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.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
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 …
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, …
In the media
ECONtribute Wirtschaftspodcast, 17.02.2025 | Host: Carolin Jackermeier
“Warum ignorieren sämtliche Parteien die Zukunft des gesetzlichen Rentensystems? Was hat die Umstellung von HartzIV zum Bürgergeld ökonomisch gebracht? Und welche Wirtschaftsreformen sind wirklich realistisch? Das diskutieren Christian Bayer (Universität Bonn) und Felix Bierbrauer (Universität zu Köln) im zweiten Teil des Schwerpunkts zu den Bundestagswahlen. Wir sprechen darüber, warum der Arbeitsanreiz im heutigen Steuer- und Transfersystem gering ist, welches Renteneintrittsalter zeitgemäß wäre und welche Wirtschaftsreformen in der kommenden Legislaturperiode wahrscheinlich sind.”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.””
Events
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Virtual Market Design Seminar // Ravi Jagadeesan (Stanford University)
17. March 2025 @ 16:00 - 17:00 via ZOOM
Ravi Jagadeesan (Stanford University): "Auctions with Withdrawal Rights: A Foundation for Uniform Price" (with Alexander Haberman)
For more information and registration visit: https://virtual-md-seminar.com/
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Special: ECONtribute and C-SEB Seminar // Tuuli Vanhapelto (University of Glasgow)
19. March 2025 @ 12:00 - 13:15 Room 3.206, Studierenden Service Center (SSC) (Building 102), Universitätsstraße 22a, 50923 Köln
Tuuli Vanhapelto (University of Glasgow) - "The Incidence of Rent Subsidies: Evidence on Rents, Housing Choices and Supply"
More Information here
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Virtual Market Design Seminar // Roland Strausz (Humboldt University Berlin)
31. March 2025 @ 16:00 - 17:00 via ZOOM
Roland Strausz (Humboldt University Berlin): "Informative Certification: Screening vs. Acquisition" (with Gorkem Celik)
For more information and registration visit: https://virtual-md-seminar.com/
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ECONtribute and C-SEB Seminar // Daniel Waldenström (IFN Stockholm)
9. April 2025 @ 12:00 - 13:15 Room 3.206, Studierenden Service Center (SSC) (Building 102), Universitätsstraße 22a, 50923 Köln
Daniel Waldenström (IFN Stockholm) - tbd
More Information here
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C-SEB Early Ideas Workshop // Yero Ndiaye (University of Cologne)
11. April 2025 @ 12:00 - 13:00 via ZOOM
Yero Ndiaye (University of Cologne) - "Information Acquisition via TikTok: The Effects on Beliefs, Attitudes and Narratives?"
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Virtual Market Design Seminar // Mallesh M. Pai (Rice University)
14. April 2025 @ 16:00 - 17:00 via ZOOM
Mallesh M. Pai (Rice University): tba
For more information and registration visit: https://virtual-md-seminar.com/
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ECONtribute and C-SEB Design & Behavior Seminar // Jens Böke (University of Münster)
15. April 2025 @ 12:00 - 13:00 Room 3.206, Studierenden Service Center (SSC) (Building 102), Universitätsstraße 22a, 50923 Köln
Jens Böke (University of Münster) - "Incentive and Sorting Effects of Challenging Performance Targets: Evidence From the Field"
Publications
Katok, E., & Tan, L. (2025).
“Renegotiations in the Presence of Supply Disruptions.” Production and Operations Management, 34(2), 153–167.Richter, J., & Gast, A. (2025).
“Simultaneous Pairing Increases Evaluative Conditioning: Evidence for the Role of Temporal Overlap but Not of Onset Synchrony.” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 116, 104689.Rinker, L., Fasbender, U., Gerpott, F. H., & Burmeister, A. (2025).
“Conquering Knowledge Exchange Barriers with Age Differences: A Stress Appraisal Perspective on the Consequences of Upward Social Comparisons.” Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 98(1), e12545.Grimm, V., & Ockenfels, A. (2025).
“Strommarkt – Balance zwischen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit, Nachhaltigkeit und Bezahlbarkeit.” ifo Schnelldienst, 78(3), 3–35.Cesaret, B., & Katok, E. (2025).
“A Behavioral Study of Capacity Allocation in Revenue Management.” Journal of the Operational Research Society, 76(3), 514–527.Gürerk, Ö., Braun, L., & Irlenbusch, B. (2025).
“Experimental Economics in Immersive Virtual Environments.” In S.-H. Chuah, R. Hoffmann, & A. Neelim (Eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Behavioural and Experimental Economics (pp. 187–190). Edward Elgar Publishing.Bolton, G., Greiner, B., & Ockenfels, A. (2025).
“Engineering Cooperation: The Behavioral Design of Reputation Systems.” In S.-H. Chuah, R. Hoffmann, & A. Neelim (Eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Behavioural and Experimental Economics (pp. 174–176). Edward Elgar Publishing.Bayer, C., Bierbrauer, F., Ockenfels, A., & Sutter, M. (2025).
“ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy: Agenda und ausgewählte Forschungsschwerpunkte.” Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik.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.
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