A research and statistics section will be established at the Czech National Bank (ČNB). It will replace the existing statistics and data support section. The change is in line with recommendations from external assessments of the CNB's analytical and model framework for monetary policy, which highlighted the need to expand the role of economic research, increase emphasis on the use of available data sources, and develop an alternative macroeconomic model. The new section will be led by Simona Malováná, current Director of the Financial Research Department of the Financial Stability Section. The decision was made by the CNB Bank Board at its meeting on 5 December 2024, effective from 1 January 2025.
The Director of the Monetary and Financial Statistics Department, Štěpán Radkovský, will be temporarily appointed as Deputy Director of the Research and Statistics Department. In addition to the existing departments covering the area of statistics and data support, the department will also include two newly created departments: the Research Department, whose management will be temporarily entrusted to Martin Hodula, and the Economic Modeling Department, whose management will be temporarily entrusted to Stanislav Tvrz.
The organizational changes follow on from the recommendations of external assessments of the CNB’s analytical and modeling framework for monetary policy. Their common denominator is the emphasis on the role of research and data sources, as well as the need to increase the flexibility of economic modeling and analysis. The merger of research, which has so far been divided between the Financial Stability Department and the Monetary Department, will strengthen its importance and increase the CNB’s ability to analyze and model economic trends and implement measures leading to more effective coordination and increased contribution of research and statistical activities for the needs of monetary policy and financial stability.
An important task of the Research and Statistics Department will be the development of an alternative macroeconomic model. This step will enable the CNB to better cope with uncertainties in economic forecasts and bring its practice closer to international standards, where it is common to use more prediction models.
The current Director of the Statistics and Data Support Section, Petr Staněk, will leave his position at the end of 2024. The current Deputy Director of the Statistics and Data Support Section, Ivan Matalík, will also leave his position on 31 December 2024. The changes will not affect the total number of jobs at the CNB.
Simona Malováná received a doctoral degree in theoretical economics from the Institute of Economic Studies, Charles University. She received, among others, the Karl Engliš Prize awarded by the Czech Economic Society for the best work dealing with Czech economic policy and the Prof. František Vencovský Prize awarded by the University of Finance and Administration to young researchers under 35. She has worked at the CNB since 2014, and since October 2019 has been the Director of the Financial Research Department in the Financial Stability Section. During her time at the CNB, she completed a number of foreign professional and management courses. Her research focuses on the impact of macroprudential policy instruments and the interaction between monetary and macroprudential policy. She regularly publishes in professional journals and lectures at conferences.
Jakub Holas
Director of the CNB Communications Department