CERGE-EI

This year, CERGE-EI marks 35 years of ideas that matter. ✨

Since its founding in 1991, CERGE-EI has brought together students, faculty, researchers, alumni, partners, and supporters around a shared commitment to economic research, graduate education, and public impact.

Our 35th Anniversary Gala will be a moment to celebrate this community, reflect on the journey so far, and look ahead to the ideas, questions, and collaborations still to come. 🎉🥂

On 28 May 2026, Nobel laureate Professor Philippe Aghion received an honorary doctorate from Charles University in recognition of his outstanding contribution to modern economics, particularly to the study of growth, innovation, competition, institutions, and creative destruction.

Later the same day, Professor Aghion joined us at CERGE-EI for a public lecture titled The Power of Creative Destruction: Rethinking Capitalism, held as part of our Distinguished Speakers Series and 35th anniversary celebrations.

In his lecture, he discussed how innovation drives long-term economic growth, while also addressing key challenges linked to artificial intelligence, inequality, market concentration, education, and public policy.

Professor Aghion emphasized that artificial intelligence has enormous growth potential, but that realizing this potential depends on competition, education, and public policies, such as Denmark’s flexicurity model, that help societies adapt. He identified the lack of competition as one of the greatest risks associated with AI.

As one way to support innovation in Europe, which is falling behind the United States in this area, he underlined the need for long-term financial support for basic research.

We were honored to welcome Professor Aghion, a member of the CERGE-EI Executive and Supervisory Committee, and to celebrate his long-standing connection to our institution.

Graduation at CERGE-EI 🎓✨

Congratulations to the newest PhD and MA in Economics graduates from CERGE-EI! We are proud of your achievements and cannot wait to see where your paths lead next. 🌍

Opening remarks by Marek Kapička, Director of CERGE-EI, H.E. Nicholas Merrick, United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Jan Švejnar, Chairman of the CERGE-EI Executive and Supervisory Committee, and CERGE-EI alumna Eva Hromádková from the Czech National Bank reflected on the graduates’ journeys in uncertain times and the responsibilities they now carry.

As our PhD graduate Theodor Kouro put it: “A PhD does not mean we now have answers. If anything, we now have better questions.” 💬

Once again, warm congratulations to all our graduates! You will always be welcome at CERGE-EI. 👏🎉

What is creative destruction?

Innovation creates progress, but it also creates disruption.

This tension is at the heart of 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧’𝐬 work on creative destruction — the idea that economic growth comes from new technologies, firms, and business models replacing older ones.

At CERGE-EI’s 35th anniversary Distinguished Speakers Series, Professor Aghion will discuss what this means for capitalism, inequality, competition, and AI.

Watch Philippe Aghion’s lecture at CERGE-EI YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CergeEiPrague

Research Mobility - Winnie Njoroge at UC Berkeley

Winnie joined seminars, Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) meetings, development economics classes, and discussions with faculty and students.

Her advice for students planning mobility?

“I would say go with a drafted paper. It gives people something concrete to comment on.” She adds that every conversation moved her forward.

Read the full interview on the CERGE-EI blog 👉 https://blog.cerge-ei.cz/?p=5176.

📢 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦? We are here to assist! Join our webinars for prospective students. Reserve your spot today!

🗓️ June 23, 2026 | 4:00 PM (CET)
🗓️ July 21, 2026 | 4:00 PM (CET)

📌 For more information, visit the CERGE-EI website:
👉 https://www.cerge-ei.cz/for-study-applicants/2026-06-23/webinar-for-applicants-2

👉 https://www.cerge-ei.cz/for-study-applicants/2026-07-21/webinar-for-applicants-3

Connect with our friendly Study Affairs team for personalized guidance on programs, curriculum, and the admissions process.

🌍📈 Globally competitive, nationally unmatched: Charles University Economics & Econometrics ranks in the top quarter of elite institutions worldwide. 🎓✨

Economics and Econometrics at Charles University is ranked among the top 25.3% of 699 schools globally.

For ambitious students ready to pursue advanced research in economics, the PhD in Economics at CERGE-EI offers the opportunity to study in an internationally recognized academic environment connected to Czech excellence and global standards.

🔎 Explore the PhD program: https://www.cerge-ei.cz/phd-in-economics/

🎓 Congratulations to our recent PhD graduate, Theodor Kouro!

Theodor successfully defended his dissertation "Essays in Experimental Economics" in March 2026. He is now passionately experimenting with his own life post-PhD.

We wish him success in his journey! 🌍

🎓 Congratulations to our recent PhD graduate, Sona Badalyan!

Her academic path began during her master’s studies at Central European University and continued through collaborations and research visits at institutions including the Institute for Employment Research in Germany, the University of Chicago, and the Dutch National Bank.

Sona has recently joined the University of Bonn, Institute for Applied Microeconomics, as a postdoctoral researcher.

We wish her continued success in her academic journey! 🌍