Urban Economics
The number of people living in urban environments is increasing rapidly. The mission of the Urban Economics group is to contribute to more resilient cities in terms of social equality, economic advantages and environmental quality. Eveline van Leeuwen and her team has the vision to create just and sustainable societies.
Research
Research of the Urban Economics group concentrates on the economic behaviour, institutions, and the incentives that can contribute to more sustainable urban consumption and healthy lifestyles. We focus on the role and participation of consumers and households, municipal authorities and institutions, firms and NGO’s and the interactions between them. By applying a behavioural economics approach, behaviour regarding judgment, choice and social decision-making is studied, taking into account subjective factors, context and (expected) consequences of behaviour.
Education
Education by Urban Economics
UEC teaches a wide variety of courses, participating in multiple bachelor and master courses. We supervise both BSc and MSc theses for various study programmes. Focusing for example on health, green, and inclusive cities and environmental and social sustainability.
Publications & Projects
We use insights from general-, urban- and behavioural economics to improve the understanding of consumer and household decision making. Looking at sustainability, health and well-being and the impacts at the individual, urban and regional level. We study the link between place, behaviour and environment, both inside the city and between urban and rural areas.
Highlighted projects
Highlighted publications
- Cities in the loop: A social science perspective on the role of cities in food system circularity
- Cultural ecosystem services of informal green spaces: usage, perception and preference of residents in deprived urban neighbourhoods
- Geographies of anti-political establishment parties in the Netherlands: The role of broader welfare and local representation
Chair Holder
Eveline van Leeuwen is affiliated to Wageningen University as professor and chairholder of the Urban Economics group. Eveline has a broad interest in economic and social interactions between places at the regional and urban level and how these interactions impact wellbeing/happiness; economic activities and participation. Currently, Eveline and her group are working on how social and physical neighbourhood characteristics contribute to individual level decisions.
prof.dr.ir. ES (Eveline) van Leeuwen
Professor / Chairholder
People of Urban Economics
Each chair group of Wageningen University & Research, under leadership of a professor, has its own area of expertise. Meet the people of Urban Economics
