News

Political Economy, research, and conversations at the University of Chicago

24 April, 2026

As part of the Places You’ll Go series, CERGE-EI PhD student Vladimir Shchukin talked about his research stay at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, one of the leading centers for political economy.

Shchukin chose the Harris School because its faculty’s research closely matches his interests in theoretical political economy. After consulting with his advisor, Jan Zápal, he found the University of Chicago to be an ideal environment for advancing his work. “The institution is widely recognized as a major center for research in political economy,” he said.

Vladimir recalled: “Before arriving in the United States, I expected the University of Chicago to provide a highly stimulating intellectual environment characterized by active research exchange, open discussion of ideas, and academic creativity. In practice, my experience closely matched these expectations.”

During his stay, Shchukin benefited from seminars, workshops, reading groups, and informal exchanges with faculty and students. One of the most memorable moments was discussing his research with James Robinson, the 2024 Nobel Prize laureate in Economics, who offered feedback and references to help develop the project further.

“Presenting my research and discussing it with scholars from leading universities helped me see that the questions I study are of broader interest within the academic community,” Shchukin reflected.

He also presented his work at a political economy reading group and at the Midwest Political Science Association conference, one of the largest conferences in political science and political economy in the United States.

Read the full interview in English here.