At a time when transparency and regulation are significantly shaping the world of finance, Prof Dr Jan Riepe brings innovative perspectives to the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics as the newly appointed Professor of Finance and Management Accounting. His research focuses on issues of transparency, regulation and their far-reaching effects on companies and society, as well as the importance of diversity in management bodies. With these topics, he is setting new accents at the Faculty. "I am fascinated by how empirical analyses can answer socially relevant questions and how these findings make reality easier to explain," says Prof. Riepe, describing his motivation.
Influenced by the financial crisis - a decisive turning point
Born in Neandertal in the Rhineland, Jan Riepe moved to Mannheim to study business administration. He gained international experience during semesters abroad in India and Poland. A formative turning point at the beginning of his career came in 2008 with the global financial crisis, when he worked in risk management in Frankfurt. "I realised that what I had learned during my studies was not enough to understand the complex dynamics of the financial crisis. That brought me back to university," Riepe recalls.
His doctorate took him from Constance to the LMU in Munich, where he worked intensively on the fundamentals and mechanisms behind the crisis. "Why do banks like Lehman Brothers go bust while others are bailed out? Why do savers react so emotionally to abstract book value adjustments? I was driven by the desire to understand this," he explains.
After a junior professorship in Tübingen, he spent a year in Paderborn in 2021 and was impressed by the cooperative atmosphere at the faculty: "Collaboration is very important here. People meet at eye level and work together on solutions without an elbow mentality."
Transparency, regulation and social dynamics
A central aspect of his research is the effect of transparency in the financial sector. Together with international colleagues, he analyses how regulatory thresholds influence corporate decisions. He finds it particularly interesting that these thresholds often have unintended consequences: "Banks that remain just below a threshold increasingly refuse loans - and it often affects the weakest members of society, who already have less access to financing." His research shows that these mechanisms have not only economic but also social consequences, for example for poverty and start-up activities.
In another project, Prof Riepe is focusing on the decline of local newspapers. He is investigating how their disappearance changes the perception of minorities and economic decisions. "When local newspapers die, social cohesion is weakened, which in turn has an impact on credit decisions and social cohesion," he explains.
A third area of specialisation is gender diversity research. Here, he analyses how statutory quotas for women influence the quality of decision-making and environmental performance in companies. "Diversity is a major lever for better decisions and more sustainable results in companies," he emphasises.
His research is methodologically demanding, utilising extensive data and innovative approaches. He often works with so-called "natural experiments", in which external changes such as new laws or unexpected events are observed in order to analyse their effects. "I am fascinated by understanding reality and empirically proving how economic mechanisms work."
Teaching as a space for enthusiasm and critical thinking
In addition to research, Prof Riepe is also very interested in teaching. "For me, teaching is not just about imparting knowledge and skills, but above all about arousing interest and enthusiasm. Students should not only learn how economic models work, but also where their limits lie and how they can be applied in practice," he explains. It is particularly important to him to prepare students for the dynamic world of work and to sensitise them to how economic decisions affect society.
In his lectures, Prof Riepe encourages students to scrutinise all facets of economic theories. "I want students to develop the ability to critically scrutinise economic contexts and deal with practical challenges."
Climbing, family and Paderborn perspectives
Away from research and teaching, Prof Riepe enjoys spending time with his family. As the father of two children, his hobbies have changed in recent years. "I used to travel a lot, but now I'm looking forward to rediscovering old passions like bouldering and climbing. Paderborn offers wonderful opportunities for this."
With his wealth of international experience, innovative research projects and enthusiasm for teaching, Prof Dr Jan Riepe enriches the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics. His work contributes to a better understanding of current topics in finance and the development of practical solutions.
