Francis Ostermeijer, PhD
College of Arts and Sciences
Assistant Professor of Economics
Biography
Dr. Francis Ostermeijer is an applied economist specialising in spatial, transport, and urban economics. He holds a PhD and an MSc in Economics from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, an MSc from Erasmus University Rotterdam, and a BSc from Tilburg University. His research applies econometric methods to examine how vehicles impact land use, safety, environmental outcomes, and public policy. He is currently focused on the economic and policy challenges of the transition to electric vehicles, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, labour markets, and environmental impact. His work has been published in leading academic journals, including the Journal of Urban Economics, European Economic Review, and Journal of Economic Geography.
Beyond academia, Francis has advised governmental and private-sector clients across Europe and the Middle East on issues including infrastructure, transport, competition, health, and housing. He is deeply committed to improving economics education and has actively promoted and implemented more applied, practice-oriented teaching approaches. His diverse experience across academia, industry, and education bridges theory and practice, supporting VinUni’s mission to deliver impactful, globally relevant education and research.
Francis’ research lies at the intersection of spatial, transport, and urban economics, with an emphasis on applying econometric methods to evaluate the causal impacts. His research interests include:
• Applied Econometrics
• Transport Economics
• Urban Economics
• Environmental Economics
• Development Economics
• Growth and Productivity
• Real Estate Economics
Francis is committed to making economics education practical, engaging, and relevant by using hands-on, experiential methods where students apply economic concepts and tools to real-world problems. His teaching interests include:
• Applied Econometrics
• Transport Economics
• Real Estate Economics
• Microeconomics
• Development Economics
1. Ostermeijer, F., Koster, H. R., Nunes, L., & van Ommeren, J. (2022). Citywide parking policy and traffic: Evidence from Amsterdam. Journal of Urban Economics, 128, 103418.
2. Ostermeijer, F., Koster, H. R., Van Ommeren, J., & Nielsen, V. M. (2022). Automobiles and urban density. Journal of Economic Geography, 22(5), 1073-1095.
3. Brands, D., Klingen, J., & Ostermeijer, F. (2022). Hands on the wheel, eyes on the phone: The effect of smartphone usage fees on road safety. European Economic Review, 146(C).
4. Ostermeijer, F., Koster, H. R., & van Ommeren, J. (2019). Residential parking costs and car ownership: Implications for parking policy and automated vehicles. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 77, 276-288.
• 2021: PhD in Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• 2016: MSc in Spatial, Transport, and Environmental Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• 2016: MSc in International Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam
• 2014: BSc in Economics, Tilburg University
