Research

In early 1990s the research activity of the Liberální Institut was focused on the macroeconomic issues. The staff dealt with the transformation of Czech society, but also with the analysis and monitoring of the current situation and ongoing trends in other countries that have also suffered from totalitarianism based on centrally planned economies. Later, as the transformation of the society and the economy gradually progressed, more and more attention has been paid to the microeconomic level and to the development of the private sector. This focus on microeconomic issues has been materialized in a number of case studies and policy blueprints.

Selection of completed projects:

Competition Policy of the EU (2005)
Competitionin the Czech heating industry and the cohesion of energy markets (2002)
Railways as an integral part of the transportation market (2002)
The effects of a ban on tobacco products advertising in the Czech Republic (2000)
Competition within the Czech gas industry (1999)
Competition - the way towards an effective production and consumption of electricity (1998)

In 2005 the research agenda was split among the newly established research centers. The goal has been to maintain permanent teams of researchers who not only would work on one-shot projects but who would also analyze selected areas on daily basis and publish op-eds, blog entries as well as scholarly articles thereon.

Our research activities are conducted through six research centers.

Center for Economic Freedom (Jiří Schwarz jr.)
Center for Business Cycle Research (Dan Vořechovský)
Center for Competition (Patrik Paneš)
Center for Public Finances (Miroslav Ševčík)
Center for Environmental Studies (Tereza Šímová)
Center for Social Studies (Pavel Chalupníček)

In addition to these projects, the research activities of the Liberální Institut include fundamental research on the workings of a free, state-less society.

Prague Conference on Political Economy

Prague Conference on Political Economy (PCPE) is an international and interdisciplinary gathering of scholars and supporters (not only) of the Austrian School of Economics and political economy of freedom.

During three days of the conference, participants have an opportunity to participate in lectures and debates focusing on economics, history, philosophy and other humanities, and to discuss these issues with leading theorists in the field, both from Europe and overseas.

This conference, first held in 2005, is an attempt to resurrect the tradition of Austrian economics- and liberty-oriented thinking that thrived in central Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, but sadly disappeared thereafter. By establishing an annual forum for scholars and students to meet and exchange ideas it is hoped to build a solid institutional basis for the advancement of the Austrian research program.

The Conference is taking place in Prague, the capital of Czech Republic. All lectures and proceedings are held at the University of Economics in Prague and at the Liberální institut.

New Perspectives on Political Economy

New Perspectives on Political Economy (NPPE) is a bilingual interdisciplinary peer-reviewed Journal prepared in cooperation with The Faculty of Economics and Public Administration, University of Economics, Prague published since 2005.