22.06.2026
On June 22–23, 2026, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is hosting the Fourth Annual Conference of the Bulgarian Council for Economic Analyses (BCEA). The forum, jointly organized by Sofia University, the Council of Ministers, and the BCEA, has brought together researchers, academics, experts from international institutions, and representatives of the public sector in the “The Egg” Hall of the University Rectorate.
The event was opened by Sofia University Vice-Rector Prof. Sonya Mileva, who welcomed the participants to the Alma Mater and expressed her hope that the scientific sessions would be engaging and inspiring for all attendees.
She noted with satisfaction that the conference has grown each year and expressed hope that this trend will continue, serving as a strong example of a venue for important discussions dedicated to the economy and the future of Bulgaria. Prof. Mileva also expressed her hope that all participants would enjoy their stay at Sofia University and take part in many fruitful discussions.
The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev stated that the conference is among the most significant academic and expert forums in economics co-organized by Sofia University. He expressed his satisfaction that the event brings together researchers and experts from leading universities, central banks, and international organizations. According to him, the conference combines presentations of cutting-edge academic research with discussions on key economic challenges facing Bulgaria, Europe, and the global economy.
The program features researchers and experts from leading universities, central banks, and international organizations, including Harvard University, Imperial College London, London Business School, New York University Stern School of Business, the European Central Bank, the Bank for International Settlements, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Federal Reserve Board, the Bank of England, the International Monetary Fund, and the OECD.
The academic program includes research on inequality, gender differences and economic behaviour, macroeconomics, credit and fiscal policy, banking risk and regulation, technological change, firm behaviour, political economy, and development economics. A special highlight of the program is the plenary lecture by Prof. Elias Papaioannou of London Business School on “The Political Economy of Populism”.
In addition to the academic sessions, the conference includes a policy-oriented component focused on economic policymaking. As part of the forum, a panel discussion entitled “After the Euro: The New (and Old) Economic Challenges Facing Bulgaria” will be held. The panel will be moderated by Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University.
Participants in the discussion will include Dr. Atanas Pekanov, Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of the Economic Analysis Council; Assoc. Prof. Ralitsa Simeonova-Ganeva of Sofia University and member of the BCEA; Dr. Fabian Bornhorst, Head of the International Monetary Fund Mission to Bulgaria; Dr. Andrey Gyurov, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria; and Konstantin Prodanov, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance.
The program also includes the presentation of the BCEA Annual Report 2025 by Assoc. Prof. Kaloyan Ganev of Sofia University and member of the BCEA. Expert presentations will address macroeconomic challenges facing Bulgaria and the region, the OECD Economic Survey of Bulgaria, Eurosystem macroeconomic projections, and the use of survey data in economic policy analysis.
The event also places a strong emphasis on the development of young researchers. Two poster sessions will feature research by doctoral students and early-career scholars on topics such as VAT evasion, bank lending, regional business cycles, macroeconomic shocks, hiring discrimination, environmental regulation, access to finance for small firms, and the long-term prospects for economic growth in Bulgaria.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Annual Conference of the Bulgarian Council for Economic Analysis confirms Sofia University’s role as a leading academic institution in the region in the field of economics. The forum contributes to the advancement of in-depth economic debate based on the latest developments in economic science, data, and research while maintaining high international academic standards.
At the same time, the conference provides a platform for dialogue between economic research and public policy and contributes to a better understanding of economic developments in Bulgaria, Europe, and the world.