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University of Cologne

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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Publications

Koch, A., Dotsch, R., Imhoff, R., Unkelbach, C., & Alves, H. (2025).

“Ideological Beliefs as Cues to Exploitation-Exploration Behavior.” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 117, 104718.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2024.104718

Roth, C., Schwardmann, P., & Tripodi, E. (2024).

“Misperceived Effectiveness and the Demand for Psychotherapy.” Journal of Public Economics, 240, 105254.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2024.105254

Gretschko, V., Ockenfels, A., & Wambach, A. (2024).

“Optimierung des Verhandlungsgebot auf dem Telekommunikationsmarkt.” Wirtschaftsdienst, 2024(11), 794–799.
https://doi.org/10.2478/wd-2024-0202

Dertwinkel-Kalt, M., Feldhaus, C., Ockenfels, A., & Sutter, M. (2024).

“Household Reduction of Gas Consumption in the Energy Crisis Is Not Explained by Individual Economic Incentives.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(48), e2411740121.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2411740121

Gollwitzer, M., Nuding, S., Schramm, L., Glöckner, A., Gruber, R., Hajek, K. V., Häusser, J. A., Imhoff, R., & Rudert, S. C. (2024).

“How the Pandemic Affected Psychological Research.” Royal Society Open Science, 11(11), 241311.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241311

Gürdal, M. Y., Gürerk, Ö., Kaçamak, Y., & Kart, E. (2024).

“How To Increase and Sustain Cooperation in Public Goods Games: Conditional Commitments via a Mediator.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 228, 106789.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106789

Leder, J., Chapkovski, P., Schütz, A., Lauer, T., & Gürerk, Ö. (2024).

“Background Uncertainty Does Not Increase Risk Aversion in Decision Making.” Scientific Reports, 14(1), 25899.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-73650-y

Haylock, M., Kampkötter, P., Macis, M., Sauter, J., Seitz, S., Slonim, R., Wiesen, D., & Schmidt, A. H. (2024).

“Reducing Registry Members’ Attrition When Invited to Donate: Evidence From a Large Stem Cell Registry.” American Journal of Health Economics, 730331. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1086/730331

König, A. N., Laxy, M., Peters, A., Schneider, A., Wolf, K., Schwettmann, L., & Wiesen, D. (2024).

“What Is the Relationship Between Risk Attitudes and Ambient Temperature? Evidence from a Large Population-Based Cohort Study.” Economics & Human Biology, 55, 101436.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2024.101436

Corneille, O., & Gawronski, B. (2024).

“Self-Reports Are Better Measurement Instruments Than Implicit Measures.” Nature Reviews Psychology. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-024-00376-z
All publications

 

In the media

Die Politik sollte sich aus VW zurückziehen

FAZ, 31.10.2024 | Julia Löhr, Christian Müßgens, & Johannes Pennekamp

“Die Verbindungen zwischen Politik und Konzern sind seit jeher eng. Sie umfassen Personen, Sonderregeln für VW und strukturelle Verstrickungen, die eine unabhängige Aufsicht erschweren. […] Bernd Irlenbusch, Wirtschaftsprofessor in Köln mit Schwerpunkt auf gute Unternehmensführung, hält all das für keine gute Idee: “Es gibt eine ganze Menge Evidenz, dass der Staat gut daran tut, sich generell darauf zu beschränken, die wirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen zu definieren, innerhalb derer die Unternehmen handeln können.” Irlenbusch kann das im Fall von VW besonders gut beurteilen. Als der Konzern damit begann, den Dieselskandal unabhängig aufzuarbeiten (Monitorship), engagierten die Wolfsburger den Kölner Forscher als Berater für Compliance-Fragen und um den Aufsichtsrat zu schulen.”

Über anwendungsorientierte Ökonomie, spannende Arbeit im Excellenzcluster, Teamwork und das Familienleben – Pia Pinger

And How About You? – Podcast, 30.10.2024 | Host: Maria Schmitz-Hüser

“Prof. Dr. Pia Pinger ist Professorin für angewandte Ökonometrie und Verhaltensökonomik an der Universität zu Köln. Im Gespräch erzählt sie von den Leitfragen ihrer Forschung an der Schnittstelle zwischen Arbeitsmarkt-, Bildungs- und Verhaltensökonomik und von der spannenden Arbeit im Exzellenzcluster ECONTribute. Außerdem spricht sie über erfolgreiche Teamarbeit, Herausforderungen des Familienslebens und die individuellen Vorzüge der Arbeit an unserer Universität.”

When workplace bonuses backfire

The Economist, 12.10.2024 | Bartleby

“A couple of recent studies underline the risk that incentives will have unintended consequences. One, from Jakob Altifian and Dirk Sliwka of the University of Cologne and Timo Vogelsang of the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, tested the effect of paying an attendance bonus on levels of absenteeism. They did so by randomly assigning apprentice workers at a German retailer to two groups which offered a financial reward or some extra holiday, respectively, for a perfect attendance record. Neither reward reduced absenteeism, and the monetary bonus had precisely the opposite effect: it actually increased rates of absenteeism by 50% on average.”

Wie der Strommarkt noch zu retten ist

FAZ, 09.10.2024 | Veronika Grimm & Axel Ockenfels

“In den vergangenen Jahren wurde es versäumt, die Marktregeln so weiterzuentwickeln, dass sie dem zunehmend dezentralen Stromsystem gerecht werden. Stattdessen wird seit Jahren nahezu jeder Marktein- und -austritt energiepolitisch gesteuert und auch in die Strompreisbildung eingegriffen. Die Folge sind Fehlanreize, die immer neue Reparaturen und Eingriffe erforderlich machen. Notwendige Investitionen bleiben deshalb aus, was das Gelingen der Energiewende zunehmend gefährdet. Der Markt muss reformiert werden. Doch wie sollte das neue Strommarktdesign aussehen?”

All in the media

 

Events

  • C-SEB Workshop 2024

    9. May 2025 @ 9:30 - 19:00 InnoDom Cologne, Weyertal 109, 50931 Köln, Germany

All events

 

Press Releases

C-SEB grants awarded

C-SEB has approved the following 12 projects for funding in the 19th funding round: Junior Start-Up Grants Arno Apffelstaedt (with …

Bettina Rockenbach elected as new President of the Leopoldina

On September 26, 2024, Bettina Rockenbach was elected as the new president of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. She …

Christopher Roth receives ERC Starting Grant

ECONtribute and C-SEB member Christopher Roth, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Cologne, …

Bernd Irlenbusch receives the ESA Prize for Exceptional Achievement

The “ESA Prize for Exceptional Achievement” recognizes no more than one researcher per year who has overcome unusually difficult obstacles …

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