Please note that this seminar will be held in English. This seminar is aimed at Master's students of economics and in the summer semester 2025 also at Bachelor's students.
Professor: Prof. Dr. Werner Bönte
Research assistant: Andrés Felipe Zambrano Curcio (M. Sc.)
Registration mode: Registration via enrolment in the Moodle course and official registration by registration form in the first session.

About the seminar:

This seminar introduces students to the emerging field of neuroeconomics, which integrates economics with psychophysiology to study how biological processes, such as stress, emotions and attention, influence decision-making. Aimed at students from diverse disciplines, the course explains the fundamentals of the field, with a focus on emotional factors that influence decision-making behavior in competitive environments, particularly through the lens of economic experiments with real incentives.

The seminar content is structured to provide a comprehensive overview of significant developments in neuroeconomics, tailored for students from departments with no prior knowledge of biology or chemistry. It aims to make the complex relationship between biological responses - such as emotional arousal and attention - and economic outcomes understandable and relevant. During the semester, students will work with instructors to design and conduct an economic experiment in the Experimental Economics Lab related to the effects of stress in competitive environments, providing a practical application of theoretical knowledge.

Through this seminar, students will gain a basic understanding of neuroeconomics, which will foster skills in analytical thinking and experimental design. This will not only enhance their academic portfolio but also provide skills.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this seminar, students will be able to:

1. Evaluate contemporary research: students will be able to critically evaluate the current research landscape regarding the biological basis of decision-making. This includes identifying key studies, understanding the methodologies used, and recognizing the implications of these findings for the broader field of neuroeconomics.
2. Analyze the impact of cognition and emotion: Students will develop a deep understanding of how cognitive processes and emotional states influence economic decision making. They will learn to distinguish between different cognitive functions and emotional responses and analyze how these elements can influence individual and group economic decisions in different contexts.
3. Design relevant research studies: Students will be able to design comprehensive research proposals to explore unanswered questions in the field of neuroeconomics. This includes formulating hypotheses based on the existing literature, selecting appropriate experimental designs, and outlining methods to study the interplay between biological behavioral mechanisms and their economic consequences.

Moodle course:

The seminar starts on May 7, 2025, 14.00 - 16.00.

Room: M.15.09

This undergratuate seminar is aimed at students in the early semesters.
Professor: Prof. Dr. Bönte 
Registration mode: Registration via enrolment in the Moodle course and official registration by registration form in the first session.

Course description

The energy supply in Germany is facing major challenges. Climate change, the energy transition and the requirements for sustainability and security of supply call for well thought-out regulation. This proseminar therefore deals in particular with the regulatory framework for electricity generation and distribution in Germany and aims to enable students to critically scrutinise discussions in politics and the media from a scientific point of view. It offers an introduction to regulatory and competition issues in this area and at the same time teaches basic methods of scientific work. In addition to content-related discussions, the focus is on the preparation of academic texts, researching relevant literature and the consolidation and application of economic theories. The proseminar is aimed at students in the early semesters, in particular from the field of economics and related disciplines. It is ideal for anyone who wants to gain initial experience in academic work and gain a better understanding of regulatory issues relating to energy supply and sustainability.

first appointment: 2025-04-10

formal requirements: written assignment and presentation

deadline for the written assignment: 2025-07-17