The laureate is a Bulgarian-French economist.
(Foto: Tyler Smith)
Berlin He was an aspiring young scientist who was primarily concerned with economic issues and called for a common European social policy. In May 2021, however, Henrik Enderlein, at that time a professor at the Hertie School in Berlin, died of cancer at the age of 46. To honor his life’s work and his research, the Hertie School, together with Sciences Po in Paris, created a science prize for young researchers under 40.
Now the winners have been determined. The first is Stefanie Stantcheva, 36, a Harvard University professor of political economy. Her research focuses on the long-term effects of tax policy on innovation, education and prosperity. “We are exposed to so many taxes every day that we are not aware of,” says Stantcheva, explaining her interest in the topic. “A good tax system can boost the economy, a bad system can slow it down.”
Stantcheva has had a stellar career for her young age. She set a record at Harvard University. After her PhD and two years as a postdoc, she rose to professorship faster than anyone before her within two years.
The Bulgarian-French researcher is already highly decorated: in 2018 the “Economist” voted her one of the eight best female economists of the decade. In 2019 she was voted the best young economist in France. As part of a select commission, she advised French President Emmanuel Macron on the country’s biggest challenges.
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The second prize winner is Tarik Abou-Chadi, 37, who teaches and researches as an associate professor at the University of Oxford. In his work, the native German deals primarily with the European party systems, in particular with social democracy. “The party landscape in Europe doesn’t look the same as it did 40 years ago,” says Abou-Chadi. Above all, people’s parties, above all the Social Democrats, have lost approval.
Research on the influence of right-wing extremist parties
In Germany, too, where an SPD member sits in the chancellor’s office, it seemed as if the Greens would become the dominant centre-left force, says Abou-Chadi. But in the end, unlike in France, the Social Democrats were able to prevail in this country.
Abou-Chadi also looks at the influence of far-right parties on the mainstream parties. In his research, he came to the conclusion that the established parties are also trying, for example, to adopt anti-migration positions in order to win voters back. However, these strategies are usually not very promising.
Born in Germany, he teaches and researches as an associated professor at the University of Oxford.
(Photo: Anne Linke)
Focusing on the pan-European context is something that Abou-Chadi associates in his work with the namesake of the Enderlein Prize. “Henrik stood for building a bridge between politics and academic research,” says Abou-Chadi. He therefore sees the former Hertie professor as a role model.
The Henrik Enderlein Prize, for which the Handelsblatt is a media partner, is endowed with 10,000 euros and was awarded for the first time this year. The jury received a total of 36 applications, from which Stantcheva and Abou-Chadi were selected. “Both represent Henrik Enderlein’s legacy in their own way,” says the jury. Both award winners are politically very active and contribute to the public discourse, he justified the selection. The award was presented at a ceremony in Paris on Wednesday.
The Handelsblatt is the media partner of the Henrik Enderlein Prize.
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