This seminar provides a forum to share and discuss ideas on how institutions affect human behavior. With the support at our chair, students develop their own ideas for the design of an economic experiment or field study.

Impulses may be received from Michael Sandel (e.g. on institutions and justice), George Loewenstein (e.g. on decision making), Ernst Fehr (e.g. on competition and cooperation), Jean Tirole (e.g. on the design of institutions), Uri Gneezy (e.g. on incentive mechanisms), James Andreoni (e.g. on pro-social behavior and charitable giving) or Armin Falk and Nora Szech (e.g. on morals and institutions).

Students may work individually or in pairs of two. Working in teams of two is being recommended.

The seminar starts with an obligatory introductory meeting at the beginning of the semester on October 22nd, 2015. Ideas for an experiment or field study will be presented in a block event on December 11th, 2015, each presentation lasting about 20 minutes. Seminar papers of 8 – 10 pages are to be handed in by February 29th, 2016.

For bachelor students grades will be based on the quality of presentations and discussions in the seminar (50%) and the seminar paper (50%).

Master students additionally have to hand in two abstracts with their paper. Their grades will be based on the quality of presentations and discussions in the seminar (40%), the seminar paper (40%), and the two abstracts (20%). Participation is limited to 12 students. Please apply for the seminar via the centralized platform (https://portal.wiwi.kit.edu/Seminare). You will be notified about acceptance by September 28th, 2015.

For further questions, please contact Leonie Fütterer (leonie.fuetterer@kit.edu).

Impulses may be received from Michael Sandel (e.g. on institutions and justice), George Loewenstein (e.g. on decision making), Ernst Fehr (e.g. on competition and cooperation), Jean Tirole (e.g. on the design of institutions), Uri Gneezy (e.g. on incentive mechanisms), James Andreoni (e.g. on pro-social behavior and charitable giving) or Armin Falk and Nora Szech (e.g. on morals and institutions).