Best Dissertation Award
Prashanth Mahagaonkar has won the Best Dissertation Award at the Schumpeter School of Business and Economics (University of Wuppertal). His "outstanding" work on "Money and Ideas: Four Studies on Finance, Innovation and Corruption" explores the implications of financial constraints during start-up and subsequent phases.
More on Prashanth Mahagaonkar.
If less has to be more: Do reduced consumption levels always lead to lesser well-being?
How can we prevent individual well-being from being negatively affected by decreasing consumption levels? Dr. Astrid Matthey, researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Economics in Jena, analyzed this question and applied her results to the current discussion on environmental protection. Her conclusion: As society emphasizes greater material consumption, then both individual well-being will fall further if consumption-reduction is required and support for environmental protection policies will be weaker.
The background: Scientists and politicians are currently discussing strategies that ensure sustainable use of exhaustible, non-renewable resources. One common argument emphasizes the need for decreased resource consumption in western industrial nations. If that is the case, reduced material living standards might become necessary – which could affect individual well-being. Astrid Matthey has now conducted a series of laboratory experiments concerning the potential influence on individual well-being.
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3rd Long Night of Science
The 3rd Long Night of Science took place in Jena November 13th, 2009. The Max Planck Institute of Economics contributed to the event with several offerings: Short presentations with open discussions informed about topics like the influence of Darwin on the field of Economics, or current research on innovative start-ups. ARD-journalist Vera Linß hosted a talk with young scientists about their work, and game-theoretical experiments had been prepared for the evening by members of IMPRS Uncertainty. Catering was also provided. More Information about the events at the MPI of Economics and the Long Night of Science in general can be found here.
Some impressions about the events at the MPI of Economics during the Long Night of Science can be found here.
Nobel Prize for IMPRS Uncertainty Faculty member Elinor Ostrom!
The 2009 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was won by Elinor Ostrom, a distinguished IMPRS Uncertainty faculty member! Elinor Ostrom is a professor at the IMPRS Uncertainties' partner institution Indiana University, Bloomington (USA), where she is working in the field of political science and environmental economics. Students of the IMPRS Uncertainty profit greatly from her expertise and advice. For example, 13 of the IMPRS Uncertainty students elaborated and discussed their projects with her at last years' Topics Workshop in Bloomington.
Congratulations to Elinor Ostrom
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