It is with deep sadness and sorrow that we learned about the passing away of Prof. Attila Varga at the age of 66, on 23 October 2023, after a long illness.
Attila Varga earned his PhD in Economics at West Virginia University (USA) with a thesis on “Regional Economic Effects of University Research: A Spatial Econometric Perspective” (1997), and a doctorate in Economics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2006). During his career he served as Director of the Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Center jointly with being professor at the Department of Economics and Econometrics of the Faculty of Economics and Econometrics at the University of Pécs.
His research interests are anchored in Regional and Urban Economics, Regional Innovation Systems, Economic Development, and Policy Impact Modeling. His highly cited articles have been published in leading journals, and the book version of his doctoral thesis “University research and regional innovation: a spatial econometric analysis of scientific technology transfers” has been a great success. In terms of editing activing, Attila Varga had been member of the editorial board of REGION (ERSA Journal) since 2013 and Regional Statistics since 2012. He was also editor of Regional Studies (2007- 2013).
Attila Varga’s contribution is regional science was remarkable in many ways: he was Founding member and member of the board of the Hungarian Regional Science Association (2003 – present). He was also member of the European Regional Science Association Council (ERSAC) (2003 – 2019) and he was among the organizers of the 2022 ERSA congress in Pécs.
To date, he is one of the most cited Hungarian economists. His work was recognised with the 2018 Academic Prize of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Order of Merit of Hungary. Last summer he was awarded the ERSA Prize in Regional Science during the 62nd ERSA Congress “at Alicante.
ERSA extends deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and beloved ones.