“Europeans must have confidence in the future”
To be able to play up its economic strengths against China and the US, Europe should aim to eliminate barriers in its internal market and not try to regulate everything down to the smallest detail.
Economics and Informatics
Article list Economics and Informatics
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New Spin-Offs with Innovative Technology
Detecting prostate cancer at an early stage, keeping transplantation organs viable for longer, or a lab that fits on a chip: these six spin-offs from UZH are bringing research ideas to the market. -
Rising Wages Drive Innovation in Automation Technology
A new UZH study shows for the first time that higher minimum wages for low-skill jobs drive firms to develop automation technologies. Rising wages for high-skill labor, in contrast, can hamper this effect. -
“Whoever controls Artificial General Intelligence, controls the world”
Artificial intelligence has been reshaping nearly every sector of the economy. In a lecture at UZH, Nobel laureate Daron Acemoğlu emphasized the need for proper regulation to reap the benefits of AI. -
More Maize for Farmers in Africa
As part of their Master’s project, three informatics students developed a software solution that could help farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to reduce their crop losses. In recognition of this, they received a UZH semester award. -
Gatekeeper of the Music World
Over 80% of recorded music today is listened to on streaming platforms. Even though one big player – Spotify – dominates the Western market, that has led to wider and more diverse music offerings for the public. -
Working With More Emotion
Digital technology will shape the way we work in future, but the focus must still be on human beings with all their feelings and needs. This is why companies need to become more emotionally intelligent, says business economist Jochen Menges. -
Less Inequality with AI
Over the years, digitalization has led to the axing of many lower-skilled jobs, thereby polarizing the employment market. But AI could enhance some of the simpler jobs and reduce inequality. -
Public Discourse Promotes Socially Responsible Behavior
Public discourse campaigns often promote social responsibility, but do such discussions also impact our market behavior? Economists at the University of Zurich have published a new study that shows that engaging in public discourse increases socially responsible market behavior – regardless of participants’ social norms and values. -
Aversion to Inequality Drives Support for Redistribution
As income inequality widens, debates around redistribution policies are heating up. An international research team shows that support for these policies stems not only from individuals’ financial situations but also from an inherent aversion to inequality. This offers valuable insights into predicting public support for future redistribution policies. -
Three UZH Researchers Awarded SNSF Consolidator Grants
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has approved Consolidator Grants for three projects at the University of Zurich. Additionally, 14 early-career researchers at UZH benefit from the SNSF funding program Ambizione. -
“Climinator” vs. Greenwashers
Companies like to act “green” by publishing thick environmental sustainability reports replete with photography of pristine landscapes, but precious few of them keep their promises. Finance professor Markus Leippold is using AI-based tools to fight greenwashing. -
Values and Sustainability
The way people behave in complex social relationships over time can now be analyzed in great detail thanks to methods developed by the URPP Social Networks. -
Crucial Gaps in Climate Risk Assessment Methods
Researchers from the Universities of Zurich, Vienna and Utrecht have uncovered significant flaws in current climate risk assessment techniques that could lead to a severe underestimation of climate-related financial losses for businesses and investors. -
“The next crisis can’t be prevented through regulation alone”
Financial market law can’t prevent a bank going bankrupt – nor should it – but it should effectively limit the impact on systemic stability and stop contagion. This is the take-home message from the concluded URPP Financial Market Regulation. The program’s director Rolf Sethe takes a look back and reveals what he has found most surprising over the past 12 years of research. -
UZH Robotics Research Leads the Way
Davide Scaramuzza has been awarded the IEEE Kiyo Tomiyasu Award. In the interview below, the professor of robotics and perception explains why a drone needs agility and low latency and which progress is needed to improve the autonomy of drones in the future. -
CEOs’ Human Concern Translates into Higher Stock Price
CEOs’ expressions of empathy correlate with positive stock performance, a study led by the University of Zurich shows. The researchers analyzed data from conference calls between CEOs and financial analysts during the COVID-19 pandemic. -
Closing the Microcredit Gender Gap in Ghana
Small loans can help people establish and expand their small businesses. A field study in Ghana has now revealed that men ask for and receive more money from microcredit companies than women. However, if women are better informed, they are more likely to apply for higher amounts. -
Building Bridges
The Department of Finance at the University of Zurich has launched the "Initiative in Sustainable Finance". Its aim is to become a leading global center for research in this area and to promote dialogue between science, business, politics, and society. -
Increasing Trust and Improving School Grades
Mistrust between ethnic groups is a major problem for many African countries. Economist David Yanagizawa-Drott runs a project in Ghana that seeks to build up trust among ethnic groups and at the same time improve school teaching.