14 October 2025

Prof. Dr. Miroslav Verbič, Full Professor at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, President of the School’s Administrative Board, and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Economic Research, has been awarded the Zois Award, the highest national honor for scientific and research excellence, for his outstanding contributions to research on financial uncertainty and economic policy.

Professor Verbič’s research advances our understanding of how financial crises and government decisions affect firms and the broader economy, with particular relevance for Slovenia and the euro area. His work demonstrates how heightened financial uncertainty can suppress business investment and slow economic growth, while also identifying policy measures that governments and central banks can adopt to enhance stability during turbulent periods. These insights provide policymakers with clearer guidance for safeguarding employment, supporting businesses, and maintaining financial stability. As such, his findings represent a valuable tool for strategic economic management, especially in times of crisis.

The Zois Award thus acknowledges not only scientific excellence, but also the broader societal impact of research. Professor Verbič’s work extends well beyond academic publication, addressing core economic challenges associated with uncertainty – from the design of fiscal interventions to the analysis of credit shocks and their transmission to the real economy. His empirical research has consistently informed expert debate, economic policymaking, and educational as well as public discourse.

The Zois Award ceremony will take place on November 9, 2025, at Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana, on the eve of Slovenia’s new national holiday, Science Day. The event will honor outstanding researchers whose work contributes to a more resilient, informed, and forward-looking society.

"The Zois Award is a great honor for me and, at the same time, a commitment to continue research on financial uncertainty and economic policy where it matters most – namely, in people’s lives and in the functioning of the economy. In an era marked by frequent shocks, from financial crises to pandemics and energy and geopolitical tensions, this field is more relevant than ever. It is particularly meaningful to me that this award has been granted in the field of economics, specifically at the intersection of economics, finance, and econometrics. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my colleagues at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, the Institute of Economic Research, and the University of Klagenfurt, without whom the in-depth and systematic research we have been developing for more than a decade would not have been possible. I accept this recognition as an incentive for further theoretical and, especially, empirical research, for strengthening cooperation with economic policy institutions, and for transferring knowledge into practice – from supporting businesses and protecting jobs to reinforcing financial stability." – Prof. Dr. Miroslav Verbič

More details about the recognition are available on the Gov.si website.

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