Francisco Botero wins REmagine Award for Master’s Thesis

The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) is proud to announce that alumnus Francisco Botero has been awarded the REmagine Award for his innovative Master’s thesis titled "One size does not fit all – Macroprudential policy, heterogeneity, and the taming of firm credit imbalances" This new award, an initiative of the Dutch Council of Deans in Economics and Business (DEB), recognizes master's graduates who demonstrate exceptional vision in reimagining economics and business for positive societal change.

Francisco Botero recently obtained two master’s degrees at the Faculty of Economics and Business, one in Finance and the other in Economic Development & Globalization. His award-winning thesis was supervised by Professor Jakob de Haan and Associate Professor Daniel te Kaat. Botero's thesis, winner in the category Institutional adaptability, expands the limited microeconomic literature on the distributional impact of macroprudential policies (MaPs) on firm credit growth. By utilizing a larger and more granular sample than previous studies, his research offers valuable insights into how institutional and financial development, as well as banking sector characteristics, influence the effects of MaP actions on the credit growth of firms. The findings aim to inform targeted policy decisions that address financial imbalances while promoting sustainable economic growth and minimizing unintended consequences.

“I am deeply honored to receive the REmagine Award,” Botero stated. “This acknowledgment is both humbling and a testament to the effort and dedication I invested in this project. A huge thanks to everyone who supported me along the way - the award organizers, the Goldschmeding Foundation, and the jury—it’s amazing what we can achieve when we stay curious, work hard, and focus on pressing societal issues.”

The REmagine Award

The REmagine Award is an initiative of the 14 Dutch Faculties of Economics and Business, united in the Council of Deans in Economics and Business (DEB). The thesis award is made possible by the Goldschmeding Foundation. This year was the first edition of the prize. The Thesis Prize rewards innovative theses in five categories: Institutional Adaptability, Future Health and Healthcare, Responsible Digital Transformation, Broad Perspective on Welfare, and Sustainable Economy. Each category has several nominees and one winner. Yearly, five prizes worth €5,000 each are awarded, one per category. Four other FEB alumni were also nominated for a REmagine award: Lian Julia Verbruggen in the category Future Health and Healthcare, Jan-Valentin Pauw in the category Responsible Digital Transformation, Laura Eitzinger in the category Broad Perspective on Welfare and Hylke Dijkstra in the category Sustainable Economy.

The REmagine award celebrates young researchers who see their role as architects of change, understanding that the future of economics must prioritize people and societal well-being. This year, the award committee reviewed 120 outstanding nominations, highlighting the diverse and innovative approaches graduates are taking to address key societal transitions.

Read more about the REmagine award on the website of REmagine.