Within the ISAAC project the department is responsible for the development of a decision support framework with regard to ICT and cultural heritage. Furthermore, the department is involved in the analysis of economic impacts from such investments.

The Department of Spatial Economics is engaged in the research of economic problems in which space plays a prominent role. The Department of Spatial Economics offers insights and applications from a multi-disciplinary perspective.
The department has the disposal of two specialized research centers: a GIS-laboratory and MASTER-point, the latter specialized in Meta-analytical research. Furthermore, the department operates in close cooperation with Amsterdam Institute for Business and Economic Research (AMBER).
The 60 staff members are involved in both fundamental research as well as in national and international commissioned research. Among the contractors are various governmental institutions (European Commission, Dutch Ministries, and regional and local authorities), financial institutions (World Bank, ING-Bank) and transport organizations (Dutch National Railway Company).
With this research, the department has gained national and international recognition, as shown by the large number of international publications and awards, the appearance of different staff members as experts in the media.

Ron Vreeker
E-mail: rvreeker@feweb.vu.nl