Richard Frensch

Professor Richard Frensch, affiliated with the Department of Economics at the University of Regensburg and the Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS Regensburg), is a leading expert in institutional change, political economy of globalization, and international trade. As Managing Editor of Economic Systems, he contributes to academic discourse on transition economies and sustainable development.

• University of Bonn - Diploma in Economics (1984)
• University of Kansas - M.A. in Economics (1982)
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München - Ph.D. in Economics (1992), Diploma in Russian Area Studies (1987)
• University of Regensburg - Habilitation (2009)

His research explores interlinkages between trade openness, institutional evolution, and technological progress. Key themes include globalization's impact on rule of law, product variety as a growth driver, and institutional frameworks in post-communist transitions. Recent work analyzes topography's influence on European trade patterns and time-varying trade costs.

Scientific awards include a 1992 Fellowship at the University of Siena, Volkswagen Foundation Graduate Fellowship (1985—1987), and University of Kansas Scholarship (1981—1982). He has advised governments in Ukraine and the Czech Republic, integrating academic research with policy formulation.