We use methods of environmental and behavioural economics to better understand the challenges of sustainable use of natural resources and to be able to develop evidence-based proposals for solutions.
Our research
From an economic perspective, the protection of natural resources such as the environment and the climate is a common good. This means that the cooperation required for this is associated with considerable incentive problems: As a rule, the rational behavior of individuals does not lead to the socially optimal level of environmental or climate protection. The transformation to a low greenhouse gas economy therefore requires major joint efforts, whether for the development of new technologies and solutions or to steer established behavior patterns along new paths in the long term.
With our research on cooperation problems, we contribute to the development of good rules and institutions for the efficient management of common goods in climate protection, especially taking into account behavioral economic methods and insights. Two topics are currently in the foreground: the analysis of joint and coordinated action in international climate policy and the investigation of the cooperative behavior of actors at the downstream levels, primarily with a view to consumers.
Suitable instruments for the formation and establishment of cooperative solutions must not only fulfill the main economic criterion of cost efficiency, but are also confronted with a large number of other requirements. These include, for example, the equitable distribution of burdens in transformation processes - both internationally and within an economy.
At the same time, our research serves to improve our understanding of how people make decisions and how these influence the effectiveness of climate and energy policy regulation. To this end, we take advantage of the opportunity to study human decision-making behavior, for example, in laboratory or field experiments.
Our teaching
With our courses we want to show students how (environmental) economists think and work. We consider microeconomic theory as the foundation for a consistent analytical framework. At the same time, the interfaces to interdisciplinary work are strengthened through targeted connections to, for example, business administration or psychology.
In addition, we want to sensitise and inspire students for research work in the courses through contributions from our own research projects. For us, this also includes introducing students to current research papers at an early stage. When reading and discussing the essays, the primary aim is to classify research approaches and designs and to interpret data sets and analyses. In this way, we want to sharpen the ability to critically interpret (causal) relationships.
Teaching offer
Bachelor
| Module name | Semester | ECTS | Language | Contact person |
| M.184.3420 - Introduction to Environmental Economics (4 SWS, VL + ÜB) | SS | 5 | DEU | Vicky Leoni Tinnefeld, Prof. Dr. Martin Kesternich |
| M.184.3421 - Fostering sustainability: an econonomic perspectice (2 SWS, Seminar) | WS | 5 | ENG | Prof. Dr. Martin Kesternich |
Master
| Module name | Semester | ECTS | Language | Contact person |
| M.184.5420 - Impact evaluation in environmental economics using field experiments (2 SWS, Seminar) | SS | 5 | ENG | Prof. Dr. Martin Kesternich |
| M.184.4406 Field Experiments in Environmental and Behavioral Economics (4 SWS, VL + ÜB) | SS | 5 | ENG | Vicky Leoni Tinnefeld, Prof. Dr. Martin Kesternich |
| M.184.5481 - Using big data to solve economic and social problems (4 SWS, VL + ÜB) | WS | 5 | ENG | Prof. Dr. Martin Kesternich |
| M.184.5482 - Behavioral environmental economics (4 SWS, VL + ÜB) | WS | 5 | ENG | Vicky Leoni Tinnefeld, Prof. Dr. Martin Kesternich |
Additional module
| Module name | Semester | ECTS | Language | Contact person |
| M.184.2405/M.184.4405 - Scientific Work in Environmental and Behavioral Economics (2 SWS, Seminar) | SS/WS | 5 | ENG | Vicky Leoni Tinnefeld, Prof. Dr. Martin Kesternich |
Theses
In order to be able to write a thesis at our chair, you must be enrolled as a student at Paderborn University. It is of important significance that you are interested in research questions in the field of economics related to sustainability topics. This interest should already be reflected in your course of study. Priority will be given to the work of students who have successfully completed a course (especially a seminar) offered at our chair. In particular, microeconometric and experimental work is supervised at our department. The successful completion of a course with statistical and econometric contents (incl. exercise with a statistical software such as STATA or R) is therefore also expected. Please read our guidelines(German, English) carefully. It contains all the essential information on how to register, prepare and conduct a thesis at our department. The chair participates in the central allocation procedure for theses. You can find all information on the central allocation procedure here. If you have any questions on the topic of theses, you can contact Ms Vicky Leoni Tinnefeld .
