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University of Cologne

Excellence Center for Social and Economic Behavior  

The Center for Social and Economic Behavior (C-SEB) at the University of Cologne (UoC) brings together Cologne-based researchers from economics, management science, and psychology. Together with internationally renowned scientists from Europe and the USA, they investigate the fundamental principles and behavioral mechanisms that affect social and economic behavior. Since its establishment in 2019, the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute is an important partner.

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Social and economic behavior is shaping almost all aspects of our lives. But it does not only influence the actions of individuals. Behavior and its underlying motivation and cognition, also affects the success of societies, politics, markets and organizations. Understanding its determinants, and how it can be ‘managed’, is thus of crucial importance for understanding and addressing major challenges to society and humanity.

C-SEB aims to develop an empirically based theory of the institutions that define economic incentives and of the conditions that influence information processing in social and economic contexts. Using a behavioral economics and social cognition approach, the center examines how these mechanisms can be designed and manipulated. C-SEB seeks to build a bridge between laboratory research and real-world contexts in order to contribute to solutions to contemporary challenges in the economy.

Our Aims

Scientific exchange

C-SEB runs various programs to create a productive research environment and to promote interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists. In order to foster communication across disciplines and research units, the center regularly organizes workshops and conferences with international guests.
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Research funding

C-SEB provides funding for outstanding individuals and excellent collaborative research projects in the field of behavioral economics and social cognition. There are six funding lines at the moment that are designed to serve different purposes and target groups.
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Equal opportunity & junior researcher promotion

C-SEB is strongly committed to promote equal opportunities in academia and to advance the careers of junior researchers. The center assists its members with career planning and with reconciling academic and family life.
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Press Releases

Wanted: Student Assistants for the C-SEB Central Office

The Center for Social and Economic Behavior (C-SEB) is seeking Student Assistants and looks forward to receiving your application no later than 31.01.2024.

Pia Pinger receives ERC Starting Grant

Pia Pinger receives the prestigious ERC Starting Grant for her project “OPPORTUNITY – Inequalities in Decision-Making at Critical Junctions in …

New Book “Der menschliche Faktor oder worauf es im Berufsleben ankommt” by Matthias Sutter

Matthias Sutter‘s new book “Der menschliche Faktor oder worauf es im Berufsleben ankommt” has just been published in its second …

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In the media

Consequences of Unpaid Blood Plasma Donations

VoxEU Column, 04.11.2023 | Axel Ockenfels & Alvin Roth

“The European Commission is considering new ways to regulate the ‘substances of human origin’ – including blood, plasma, and cells – used in medical procedures from transfusions and transplants to assisted reproduction. This column argues that such legislation jeopardises the interests of both donors and recipients. While sympathetic to the intentions behind the proposals – which aim to ensure that donations are voluntary and to protect financially disadvantaged donors – the authors believe such rules overlook the effects on donors, on the supply of such substances, and on the health of those who need them.”

Der Staat kann im Einkauf sparen

FAZ, 23.10.2023 | Axel Ockenfels & Leonardo Giuffrida

“Auktionen haben […] dazu beigetragen, Beschaffungsverfahren weiter zu optimieren, sodass Auktionen heute selbst bei komplexen und heterogenen Gütern bei relativ schwachem Wettbewerb und komplizierten Käufer- und Verkäuferpräferenzen durchgeführt werden können. […] durch den Einsatz innovativer Beschaffungsverfahren kann Geld gespart werden – etwa indem Innovationen angestoßen werden. Beispiel Klimawandel. Deutsche CO2-Reduktionen werden nur dann einen messbaren Einfluss auf die globalen Emissionen haben, wenn sie von Innovationen begleitet werden, die die Wahrscheinlichkeit erhöhen, dass auch der Rest der Welt Emissionen reduziert.”

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Events

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Publications

Fang, X., Goette, L., Rockenbach, B., Sutter, M., Tiefenbeck, V., Schoeb, S., & Staake, T. (2023).

“Complementarities in Behavioral Interventions: Evidence from a Field Experiment on Resource Conservation.” Journal of Public Economics, 228, 105028. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2023.105028

Hovanessian, N., Minasyan, G., Nurbekyan, A., Polborn, M., & Polborn, T. (2023).

“Can Teachers Learn Online? – Evidence From Armenia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Education Economics. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09645292.2023.2273224

Liu, Z., Luan, M., Li, H., Stoker, J. I., & Lammers, J. (2024).

“Psychological Power Increases the Desire for Social Distance but Reduces the Sense of Social Distance.” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 110, 104528. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2023.104528

Charness, G., Cobo-Reyes, R., Eyster, E., Katz, G., Sánchez, Á., & Sutter, M. (2023).

“Improving Children’s Food Choices: Experimental Evidence from the Field.” European Economic Review, 159, 104562. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2023.104562

Rockenbach, B., Tonke, S., & Weiss, A. R. (2023).

“A Large-Scale Field Experiment to Reduce Non-Payments for Water: From Diagnosis to Treatment.” Review of Economics and Statistics. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1162/rest_a_01363
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Our partners

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