Short biography

Laura Porak has been a research associate at the ICAE since 2020 and has been part of an ÖAW PhD team on Explicit and Implicit Rules of Competition together with Theresa Hager and Susanna Azevedo since January 2023. Besides, she is part of the project Mobility Transition in Austria. Previously, Laura studied Sociology (B.A., M.A.) and Economics (B.Sc.) in Vienna and Political Economy (M.A.) at Cusanus University.

Main research interests

Laura's research focusses on different aspects of socio-ecological transformation from a cultural/critical political economy perspective. On the one hand, she deals with industrial policy at EU level, questions of competitiveness, strategic autonomy, climate-neutral industry or green markets, (critical) infrastructure and interest groups. On the other hand, she deals with the role of knowledge and experts in the design of political processes/instruments. Laura primarily uses qualitative methods, including: Expert interviews, (critical) discourse analyses or focus groups.

• Cultural Political Economy; Discourse Analyses; Socio-ecological transition; Industrial policy; International (critical) political economy; Economic knowledge

Teaching experience

Laura has teaching experience in sustainable economics, international macroeconomics (for business students) and scientific work. Laura was also a guest lecturer at the WU (on industrial policy) and the FH Upper Austria, Wels (on degrowth).

• Socio-ecological transformation, international macroeconomics, academic writing