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.

Watch video Learn more

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.
Learn more

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.
Learn more

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.
Learn more


Press Releases

On January 29, 2025 at 18:00, Dr. Mulu Berhanu Hundera will give a “Humboldt Lecture” as part of the event …

On March 18, 2025, the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology, the MPI for Research on Collective Goods, and …

Matthias Sutter has been elected as a new member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina for the section …

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

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

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

All press releases

 

In the media

ECONtribute Wirtschaftspodcast, 03.02.2025 | Host: Carolin Jackermeier

“Kann eine neue Bundesregierung die Wirtschaft retten? Sollte die Schuldenbremse ausgesetzt werden? Und sind die angekündigten Steuerreformen realistisch oder nur übliche Wahlkampf-Rhetorik? Das diskutieren Christian Bayer (Universität Bonn) und Felix Bierbrauer (Universität zu Köln) in zwei Sonderfolgen zu den Bundestagswahlen. Wir sprechen darüber, welche Vorschläge der Parteien ökonomisch sinnvoll sind, wie sie finanziert werden sollen und warum Wahlversprechen gefährlich sein können.”

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.””

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.”

All in the media

 

Events

All events

 

Publications

Farukh, R., Heinz, M., Kerkhof, A., & Schumacher, H. (2025).

“Attitudes to Migration and the Market for News.” Information Economics and Policy, 70, 101126.

Lammers, J., Alaukik, A., & Baldwin, M. (2025).

“When Longing Goes Wrong: Nostalgia Can Cause a Preference for Harmful Aspects of the Past.” Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 25(1), e70000.

Lammers, J., & Crusius, J. (2024).

“Teaching Simple Heuristics Can Reduce the Exponential Growth Bias in Judging Historic CO2 Emission Growth.” Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 24(2), 567–584.

Boelmann, B., Raute, A., & Schönberg, U. (2025).

“Wind of Change? Cultural Determinants of Maternal Labor Supply.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. Advance online publication.

Ambuehl, S., Ockenfels, A., & Stewart, C. (2025).

“Who Opts In? Composition Effects and Disappointment from Participation Payments.” Review of Economics and Statistics, 107(1), 78–94.

Ndiaye, Y. S., Cramton, P., Chernev, C., & Ockenfels, A. (2025).

“Comparison of Radiological Interpretation Made by Veterinary Radiologists and State-of-the-Art Commercial AI Software for Canine and Feline Radiographic Studies.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12. Advance online publication.

Righetti, F., Đurić, M., & Schneider, I. (2024).

“Beyond Good or Bad: The Four Evaluative Quadrants of Relationships.” Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10888683241302247. Advance online publication.

Gürtler, O., & Struth, L. (2024).

“Do Workers Benefit From Wage Transparency Rules?” International Economic Review, iere.12750. Advance online publication.

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.

Đurić, M., Righetti, F., Zoppolat, G., Lohmer, C., & Schneider, I. K. (2024).

“Mixed Signals: Romantic Jealousy and Ambivalence in Relationships.” Emotion. Advance online publication.
All publications

 

Our partners