Jennifer Potthoff

Economist for behavioral economics and business ethics

Tel: +49 221 4981-752 Mail: Potthoff@iwkoeln.de

Since 2021 at IW
Until 2020 studies International Business (B.Sc.) at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences
Until 2023 Master's degree at the IW Akademie/TH Cologne: Behavioral Ethics, Economics and Psychology (M.A.)

Empirical clusters

IW Publications

Enste, Dominik H. / Potthoff, Jennifer / Renz, Augustin, 2026, Ehrlichkeit im Ländervergleich: Der Honesty-Attitude-Behavior-Gap, in: IW-Trends, 53. Jg., Nr. 3, S. 43-60
Zur Studie

Potthoff, Jennifer / Gabel, Rebecca, 2025, Lebenszufriedenheit in Deutschland. Trends, Einflussfaktoren und politische Relevanz, in: IW-Trends, 52. Jg., Nr. 4, S. 25-43
Zur Studie

Engels, Barbara / Potthoff, Jennifer, 2025, Social Media, Markets and Minors: A Behavioral Ethics Perspective. The tension between protection and autonomy, IW-Policy Paper, Nr. 12, Köln
Zur Studie

Gabel, Rebecca / Potthoff, Jennifer, 2025, Vertrauenskrise in Deutschland?. Ein europäischer Vergleich und Wege zu neuer Stabilität, IW-Policy Paper, Nr. 9, Köln
Zur Studie

Nußbaum, Chiara / Potthoff, Jennifer, 2024, Influencer – Macht, Marketing und Manipulation, IW-Report, Nr. 43, Köln
Zur Studie

Potthoff, Jennifer, 2023, Green Nudging – a key against littering? Behavioral economic measures for cleaner cities, IW-Policy Paper, Nr. 10, Köln
Zur Studie

Enste, Dominik H. / Potthoff, Jennifer, 2023, Behavioral Economics in Companies. Nudging green behavior, IW-Report, Nr. 26, Köln
Zur Studie

Enste, Dominik H. / Hensen, Julia / Potthoff, Jennifer, 2023, Hilft Nudging in der Krise?. Verhaltensökonomische Maßnahmen für freiheitswahrendes Energiesparen, IW-Policy Paper, Nr. 2, Köln
Zur Studie

Küper, Malte / Potthoff, Jennifer, 2022, Wie Haushalte Gas sparen können, IW-Report, Nr. 45, Köln
Zur Studie

Enste, Dominik H. / Potthoff, Jennifer, 2021, Behavioral Economics and Climate Protection. Better regulation and green nudges for more sustainability, IW-Analyse, Nr. 146, Köln
Zur Studie

More from Jennifer Potthoff

IW-Trends No. 3 29. September 2026 Dominik Enste / Jennifer Potthoff / Augustin Renz

The Honesty-Attitude-Behavior Gap: A Cross-Country Comparison

Honesty reduces transaction costs and is therefore a prerequisite for effective economic cooperation.

IW-Trends No. 4 10. January 2026 Jennifer Potthoff / Rebecca Gabel

Life Satisfaction in Germany: Trends, Influencing Factors and Political Relevance

Despite their country’s multiple crises, Germans' subjective well-being remains overall buoyant and is currently reaching historic highs similar to those of the 2010s.

IW-Policy Paper No. 12 6. November 2025 Barbara Engels / Jennifer Potthoff

Social Media, Markets and Minors: A Behavioral Ethics Perspective

Social media has become a central infrastructure of adolescence, offering benefits such as social connection, informal learning, creative expression, and low-cost entrepreneurial opportunities, while simultaneously posing risks including depression, body image concerns, and opaque commercial persuasion.

IW-Policy Paper No. 9 30. April 2025 Rebecca Gabel / Jennifer Potthoff

Crisis of confidence in Germany?

Trust forms the foundation of stable societies and is essential for the smooth functioning of democracies, economic systems and social structures. However, in times of multiple crises – from economic uncertainty and political polarization to the effects of digitalization – trust in Germany has come under pressure.

IW-Report No. 43 27. November 2024 Chiara Nußbaum / Jennifer Potthoff

Influencers - power, marketing and manipulation

The creator economy is a rapidly growing industry that, according to forecasts, will continue to gain influence and increase sales in the coming years. With advertising deals and collaborations, influencers in particular not only generate high sales, but also have power over opinions and influence the consumer behavior of their followers.

IW-Policy Paper No. 10 22. November 2023 Jennifer Potthoff

Green Nudging – a key against littering?

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-Report No. 26 1. May 2023 Dominik Enste / Jennifer Potthoff

Behavioral Economics in Companies: Nudging green behavior

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-Policy Paper No. 2 20. February 2023 Dominik Enste / Julia Hensen / Jennifer Potthoff

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

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-Report No. 45 3. September 2022 Malte Küper / Jennifer Potthoff

How households can save gas: What options are there aside from price?

In view of the current gas emergency, all consumers are urged to reduce their gas consumption. High prices are seen as the most effective incentive to save gas.

IW-Analyse No. 146 30. December 2021 Dominik H. Enste / Jennifer Potthoff

Behavioral Economics and Climate Protection: Better regulation and green nudges for more sustainability

Protecting the climate is one of the greatest challenges our society is currently facing. In view of the heated political and social discussions surrounding this topic, the question naturally arises as to whether behavioral-economic insights can be used to sensitize German society to the dangers of climate change and to motivate it towards more sustainability.