FIR and FIS Representatives Presented Their Research at the CNB Research Connect 2026 Conference
Academics from the Faculty of International Relations and the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics at VŠE participated in the prestigious Research Connect 2026 conference organized by the Czech National Bank. During the event, they presented current research focused on European trade, the labor market transformations, and the impact of public sector digitalization on Czech companies. The conference annually brings together academics, researchers, and experts from public institutions, creating a platform for discussion on current economic topics.
European Integration and Product Quality in Trade After EU Enlargement
doc. Vincenzo Merella, Ph.D., MSc presented joint research with doc. Ing. Josef Taušer, Ph.D. titled Integration and Product Quality: Asymmetric Valuation in Post-Comecon EU Trade.
The study analyzes trade relations following the enlargement of the European Union at the beginning of the 2000s. It focuses on how products from firms in “old” and “new” EU member states were perceived. The findings show that companies from the original member states had a significant advantage in EU markets, and their products received higher valuations than those exported from transition economies. However, this difference gradually disappeared after the accession of the new member states to the EU.
How Remote Work Is Changing Employees’ Careers
doc. PhDr. Klára Kalíšková, M.A., Ph.D. presented the study Work from Home and Labor Market Trajectories, in which she and her co-authors examine the impact of the widespread adoption of remote work after 2020 on employees’ career paths.
The research uses data from the German labor market and shows that while remote work helped maintain employment, it also led to lower earnings for some workers. Moreover, the effect intensified over time. The study also suggests that employees increasingly moved into part-time or lower-quality positions in exchange for the possibility of working remotely.
Public Procurement Supports the Growth of IT Firms
Smaranda Pantea, Ph.D. presented joint research with Nadzeya Laurentsyeva, Ph.D. titled The Effects of Winning Public Tenders on Firm Growth: Evidence from the IT Sector in the Czech Republic. The study was conducted as part of a project supported by GAČR grant 23-06213S.
The research examines how public procurement related to the digitalization of public administration affected Czech IT firms between 2012 and 2022. The findings show that winning a public tender leads to long-term growth in employment, revenues, and investment in fixed assets. Public contracts also help firms secure additional tenders and expand into new regions and institutions. The strongest benefits were observed among young firms and companies that initially succeeded in larger tenders.
