CERGE-EI’s two-fold mission is to educate economists at the doctoral (Ph.D.) level and to conduct world-class economic research. Their main research focus is on empirical and theoretical analysis of processes of economic and political transformation of post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and problems of economic integration, especially in connection with the expansion of the European Union.
Established in 1991, CERGE is an official research and educational institute of Charles University in Prague, the oldest institution of higher education in Central Europe. The research-oriented Economics Institute (EI) is a legal entity of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and joined CERGE in 1993.
The first doctoral thesis from CERGE-EI was defended in 1995. Since then, 37 doctoral degrees have been conferred, and it is estimated that a steady state of between eight and ten additional doctoral degrees are expected to be awarded during each academic year. CERGE-EI’s co-operation is based on the integration of research teams, the participation of EI researchers in the educational program of CERGE, and the sharing of existing infrastructure.
Through its joint efforts, CERGE-EI has successfully constructed a regional model of co-existence and co-operation for the corresponding units of a University and a national Academy of Sciences. As a research institution, CERGE-EI maintains a significant research program that is generating high-quality theoretical and empirical studies. In particular, CERGE-EI has set and maintains standards consistent with those of leading western universities and research institutes.