Foundation for the Advancement of Economics (FREN)

The Foundation for the Advancement of Economics (FREN) was established by the Faculty of Economics of Belgrade University and the Center for Advanced Economic Studies (CEVES) to promote academic research in Serbia and build a body of knowledge for economic decision-makers. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is Mihail Arandarenko.

FREN's team of researchers and associates regularly and systematically monitors economic trends in Serbia , conducts in-depth research, and encourages and facilitates the exchange of information and availability of economic data.

The high standards of FREN's academic research are ensured by the Program Council made up of:

Peter Sanfey (Senior Economist, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)
Moshe Kim (Professor, University of Haifa , Israel )
Jürgen Müller (Professor, Berlin School of Economics , Germany )
Peter Miovic (World Bank)
Branko Urosevic (Professor, Faculty of Economics, Belgrade; Visiting Professor, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; founder of SECCF)
Pavle Petrovic (Professor, Faculty of Economics, Belgrade )
Zorica Mladenovic (Professor, Faculty of Economics, Belgrade )
Ranko Jelic (Senior Lecturer, Birmingham Business School , UK )
Michael Mandler (Professor, Royal Holloway College , University of London , UK )

FREN's goals are:

to advance teaching and research in economics in Serbia ;
to provide access to high-standard statistical and analytical data for decision-makers in government and the economy;
to make modern thinking in economics accessible to professional circles and the broader public.

FREN's activities :

execution of its own research program;
extending support to research that deepens and advances theoretical and empirical knowledge in the field of economics, most particularly with regard to the Serbian economy and the processes of transition in the countries of South East Europe;
building international ties with organizations and institutions in South East Europe in order to promote cooperation and exchanges in the field of economics, and integration of regional economic thinking in the world mainstreem.

FREN's partners :

Along with the Belgrade Faculty of Economics and CEVES, FREN's chief partner is the South European Center for Contemporary Finance (SECCF) headed by Branko Urošević (Ph.D., University of California , Berkeley ). Together with the Belgrade Faculty of Economics, SECCF is conducting an international post-graduate course – International Master of Quantitative Finance (IMQF).

FREN currently enjoys the support of donors such as USAID, the Open Society Fund – Serbia , the Royal Netherlands Government and the Government of Sweden.

FREN brochure (.pdf) (2.90 MB).