ESPI Logo

ESPI - SUMMER SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

SUMMER SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS


The Summer School of Economics was launched by Group 17 (NGO) in 1998. During the 1990s, in Serbia, the economic knowledge was in stagnation and even regressed. To contribute to the acquiring of knowledge in the area of economic freedoms and the development of democracy of future human resources at universities, in the public and private sector, including public administration, the leaders of Group 17 decided to launch the summer school of economics as a form of additional education for the most gifted students of the final years of social sciences which they did not have opportunity to acquire within regular education system. In a relatively short period, the School earned very high rating and reputation in Serbia and in the region. The School is based on scientific and professional excellence and is guided by the criteria of professionalism in accordance with international standards. Later, i.e. in 2001, Group 17 was transformed into G17 Institute, renamed into Economic and Social Policy Institute in 2006, whereby during all this ten years, the Summer School was regularly organized.

The Summer School of Economics represents a unique opportunity for young professionals to increase their knowledge and broaden their perspective regarding the importance of the free market. The role of the School is to spread the ideas of individual freedoms, right to choice and individual responsibility, free market, entrepreneurship and limiting the interference of public administration. The School’s goal is twofold: to provide additional education about modern economics and to establish durable links among young economists and likely future leaders (economic policy makers, businesspeople, etc.) in Southeast Europe.

The School applies interactive methods of education by combining lectures and debates. Emphasis is put on the active participation of students in the education process and students have opportunity to design themselves different activities or have debates on different topics. Also, the most gifted students are included in the work on projects in the area of economics and education in order to pass the acquired knowledge and experience to the next generations of participants.

Lecturers at the Summer School of Economics are distinguished international professors from well-known universities, as well as professors from the country and local economic policy makers who are implementing the process of transition in Serbia. The last one, i.e. the 2008 Summer School of Economics was titled: Two Schools of Free-Market Economics, With Emphasis on Competition and Tax Policy, with Barbara Kolm, Boris Begović, Danica Popović, Dušan Vujović, Fred Foldvary, Henri-Louis Vedie, John Cobin, Veselin Vukotić as lecturers.

A comprehensive selection procedure (that involves several cycles and an experienced selection committee), provides likelihood that the selected participants indeed are potential future leaders. So far, Summer School participants have come from ex-Yu and other Central and East European countries. For the last ten years, the Summer School gathered around 400 talented and ambitious young experts in the area of economics, law and humanities, some of whom currently work at university, important public offices, holding key positions for the process of transition in public administration or are leaders and managers of successful companies.

First Summer School of Economics (1998) brochure
(Economic Summer School 1998.pdf 4110KB)

Succesfull students of Summer School of Economics and what are they doing now

Overview of programmes, lecturers and students of Summer School of Ecomics per year 1998-2008


  
THE 2008 SUMMER SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

Vienna and Chicago: Two Schools of Free-Market Economics. July 14th – July 25th 2008. Application Deadline: June 20th 2008.