ProfessorRenata Kosova

Renáta Kosová, is a Professor of Economics and Deputy Head in the Department of Economics & Public Policy. In 2024, she has been also elected as Consul for the Faculty of Engineering and the Business School (starting in Sept.) - and externally, appointed on the Board of International Society of Franchising (ISOF). Prof. Kosová joined Imperial College Business School in 2013. During 2014 - 2018 she has been also the Programme Director of the MSc in Economics & Strategy for Business, and during 2016-2019 served as the elected Chair of Diversity Committee at the Business School. Previously she was on the faculty board at Cornell University - School of Hotel Administration and Business School at the George Washington University. She holds Ph.D. from University of Michigan (Ross School of Business) as well as M.A. (Economics) from University of Michigan; M.A. (Economics) from Central European University in Hungary; B.A. and M.A in Business Administration from Comenius University in Slovakia.

Her research is mostly empirical and concentrates on the areas of applied microeconomics & industrial organization, organizational economics and international economics & business. Specific areas of interest include:

Applied Microeconomics & Industrial Organization – analyses of firm operations & performance; firm and industry dynamics; theory of the firm; economic impact assessment; policy evaluation.

Organizational Economics – agency problems; corporate governance; incentives & contract theory; franchising; service industries.

International Economics & Business – foreign direct investment (FDI); impact of multinational corporations; globalization, firm strategy and economic development.

Her dissertation: “Do Foreign Firms Crowd out Domestic Firms? Evidence from the Czech Republic” won several dissertation awards and her research has been published in highly recognized academic journals including The Review of Economics & Statistics; Journal of Economic Geography; Journal of Finance; Journal of Law, Economics & Organization; Journal of Industrial Economics, Management Science and others.

Many of her research projects exploit context and detailed data on hotels, which also allowed her to develop specific expertise in hospitality industry.

ACADEMIC AWARDS & HONORS

2023 - Certificate of Reviewing for reviewer services to International J. of Industrial Organization

2023, 2021, 2020 - JEMS Reviewer Certificates for reviewer services to Journal of Economics & Management Strategy (JEMS).

2019 - Julia Higgins Award; for significant contribution to the support of academic women at the Imperial College.

2017- Official recognition by Imperial College London; for excellent work & service at Imperial College Business School.

2005 - The winner of the The Gunnar Hedlund Award - best dissertation in International Business (3 finalists nominated). Awarded by the Institute of International Business, Stockholm School of Economics, and European International Business Academy. (10,000 euros)

2005 - The winner of the Richard N. Farmer Dissertation Award (4 finalists nominated). Awarded by the Academy of International Business. ($1,500)

2005 - A finalist for the Barry M. Richman Dissertation Award (3 finalists nominated). Academy of Management, International Management Division.

2005 - Beta Gamma Sigma - Academic Honor Society, Univ. of Michigan Business School (Ross).

2003 - Best Dissertation Proposal Award, Academy of International Business-CIBER.

2003 - Delta Epsilon Iota - Academic Honor Society, University of Michigan.

2001 - Thomas William Leabo Award, University of Michigan Business School (Ross). (for excellence during PhD studies)

1999 - Phi Beta Delta - Honor for Society of International Scholars, Syracuse University.