On April 23, 2025, the Institute of Public Finance welcomed members of the student association Finance Club from the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb. The aim of the visit was to promote science, bring research topics closer to students, and highlight the importance of public finance and transparency in the public sector.

Branko Stanić opened the session with an introduction to the Institute and its activities, emphasizing the wide range of research areas the Institute’s researchers are engaged in – from the economics of aging, the shadow economy, and tax microsimulation, to budget processes, healthcare, public enterprises, technological innovation, corruption, and income inequality. He placed particular emphasis on the Institute’s long-standing analyses of budget transparency in local government units, as well as the ongoing project Efficiency of public services at local government levels – definitions, measurements and analyses (EPS), conducted under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 – 2026. Results were presented from years of research on the budget transparency of all 576 local government units in Croatia, along with the first analyses of the efficiency of primary schools in Zagreb and local governments in the Slavonia region.

Leonarda Srdelić addressed the economic implications of climate risks, highlighting the growing relevance of this topic in the Institute’s research. Mihaela Bronić, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Public Sector Economics, presented the editorial process behind the scientific journal and encouraged students to become more actively involved in the research community. Emil Vargović announced this year’s scientific conference Public Sector Economics – Housing affordability: what is new?, to be held on September 26, 2025, in Zagreb, emphasizing its importance, thematic focus, and goals in the context of the growing challenges of housing affordability.

PhD students Sara Čulo and Luka Draganić shared their experiences from their doctoral studies, reflecting on their motivations and the challenges of academic development, while Jasmina Mašović shared her experience as a doctoral student at the University of Oslo.

The visit concluded with an open discussion and exchange of ideas on possible research topics and future cooperation. The Institute thanks the Finance Club for their interest and looks forward to future engagement with the student community.