area, Identification of the Relevant Literature, Key Research
Questions, Methodology, Timescale/Research Planning
Please include a covering letter telling us why you want to study for a
PhD, what interests you about this project and highlight the skills and
experience you will bring.
For any queries relating to admissions please contact Research Student
Admissions rsa at cumbria.ac.uk
If you wish to find out more about the project in the first instance please
contact: Ken Royall, Chief Executive, The Lakes Currency Project Ltd.
ken at lakedistrictpound.com or Dr David Murphy, Institute for Leadership and
Sustainability, University of Cumbria david.murphy at cumbria.ac.uk or
Closing date: midnight 14 January 2018
Interviews to be conducted 8 February 2018 in Ambleside, Cumbria.
Candidates will be required to give a short presentation on their approach
to the research proposal (arrangements could be made to do this by video
conference).
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