Head: PD Dr. Irmi Seidl

The Economics and Social Sciences Research Unit is concerned with economic, institutional and societal questions of WSL-Research topics, in particular with landscape, natural resources, spatial development and natural hazards. It addresses real and specific problems and deals with them in an interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary or disciplinary way.

The work of the research unit is undertaken in accordance with the idea of sustainability and improves the knowledge of systems, of objectives, and of transformation.

The researchers

• investigate societal claims, attitudes, valuations, and participation and decision processes regarding the topics mentioned above;
• analyze economic, societal, and spatial processes, as well as societal structures, institutions, and relevant policies (e.g. governance) as to their effects on the environment, resources, and life quality;
• develop and evaluate communicative, persuasive, regulative, institutional, and economic measures, instruments and strategies.

Subunits

• Environmental and Resource Economics
  Head: PD Dr. Roland Olschewski
  
• Regional Economics and Development
  Head: Dr. Marco Pütz
  
• Social Sciences in Landscape Research
  Head: Dr. Marcel Hunziker