[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” disabled_on=”off|off|on” admin_label=”Mobile” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-20%|0px||0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px|0px||0px|false|false” custom_css_main_element=”min-height:100vh;||max-height:100vh;” global_colors_info=”{}” max_width__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” custom_padding__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” max_width__hover=”100%” custom_padding__hover=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”none” position_origin_f=”top_center” z_index=”1″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|true” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” custom_css_before=”max-height:100vh; ||min-height:100vh;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|desktop”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d7e5eb” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/katjakalkschmied.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Katja_Website_Foto.jpeg” alt=”Katja Kalkschmied Portrait” title_text=”Katja Kalkschmied Portrait” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Nanum Myeongjo|800|||||||” text_text_color=”#3e5e60″ text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.2em” link_font=”Nanum Gothic|700|||||||” link_text_color=”#3e5e60″ link_font_size=”17px” link_letter_spacing=”3px” header_font=”||||on|||#c2c8c4|” header_line_height=”1.3em” custom_padding=”4%|5%|4%|5%|true|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” link_font_size_tablet=”” link_font_size_phone=”16px” link_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_text_align_tablet=”” header_text_align_phone=”center” header_text_align_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”50px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_line_height_tablet=”” header_line_height_phone=”1.3em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_orientation_tablet=”” text_orientation_phone=”center” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Vienna School of International Studies [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/katjakalkschmied.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CV_Kalkschmied.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Download CV” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”8%||8%||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” max_width__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” max_width__hover=”100%”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”fixed” position_origin_f=”top_center” z_index=”1″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|true” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” custom_css_before=”max-height:100vh; ||min-height:100vh;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|desktop”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d7e5eb” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” custom_css_main_element=”min-height:100vh;||max-height:100vh;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/katjakalkschmied.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Katja_Website_Foto.jpeg” alt=”Katja Kalkschmied Portrait” title_text=”Katja Kalkschmied Portrait” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Nanum Myeongjo|800|||||||” text_text_color=”#3e5e60″ text_font_size=”25px” text_line_height=”1.2em” link_font=”Nanum Gothic|700|||||||” link_text_color=”#3e5e60″ link_font_size=”17px” link_letter_spacing=”3px” header_font=”||||on|||#c2c8c4|” header_font_size=”60px” header_line_height=”1.3em” custom_padding=”5%|5%|5%|5%|true|false” header_text_align_tablet=”” header_text_align_phone=”center” header_text_align_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”61px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_line_height_tablet=”” header_line_height_phone=”1.4em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” text_orientation_tablet=”” text_orientation_phone=”center” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Vienna School of International Studies, Austria [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/katjakalkschmied.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CV_Kalkschmied.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Download CV” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||5%||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” background_color_phone=”#ffffff” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ admin_label=”Column” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ admin_label=”Column” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color_phone=”#ffffff” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#d7e5eb” divider_weight=”10px” divider_weight_tablet=”” divider_weight_phone=”3px” divider_weight_last_edited=”on|phone” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”100%|86%” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_scale_linked_phone=”off” transform_translate=”0px|86px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|phone” width=”13%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”11%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Welcome” module_id=”welcome” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” custom_padding=”5%|17%|5%|17%|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%|14%|5%|14%|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” header_2_font_tablet=”||||on|||#d7e5eb|” header_2_font_phone=”||||on|||#d7e5eb|” header_2_font_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n I am a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of International Economics within the Vienna School of International Studies, also known as Diplomatische Akademie Wien (Austria). Prior to this, I held a similar position at the Chair of International Economics within the Faculty of Management and Economics at Ruhr University Bochum (Germany).