INPROFORUM 2025 "Economy Under Pressure"

19th International Scientific Conference, November 6-7, 2025

The International Scientific Conference INPROFORUM is a traditional event held by the Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (USB). It is focused on the research achievements in the fields of Innovations, Enterprises, Regions and Organizations.

International Conference offers the opportunity to discuss relevant topics among academic and practicing economists. The Conference is organized under the auspices of doc. RNDr. Zuzana Dvořáková Líšková, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice.

The current global economy is facing unprecedented pressure caused by a convergence of crises, rapid technological advancement, and shifting geopolitical relations. The theme “Economy Under Pressure” creates a space for expert discussion on key challenges confronting both the public and private sectors – from inflationary pressures and disrupted supply chains to changes in the labor market, climate threats, and the impacts of artificial intelligence.
The aim of the conference is to bring together experts from academia, business, and the public sphere to explore new approaches to economic resilience, strategic management, and sustainable development in times of uncertainty. The conference welcomes contributions that reflect current trends, provide analytical perspectives on the present situation, or present practical solutions for managing economic pressure at local, national, and global levels.

The conference topics

  • Recent and future trends and challenges in retail, international trade, marketing and tourism
  • Management of change and innovation
  • Resilient regions: Sustainability Under Pressure of Gobal Challenges and Uncertainty
  • Finance, accounting and taxes
  • Economics of agriculture: new challenges and opportunities
  • Economy resilience: macroeconomic and microeconomic perspective
  • Mathematical-Statistical Modelling and Optimization in Practice

Plenary Speakers

Anthony T. Lo Sasso, Ph.D.

DePaul University, Chicago, USA

Plenary lecture title: Intermediation in Health Insurance Markets

Abstract: Intermediaries play a central role in many markets—including finance, housing, used cars, and health insurance—serving as skilled experts who assist in consumer decision-making. While intermediaries can significantly reduce consumer search costs, they have drawn significant regulatory scrutiny in recent years, primarily driven by concerns about conflicts of interest and commission-based steering distorting market outcomes. In this paper, we study the welfare effects of intermediaries in a crucial yet understudied setting: health insurance brokers in the employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) market. This market covers over 175 million Americans—roughly half the U.S. population—and accounts for approximately $1.2 trillion in annual health care spending.

doc. Ing. Robin Maialeh, Ph.D., LL.M.

Research Institute For Labour And Social Affairs (Czech Republic)

Plenary lecture title: Myths of Public Finance Consolidation

Abstract: The discourse on public finance consolidation is often framed around the necessity of austerity—shrinking deficits through spending cuts and fiscal restraint. Yet, the empirical evidence increasingly reveals a striking paradox: austerity does not reliably lead to more sustainable debt dynamics and frequently undermines the very economic foundations needed for long-term stability. In this plenary, I will revisit the myths that continue to shape fiscal policy debates, from the belief that “tightening today ensures prosperity tomorrow” to the assumption that fiscal consolidation is socially neutral. Drawing on comparative cases and recent research, I will show how austerity drives inequality, suppresses growth, and weakens democratic trust, while failing to deliver on its central promise of debt reduction. The talk calls for a reframing of fiscal responsibility—one that recognizes the interdependence of public finances and inclusive development of the whole society.