Mihaly Fazekas

Mihaly Fazekas is an Associate Professor at the Department of Public Policy at the Central European University (CEU), where he focuses on applying data science to study government quality globally. He also serves as Scientific Director of the Government Transparency Institute, an innovative think-tank. His research integrates quantitative and qualitative methods to address corruption, favoritism, and public procurement inefficiencies, with a particular emphasis on Central and Eastern Europe.

Education includes a PhD in Political Economy from the University of Cambridge, an MPP from the Hertie School of Governance, and degrees in Economics and Pedagogy from Corvinus University of Budapest. His work has been supported by projects like the Horizon 2020-funded DIGIWHIST initiative, analyzing corruption risks across 33 European countries.

Research interests center on corruption dynamics, public spending efficiency, and the role of data science in governance. His publications span high-impact journals like the American Journal of Political Science and World Development, with policy reports for the World Bank, OECD, and European Commission.

Awards include the 2020 IMF Anti-Corruption Challenge. He actively advises international organizations such as the UN, OECD, and World Bank, and collaborates with governments and NGOs worldwide. Recent work explores corruption risks during emergencies, legislative favoritism, and the design of open contracting systems.

Key contributions include the Government Transparency Institute and the Global Public Procurement Open Competition Index. His interdisciplinary approach bridges academia and policy, addressing real-world challenges in governance and accountability.