SEPS awards honorary doctorate to Prof. Beata Javorcik

At this year’s Dies academicus, the School of Economics and Political Science (SEPS-HSG) proudly awarded an honorary doctorate to Prof. Beata Javorcik, Chief Economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). She is the first woman to hold this position and a leading voice in international trade and development economics.

Prof. Javorcik’s research has had a profound impact on our understanding of global trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and the role of services in economic development. She holds a BA from the University of Rochester and a PhD from Yale University, and previously became the first woman to hold a statutory professorship in economics at the University of Oxford.

Ahead of the official ceremony, Prof. Javorcik joined SEPS faculty members at the SEPS Spring Apéro for a Research Dialogue moderated by Prof. Dirk Lehmkuhl, Dean of SEPS-HSG, and Prof. Simon Evenett. The conversation addressed key questions related to the political economy of globalisation, industrial policy, and the evolving role of development banks in a more fragmented world.

We are deeply grateful to Prof. Javorcik for her visit to St.Gallen, her inspiring contributions, and her dedication to academic dialogue. It was a great honour to welcome her to our School.