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University of Cologne

Center for Social and Economic Behavior  

The Center for Social and Economic Behavior (C-SEB), a Key Profile Area (KPA) of 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

C-SEB grants awarded

Junior Start-Up Grants Marius Barth (with Karoline Bading) – “The Role of US Probability in Evaluative Learning” Yael Ecker (with …

ECONtribute granted funding for second phase!

The ECONtribute Cluster of Excellence, associated with C-SEB as a key profile area of the University of Cologne, will continue …

C-SEB psychologist Christian Unkelbach receives honorary doctorate from UCLouvain

The Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) awards three honorary doctorates annually, alternating between the different faculties. In 2025, the renowned …

C-SEB economist Christopher Roth receives Hans Kelsen Prize

With its Research Prizes, the University of Cologne honors individual scientific excellence and outstanding achievements over the last six years …

Angela Dorrough wins OECD Anti-Corruption Research Challenge

C-SEB member Angela Dorrough wins the OECD Anti-Corruption Research Challenge for a study together with Jasper Siol from the University …

Cologne International Forum: Salon // Humboldt Lecture von Mulu Hundera on January 29, 2025 at 18:00

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

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In the media

#47: Nebenjobs von Abgeordneten: Was bringt mehr Transparenz?

ECONtribute Wirtschaftspodcast, 05.05.2025 | Host: Carolin Jackermeier

“Was bewirken Transparenzregeln für das Nebeneinkommen von Bundestagsabgeordneten? Haben sie einen Einfluss auf ihr Verhalten? Und wie reagiert die Wählerschaft auf lukrative Nebenverdienste? Carina Neisser, Postdoc bei ECONtribute an der Uni Köln, forscht zu Finanzwissenschaften und angewandter Mikroökonometrie. In einer Studie hat sie die Effekte der 2005 eingeführten Transparenzrichtlinie für den Nebenverdienst von Bundestagsabgeordneten analysiert.”

Die zwei Seiten von Transparenz

FAZ, 10.03.2025 | Carina Neisser

“Transparenz schafft Vertrauen und beugt Korruption vor. Doch was passiert, wenn Politiker dazu verpflichtet werden, ihre Nebeneinkünfte offenzulegen? […] nach der Transparenzreform beobachteten wir einen Anstieg um 15 Prozent […] hauptsächlich bei Abgeordneten der CDU/CSU und FDP […] Der Anstieg lässt sich unter anderem aus dem Zusammenspiel von Wählern und Politikern erklären. […] Wähler der CDU/CSU und FDP sehen Nebeneinkünfte als Zeichen von Kompetenz und Fleiß, während Wähler der SPD, Linken und Grünen darin eher eine Schwächung der Interessenvertretung des Volkes erkennen.”

Finanzwissenschaft: Wie gerecht ist das Ehegatten-Splitting?

EXZELLENT ERKLÄRT – SPITZENFORSCHUNG FÜR ALLE, 01.03.2025 | Podcast mit/with Felix Bierbrauer

“In dieser Podcast-Episode geht es um das Ehegattensplitting – ein steuerliches Verfahren, das in Deutschland seit Jahrzehnten diskutiert wird. Gemeinsam mit Felix Bierbrauer, Professor bei ECONtribute an der Universität zu Köln, werfen wir einen Blick auf die wirtschaftlichen und politischen Implikationen des Splittings, beleuchten Fragen von Gerechtigkeit, Effizienz und gesellschaftlichen Anreizen und erörtern, warum Reformen so schwer durchsetzbar sind.”

All in the media

 

Events

All events

 

Publications

Freyer, T., Radbruch, J., Schaube, S., & Strang, L. (2025).

“The Effect of Task (Mis)matching and Self-Selection on Intrinsic Motivation and Performance.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 234, 107010.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107010

Kerkhof, A., & Münster, J. (2025).

“Strategic Complementarities in a Model of Commercial Media Bias.” Games, 16(3), 21.
https://doi.org/10.3390/g16030021

Huesmann, K., Ndiaye, Y. S., Waibel, C., & Wiesen, D. (2025).

“How the Design of Ranking Systems and Ability Affects Physician Effort.” Management Science. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.00990

Ockenfels, A., Bothe, D., & Janssen, M. (2025).

“Das Dilemma der Speicherverpflichtung im Gasmarkt: Optimiertes Marktdesign erforderlich.” Wirtschaftsdienst, 105(4), 273–281.
https://doi.org/10.2478/wd-2025-0072

Wu, J., Balliet, D., Yuan, M., Li, W., Chen, Y., Jin, S., Luan, S., & Van Lange, P. A. M. (2025).

“Social Class and Prosociality: A Meta-Analytic Review.” Psychological Bulletin, 151(3), 285–321.
https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000469

Strang, L., & Schaube, S. (2025).

“(Not) Everyone Can Be a Winner—The Role of Payoff Interdependence for Redistribution.” Journal of Public Economics, 243, 105320.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105320

Berger, L. M., Kerkhof, A., Mindl, F., & Münster, J. (2025).

“Debunking “Fake News” on Social Media: Immediate and Short-Term Effects of Fact-Checking and Media Literacy Interventions.” Journal of Public Economics, 245, 105345.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105345

Posten, A.-C., Uğurlar, P., Kube, S., & Lammers, J. (2025).

“Maintaining Cooperation Through Vertical Communication of Trust When Removing Sanctions.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(12), e2415010122.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2415010122

Brunnermeier, M., Correia, S., Luck, S., Verner, E., & Zimmermann, T. (2025).

“The Debt-Inflation Channel of the German (Hyper-)Inflation.” American Economic Review. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20230685

Ivanov, I. T., Zimmermann, T., & Heinrich, N. W. (2025).

“Limits of Disclosure Regulation in the Municipal Bond Market.” Management Science, mnsc.2022.02289. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.02289
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