The Institute of Economics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is an independent center for theoretical and applied research and training of Ph. D. and Master degree students. The main areas of work are oriented to meet the challenges of transition to a market economy and to further develop the potential of scientists. The research priorities include:
- strategy for economic development of Bulgaria in the context of its accession to the European Union
- competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy in the common European market
- restructuring of the enterprises and improvement of their management
- social policy and employment
- adaptation of Bulgarian agriculture to the common agricultural policy of the European Union
- regional policy and development, protection of the environment
- development of the integration processes and foreign-economic policy in the process of accession.
The institute is organised into the following departments:
- Economics of the firm, investigating microeconomics, industrial organisation and business administration; entrepreneurship and development of small and medium-sized business; corporate governance; industrial policy; competitiveness of the business organisations; organisation, management, financial and market restructuring of firms
- Regional and Sector Economics, investigating: theoretical and applied research of the economic sectors; regional and cross-border regions; ecology and protection of the environment; regional integration and regional policy; adaptation of the agriculture, agricultural and consumer policy to the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union
- Macroeconomics, investigating: global parameters of the economy and economic development; macroeconomic structures; factors and forecasting studies; social support and insurance; risk groups, inequality and poverty; labour market and unemployment; economic aspects of the science and education; macroeconomic measurements, sizing and infrastructural analysis
- “International Economics”, investigating: world economy, global and regional problems of the economic development and the economic interrelation between countries and regions; international economic organisations; international situation, prices, goods and stock exchanges; national economy and international economic aspects of development of macro, branch and firm level, financial markets.
In the last five years the Institute has been a coordinator and a partner in forty three international research projects, financed by EU, international organisations, organisations from USA, Japan and other developed countries. At the same period the researchers were granted thirty eight long-term fellowships and fifty seven visits for teaching lectures and exchange of experience in outstanding research centers and universities throughout the world.
Publications from the institute include “Economic Thought” and “Economic Studies”. The website contains information on research activity, research projects, departments, courses, and information on staff.