purdue university, west lafayette, usa — the department of agricultural economics at Purdue University is one of the largest and most distinguished in the world. It has approximately 50 full-time faculty, 40 support staff, and about 85 graduate students. Its activities cover major fields in applied economics, including the analysis of agricultural production and food markets, urban and regional economics, regional development, international trade, food safety and food security, location and land use, and energy and natural resources.

vu university amsterdam, the netherlands — the department of spatial economics investigates economic problems in which space plays a prominent role. It develops scientific insights and applications from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Approximately 60 faculty, staff and graduate students are involved in both basic research and in nationally or internationally commissioned research. The teaching and research activities focus on space, transportation, and the environment, using a variety of quantitative techniques, including spatial econometrics and meta-analysis.