Danish and Polish free market think tanks join EPICENTER

EPICENTER is proud to announce that two well respected organisations, FOR from Poland and CEPOS from Denmark, will join our network of leading European think tanks. Our joint initiative will be led by EPICENTER’s new Director, Diego Zuluaga. EPICENTER is reinforcing its close collaboration throughout Europe to ensure the presence of a strong free market voice in Brussels.

 

Our two new members share our common vision of a society based on economic freedom, individual liberties, and limited government intervention. As with all think tanks in our network, FOR and CEPOS are non-partisan and do not accept any government funding.

 

The Civil Development Forum (FOR Foundation) was founded in 2007 by Professor Leszek Balcerowicz, former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland who implemented the free-market reforms in the country during the transitional, post-communist years. FOR promotes and defends economic freedom, the rule of law, individual liberties, private property, and ideas of limited government.

 

The Centre for Political Studies (CEPOS) was founded in 2004 by prominent Danish business people, thinkers, and cultural personalities. CEPOS’s vision is based on a society which encourages competition, supports free markets, global free trade and opposes government subsidies to businesses.

 

To oversee the expansion of the network, EPICENTER is delighted to announce that our new Director will be Diego Zuluaga. Diego Zuluaga has been one of the driving forces of EPICENTER ever since its creation in 2014, having served as Head of Research for the last three years. He holds a first-class degree in Economics and History from McGill University, as well as a master’s degree in finance from Keble College, Oxford.

 

Diego’s publications have focused on topics ranging from consumer finance to multi-sided markets as well as banking and capital markets regulation. Diego’s articles have featured in a range of UK and European outlets such as Newsweek, City AM, CapX, EurActiv and L’Opinion. He is also a frequent speaker on broadcast media and at public events, as well as a lecturer at the University of Buckingham.

 

Commenting on his appointment, Diego Zuluaga, the new Director of EPICENTER said: “The EU has gone through a convulse period in the last decade. Many of its economies are now more robust than they were in 2007. Yet, there remains an acute need for reform of public expenditure, regulation and taxation to ensure higher growth rates, more competitive industries and a more satisfied citizenry that can face the future with confidence. I am delighted to be able to promote this change as Director of EPICENTER, where the focus will be on rigorous analysis of economic policy and market-based alternatives that will more effectively foster choice, innovation and prosperity.”

 

Commenting on the expansion of the network, Diego Zuluaga said: “As always, we will benefit greatly from the robust research and expertise of our members, now strengthened by the addition of FOR and CEPOS, two truly outstanding and impactful organisations in their own countries.”

 

Civil Development Forum (FOR)
The Civil Development Forum (FOR Foundation) is a non-governmental think tank based in Poland promoting and defending economic freedom, the rule of law, individual liberties, private property, entrepreneurial activities, and ideas of limited government.

 

Their activities are based on the vision of a society with favorable conditions for economic growth and productive activities, through labour, entrepreneurship, innovation, investment, and knowledge.

 

FOR aims to achieve its goals through fact-based reports and analysis, efficient communication and civil society mobilization. Key projects include the “Public Debt Clock”, “Economic Comic Books”, “Monitoring of Economic Freedom”, “Leszek Balcerowicz Schools”, the “Tax Calculator” and research in many fields. FOR was founded in 2007 by Professor Leszek Balcerowicz.

 

Center for Political Studies (CEPOS)
CEPOS, Center for Political Studies, is an independent Danish think tank promoting a society based on freedom, responsibility, private initiative, and limited government.

 

CEPOS wishes to contribute to more personal and economic freedom, the rule of law and democracy, as well as a limited government sustained by healthy civil institutions, such as family, civil associations, and cultural life.

 

CEPOS wishes to reform and limit direct and indirect economic support from the public authorities to the population. Government support shall benefit only the disadvantaged and will be abolished for people who can support themselves.

 

CEPOS encourages competition, supports free markets, global free trade and opposes government subsidies to businesses.

 

CEPOS does not work at the request of any political party, public authority, commercial enterprise, organization or individual.

EPICENTER publications and contributions from our member think tanks are designed to promote the discussion of economic issues and the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. As with all EPICENTER publications, the views expressed here are those of the author and not EPICENTER or its member think tanks (which have no corporate view).