IISES International Academic Conference, Prague

Keynote Speaker

Vojtech Kotrba, Ph.D
Prague University of Economics and Business, Czech Republic

Currently a lab director and professor at the Faculty of Economics, Prague University of Economics and Business, Vojtěch Kotrba is a lecturer in behavioral, public, and microeconomics. His research focuses on human behavior using methods from behavioral and experimental economics, with additional interests in sports economics and applied microeconomic methods. He has published in journals such as the Journal of Economic Inequality, Psychological Inquiry, Review of Behavioral Economics, and the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, reflecting his strong engagement with data-driven research at the intersection of economics, psychology, and sport.

Dr. Kotrba will deliver a a keynote speech titled: "Facial Characteristics and Electoral Outcomes: Evidence from Czech Senate Elections"

This study examines the impact of physical characteristics, specifically facial symmetry and facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR), on the electoral success of political candidates in the 2022 Czech Senate elections. These facial metrics are used as objective indicators of facial structure, offering a novel approach in the political context. Candidate data were analyzed using Poisson regression models, revealing significant associations between facial features and electoral outcomes. Higher facial symmetry was consistently linked to better electoral performance, while the effect of fWHR varied by gender, being positive for men and negative for women. These results demonstrate the broader implications of physical appearance in politics, suggesting that voter biases toward attractive candidates can influence election outcomes. This study contributes to a better understanding of non-political factors in electoral success.