Petr Sedlacek

Current Research Institution

University of New South Wales, Business School, Sydney (Australia)

Current Position(s)

Professor

Research Interests

Petr is an economist with research interests lying on the intersection of macroeconomics, industrial organization and labor economics. In particular, most of his work analyzes how differences across workers and firms interact and affect each other and how they impact the way the macroeconomy functions. For instance, his research has documented that firms starting up in recessions tend to perform persistently worse compared to businesses started up in booms. Importantly, this holds true even after the aggregate economy recovers. Such effects make recessions even costlier because they create a persistent drag on the economy.

Why I recommend Bonn

I was part of the University of Bonn between 2012 and 2017. During that period I spent most of my time around the Department of Economics. I found it to be both a fascinating research hub, but also a very pleasant, friendly and collegial environment.
The Department is unique in its diversity of thought. This is not only because it is formed by economists from many different research groups (applied and theoretical microeconomics, econometrics, finance, macroeconomics), but also because it is closely connected to the Hausdorff center for mathematics which houses world-class experts. As a young researcher, I learned a lot from my senior colleagues and greatly benefitted from their support. Without their help, I would have not progressed as quickly in my career as I have.
This diversity, and the open-mindedness necessary to accommodate it, is a defining feature of the entire University of Bonn. Over the years I had the chance to meet many people from different corners of the university and I never doubted that I made the right decision to move to Bonn.

Thinking of coming to Bonn? Our Bonn University Ambassador Prof. Dr. Petr Sedlacek is happy to answer your questions about joining the University of Bonn as an international doctoral student or researcher.