<\/span><\/p>\n The central theme of my research is the structuring role and joint workings of institutions and their relevance for economic development. I conduct empirical and theoretical work to understand how institutions build systems of incentives and constraints for economic activities. I put emphasis on the conditions under which institutions evolve and become effective. Within my work on institution building, I study the role of China as development financier and challenger of the Western-led global order with a special focus on the presence of China in countries of the Global South and at the European periphery.<\/p>\n My fields of work and interests are development economics and growth, institutional economics, international political economy, development finance, and international trade. I work at the intersection of economics and political science and publish in outlets of both fields. My articles are\u00a0 published in peer reviewed journals but also as book chapters, within special issues\u00a0 and\u00a0 collections.\u00a0<\/p>\n I am the project leader of <\/span>Development Finance in the Face of Climate Change<\/em><\/a> that is financed by the Austrian National Bank’s Anniversery Fund and\u00a0 joint work with Alexander Marbler from the Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change at the University of Graz. The project takes place from March 2025 to February 2028.<\/span><\/p>\n On this homepage, you find information about\u00a0my research<\/span>, my teaching<\/span>, and about me<\/span>. My CV is here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0For any further information, please feel welcome to contact me at <\/span>katja.kalkschmied@da-vienna.ac.at<\/span>.<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#d7e5eb” divider_weight=”10px” divider_weight_tablet=”” divider_weight_phone=”3px” divider_weight_last_edited=”on|phone” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” transform_translate=”0px|86px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked=”off” width=”13%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”11%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Research” module_id=”research” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” custom_padding=”5%|17%|5%|17%|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%|14%|5%|14%|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” header_2_font_tablet=”||||on|||#d7e5eb|” header_2_font_phone=”||||on|||#d7e5eb|” header_2_font_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n Research Agenda<\/b><\/p>\n I study institution building and institutional change and their consequences for economic development. I use theoretical and empirical tools to understand the coevolution of institutions, economic outcomes, and environmental factors.<\/p>\n I am interested in the synchronic and diachronic problems that the field of Comparative Institutional Analysis is dedicated to. As put by Masahiko Aoki (2001):2-3, the former aims to understand \u201cthe complexity and diversity of overall institutional arrangements across the economies as an instance of multiple equilibria of some kind\u201d <\/em>while the latter aims to understand \u201cthe mechanism of institutional evolution\/change in a framework consistent with an equilibrium view of institutions, but allowing for the possibility of the emergence of novelty<\/em>.<\/p>\n I take the standpoint that institutions are created in strategic interactions and need to be (re)produced in everyday action choices. I use macro game theory and strategic complementarities to study which institutions are implemented in which environment and when institutions change or not.\u00a0 I reconcile the institutions as rules and the institutions as equilibrium outcome approaches in a similar manner as Hindriks and Guala (2015) who propose a rules-in-equilibrium stance of institutions.\u00a0 In the reconciled approach, rules need to be supported in strategic action choices and marterialize in societal artefacts (organizations, money, treaties, market places).\u00a0 A critical mass of individuals needs to align beliefs to build an institution and undertake a coordinated change in beliefs to replace an institution. The state and powerful private players exert influence to manage beliefs and establish some specific among a set of alternative feasible institutions and societal artefacts that meet their interests. This approach provides a micro foundation for the macroeconomic phenomena I am keen to understand. I use econometrics to estimate the conditional effects of institutions and policies. I conduct case studies to understand the conditions under which institutions are built and changed in specific environments, putting emphasis on path dependency and the role of powerful actors and ideas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My research\u00a0 can capture the diversity of institutional set-ups across time and space. It contributes\u00a0 to understanding missing, unsustainable, and unequal growth and finding ways out of institutional uncertainties and suboptimal equilibria. This includes understanding how we can direct institution building and institutional change in an era of globalized capitalism, geopolitical and geoeconomic shifts, climate change, and digitalization to ensure that the outcomes fit societal goals.<\/p>\n \n Journal Publications<\/b><\/p>\n \n <\/span>“Critical Infrastructure, Critical Trade-offs: The growth effects of Chinese investments in European ports”<\/a>,\u00a0 with <\/span>Paul Stricker<\/a> upcoming in <\/span>Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, <\/em>Volume 203 (2026).<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cRebundling Institutions: How property rights and contracting institutions combine for growth\u201d<\/a> published in Journal of Comparative Economics<\/em>, 51.2 (2023), pp.477-500.<\/p>\n “China\u2019s infrastructure investment in the South Caucasus before and after Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine”<\/a> published in\u00a0Caucasus Analytical Digest<\/em>, 132 (2023), pp.7-13<\/span><\/p>\n “Corruption in space: A closer look at the world’s subnations”<\/span><\/a>, with Stefan Borsky<\/a> published in European Journal of Political Economy,<\/i> 59 (2019), pp.400-422.