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Behavioral economics and business ethics

The researchers of the Behavioral Economics and Business Ethics Research Unit make use of findings from the fields of ethics, economics and psychology to conduct an interdisciplinary analysis of human behaviour in a business context.

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Using experimental and other studies, behavioural economics helps to improve the decision-making architecture for economic policy. The measures proposed include changing default settings and other forms of green nudging to improve ecological sustainability.

The field of business and corporate ethics shows how conflicts can arise between entrepreneurial profit-seeking and the legitimate interests of society. However, our researchers also point out how constructive ways can be found to resolve such conflicts. Regulatory ethics, for example, shows how the state can intervene to provide an appropriate regulatory framework, business ethics points out how companies can assume voluntary responsibility and invest in trust and reputation, while personal ethics highlights how individuals themselves can behave in a more principled way.

Typical topics in business ethics are corruption, illicit employment, the shadow economy, corporate social responsibility, consumer protection, supply chain law and environmental protection. In addition, business ethics provides answers to the questions raised by post-growth theories and alternative measures of well-being such as life satisfaction. It also examines the importance of trust and social capital for the development of societies.

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Contact Persons

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Dominik H. Enste

Prof. Dr. Dominik H. Enste

Head of Behavioral Economics and Business Ethics Research Unit

Tel: +49 221 4981-730 Dominik H. Enste @DominikEnste
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Lena Suling

Lena Suling

Economic Research Consultant of the IW Akademie

Tel: +49 221 4981-816
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Julia Wildner

Julia Wildner

Economic Research Consultant of the IW Akademie

Tel: +49 221 4981-818
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All news

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Megatrends and management as a driver of change
IW-Report No. 19 10. April 2024

Leadership in transformation: Megatrends and management as a driver of change

Lena Suling / Julia Wildner

Leadership dynamics in companies are subject to constant change in order to meet the challenges of their time. Today, the greatest influences result from developments such as demographic change, globalization, individualization, structural change and technologization in the economy.

IW

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Green Nudging – a key against littering?
IW-Policy Paper No. 10 22. November 2023

Green Nudging – a key against littering?

Jennifer Potthoff

The demand for cleanliness in cities is increasing: "Littering" - the illegal littering of public spaces - does not only cause costs for the environment and society, but also has significant financial consequences through increased cleaning costs.

IW

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Nudging green behavior
IW-Report No. 26 1. May 2023

Behavioral Economics in Companies: Nudging green behavior

Dominik Enste / Jennifer Potthoff

Climate change, the finite nature of natural resources, a growing world population and the quest for prosperity challenge society and policy to act responsibly and sustainably. The debate on climate change and the upcoming energy transition was recently intensified by the Ukrainian war.

IW

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Behavioral economic measures for freedom-preserving energy conservation
IW-Policy Paper No. 2 20. February 2023

Does Nudging Help in the crisis?: Behavioral economic measures for freedom-preserving energy conservation

Dominik Enste / Julia Hensen / Jennifer Potthoff

In view of the impending gas shortage, private households are called upon to reduce their gas and energy consumption. The moral appeals of those in power harbor the danger that people will react with reactance instead of the desired change in behavior.

IW

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4. May 4. May
Dominik Enste Event 4. May 2022

XI. Scientific Conference: The „Great Transformation”: New Rules of the Game?

Already before the Ukrainian War, Transformation seems to be everywhere. Almost 50 times it has been mentioned in the New „Ampel” Coalition Treaty of November 2021.

IW

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