People
Researchers connecting economics, security and geoeconomics through interdisciplinary scholarship.
People at DESGRI
Research Coordinator
Dr Joseph Yaw Abodakpi
Assistant Professor · Department of International Economics · Krakow University of Economics
Dr Joseph Yaw Abodakpi is an economist working at the intersection of international economics, defence economics, geoeconomics, international finance and economic security.
His current research examines defence expenditure and NATO burden sharing, geopolitical risk and financial markets, strategic minerals and defence-industrial resilience, foreign direct investment, and strategic economic dependencies.
Areas of Research
Defence Economics · Geoeconomics · International Finance · Economic Security · Strategic Minerals · Foreign Direct Investment · Geopolitical Risk
Academic & Social Research Profiles
Research Fellows & Associates
External and affiliated scholars contributing expertise to DESGRI research themes and projects.
Senior Research Fellow & Associate
Dr Dimas Mukhlas Widiantoro
Economist and Researcher · Krakow University of Economics
Dimas Mukhlas Widiantoro is an economist and researcher whose academic work focuses on financial economics, macroprudential policy and financial resilience.
His doctoral research at the Krakow University of Economics examines the interlinkages between macroprudential policy and resilience to the global financial crisis in Southeast Asian emerging economies, with particular attention to financial vulnerability, financial stability and the macroeconomic effects of macroprudential instruments.
He earned an MSc from the University of Agder, where his research examined intangible-asset investment, corporate financial health and agency problems. His earlier professional experience includes developing Brainly’s Indonesian market and working at the intersection of digital education, product development and research.
Areas of Research
Financial Economics · Macroprudential Policy · Financial Stability · Crisis Resilience · Emerging Economies · Financial Markets · Data Analysis
Academic & Social Research Profiles
Senior External Industry and Policy Expert
Anna Malec-Wąs
Anna Malec-Wąs is the CEO of PDG Project Development Group and Chair of the Poland Chapter of the International Stability Operations Association (ISOA). Her professional work combines project development, business development, international partnerships and advisory activity in defence, stability and fragile-environment contexts.
Through PDG Project Development Group, she works with multidisciplinary teams spanning law, finance, medicine, architecture, defence, logistics and engineering. Her recent industry activity has focused on helping companies understand pathways into the Polish defence market, cooperation with the US Army and NATO-related structures, subcontracting opportunities, international partnership development and access to instruments such as the EU SAFE programme.
She is also an award-winning licensed architect with professional credentials in Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom. Her international experience includes work across architecture, construction, development and consultancy, alongside engagement with projects and partnerships connected to Ukraine, reconstruction and stability operations.
Areas of Expertise
Defence Industry · Industrial Partnerships · Defence Market Entry · Project Development · International Business Development · Stability Operations · Procurement Ecosystems · Ukraine Reconstruction
Professional background
CEO, PDG Project Development Group · Chair, ISOA Poland Chapter · Licensed Architect in Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom
Academic & Social Research Profiles
Research Associate
Emilie Horn
Emilie Horn is a researcher with an academic background in International Business and economics. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in International Business, with a thesis examining economic policies in pre-war Germany.
In 2025, she received second place in the Public Economics and Regional Development section of the Student Scientific Conference at Matej Bel University for research on the situation of Ukrainian refugees in the Polish labour market.
From 2023 to 2026, she served as President of the Green Deal Challenges Science Club at the Krakow University of Economics, where she led the academic organisation and coordinated research-related activities and projects.
With an international academic background and fluency in five languages, she brings a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective to research on defence economics and international defence procurement and sustainment.
Areas of Research
Economics · Public Policy · Defence Economics
Social & Research Profiles
Research Associate
Diogo Manuel Sousa Oliveira
Diogo Manuel Sousa Oliveira is a finance student at the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (UPCA), Portugal.
His research examines how geopolitical shocks are priced in financial markets, with particular attention to the joint repricing of government bonds and defence equities.
He came to finance from physics after developing an interest in markets through the player-run economies of online games. He studied at the Krakow University of Economics as an Erasmus student and has completed internships at Banco de Portugal and UBS.
Areas of Research
Geopolitical Risk and Asset Prices · Defence Equities · Government Bond Markets · Company Valuation
Working paper
Abodakpi, J. Y. and D. M. Oliveira (2026). From Bonds to Arms? Capital Rotation Between Government Bonds and Defense Equities During Geopolitical Shocks, 1990–2025. Presented at the 3rd Modern Finance Conference, Krakow University of Economics, September 2026.
Social & Research Profiles
Research Community
Core Researchers
Researchers contributing directly to DESGRI’s principal research areas, projects and publications.
Research Fellows & Associates
Affiliated and external scholars collaborating on defined research themes, outputs or projects.
Visiting & Early-Career Researchers
Visiting scholars, doctoral researchers and early-career researchers engaged in DESGRI activities.
Areas of Expertise
Defence Economics & Strategic Autonomy
Defence economics, fiscal capacity, procurement, defence production, technology, lifecycle sustainment, industrial resilience and strategic autonomy.
Geoeconomics & Economic Security
Strategic trade dependencies, sanctions, economic coercion, foreign investment and the balance between openness and national security.
Industrial Policy & Strategic Industries
Industrial policy, strategic sectors, competitiveness, state support, supply-chain resilience and the role of productive capacity in economic security.
Geopolitical Risk & Financial Markets
Wars, crises and geopolitical tensions as drivers of defence equities, sovereign bonds, investor behaviour and international financial risk.
Technology, Infrastructure & Investment Security
FDI screening, critical infrastructure, dual-use technologies, telecommunications and strategically sensitive sectors.
Collaborate with DESGRI
DESGRI welcomes research collaboration with scholars and institutions whose expertise complements the Initiative’s research agenda.