<\/p>\n Book chapters<\/b><\/p>\n “Chinese finance for African infrastructure: Credit enhancements as menas for doing business or politics?” with Fathia Lawal, In L. Amoah, editor, Africa-China Relations: Partnership, Peonage or Pawnage?<\/em>, London, Palgrave Macmillan (upcoming).<\/p>\n “Chinese lending specifics and projects in the Caucasus region: A look into project-<\/span><\/a>level data”<\/a>, In A. Khachikyan, J. P. Panda, R. Wrobel, editors,<\/span> <\/span>Armenia and the Belt <\/span>and Road Initative: Perspectives from Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia<\/span><\/em>, London, Routledge (2025), pp.28-44.<\/span><\/p>\n “Insights and lessons from integrating Asian economies: (What) Can Africa learn from Asian market-led regional integration?”<\/a>, with Joachim Ahrens<\/a>, In A. Freytag, & A. Oduro, editors, Prospects for Regional Integration in Africa \u2013 A Comparative Perspective<\/em>. Stellenbosch, African Sun Media (2025), pp.449-478.<\/p>\n \u201cChina in Africa: Competitor of the EU?\u201d<\/a> with Joachim Ahrens, In B. <\/span>Seliger & R. Wrobel, editors,<\/span> <\/span>Korea, the Iron Silk Road and the Belt and Road Initiative<\/span>, <\/span><\/em>Vol. 9 of Emerging Market Studies<\/em>, Berlin, Peter Lang (2022), pp.159-181.<\/span><\/p>\n Others<\/strong><\/p>\n “Chinese lending specifics and projects in the Caucasus region: A look into project-level data”\u00a0summarized in\u00a0 “Unpacking Chinese finance in the South Caucasus”<\/a> by some anonymous author(s) writing for eurasianet.com and published on 14 December 2022.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Working papers<\/b><\/p>\n “Market building by strategic interactions: The role of powerful private actors and the state”<\/a>, SSRN 4728020, with J\u00f6rn Kleinert<\/a>.<\/p>\n Work in progress<\/b><\/p>\n “North Adriatic maritime infrastructure development under US-China rivalry” with Ana Jeini\u0107.<\/p>\n “From bilateral exchange to market organization” with J\u00f6rn Kleinert.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Research group memberships<\/b><\/p>\n I am member of the “Governance in Emerging Economies Research Group”<\/a> that is jointly run by Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (Netherlands) and PFH Private University G\u00f6ttingen (Germany).<\/span><\/p>\n I am also part of the interdisciplinary research network \u201cHuman factor in digital transformation\u201d<\/a> which joins legal scholars, psychologists, sociologists, economists, and information and communication scientists working at the University of Graz (Austria).<\/p>\n Until recently, I have been member of the research group “Dynamic Approaches to Global Economic Challenges”<\/a> that joins colleagues working at the Institute of Economics,\u00a0 University of Graz (Austria).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#d7e5eb” divider_weight=”10px” divider_weight_tablet=”” divider_weight_phone=”3px” divider_weight_last_edited=”on|phone” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” transform_translate=”0px|86px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked=”off” width=”13%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”11%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Teaching” module_id=”teaching” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” custom_padding=”5%|17%|5%|17%|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%|14%|5%|14%|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” header_2_font_tablet=”||||on|||#d7e5eb|” header_2_font_phone=”||||on|||#d7e5eb|” header_2_font_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Vienna School of International Studies, Department of International Economics:<\/span><\/p>\n Introduction to Quantitative Empirical Analysis<\/strong> yearly since the academic year 2023\/2024, advanced course, in English<\/p>\n Ruhr University Bochum, Chair of International Economics:<\/span><\/p>\n International Finance<\/strong> in the summer terms 2022 and 2023, Economic Growth and Structural Change<\/strong> in the winter tems 2022\/23 and 2023\/24, University of Graz, Institute of Economics:<\/span><\/p>\n Development Economics<\/b> with J\u00f6rn Kleinert in the summer terms 2020 and 2021, International Economics<\/b>, all terms from 2014 to 2020 [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#d7e5eb” divider_weight=”10px” divider_weight_tablet=”” divider_weight_phone=”3px” divider_weight_last_edited=”on|phone” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|86px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” width=”13%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”11%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”About” module_id=”aboutme” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” custom_padding=”5%|17%|5%|17%|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”5%|14%|5%|14%|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” header_2_font_tablet=”||||on|||#d7e5eb|” header_2_font_phone=”||||on|||#d7e5eb|” header_2_font_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In\u00a0September 2020, I defended my PhD thesis titled “Institutional Complementarities and different Paths of Economic Development”<\/a> and earned the degree of a doctor in economics and social sciences at the Institute of Economics, University of Graz (Austria).<\/p>\n
katja.kalkschmied@da-vienna.ac.at<\/a><\/p>\nKatja Kalkschmied<\/h1>\n
katja.kalkschmied@da-vienna.ac.at<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nWelcome<\/h2>\n
Research<\/h2>\n
Teaching<\/h2>\n
Bachelor module (lecture and tutorial), in English<\/p>\n
Master module (lecture and tutorial), in English<\/p>\n
Master course, in English<\/p>\n
Bachelor module (lecture and tutorial), in German<\/p>\nAbout me<\/h2>\n