Dr. Vera Kichanova

Dr. Vera Kichanova is an urban economist exploring and shaping the future of private governance. She works as a Senior Economist at the Free Cities Foundation and urban policy advisor at Zaha Hadid Architects. Her PhD thesis explores the future of private urban development — from charter cities in emerging economies to start-up nations in neutral waters. Vera’s career has spanned roles including elected Municipal Councillor in Moscow, Editor-in-Chief at the Atlas Network-affiliated publication in Kyiv, and President of the Oxford Hayek Society.

Vera’s works — focused on bridging the gap between urban planning theory and classical liberal thought — were published by the New York Times, Forbes, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Telegraph, among others. She is a Frédéric Bastiat Fellow at the Mercatus Center (US), a contributor to the Adam Smith Institute (UK), and a Mont Pèlerin Society member. She holds a PhD in Political Economy from King’s College London, a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Oxford, and a BA in Journalism from Moscow State University.