Economics and Social Sciences

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.

Projects

Research Groups and Staff

Economics and Social Sciences

Irmi Seidl

Head of Research Unit

Anna Grun

Temporary employee / Scientific staff member

Social Sciences in Landscape Research

Marcel Hunziker

Groupleader

Nicole Bauer

Scientific staff member

Matthias Buchecker

Senior Scientist

Marius Fankhauser

Scientific staff member

Maria Garcia Martin

Scientific staff member

Selina Gattiker

Trainee

Solène Guenat

Postdoc

Karin Tessa Hegetschweiler

Scientific staff member

Uta Maria Jürgens

Visiting scientist

Moses Kazungu

Postdoc

Nico Keiser

Civilian service employees

Elisabeth Maidl

Scientific staff member

Lea Pellegrini

Master student

Julia Schaupp

PhD student

Martina Spörri Eggenberger

Postdoc

Lina Torregroza

Scientific staff member

Johanna Trummer

Temporary employee

Aline von Atzigen

Postdoc

Bozana Vrhovac

PhD student

Christopher Young

Visiting scientist

Regional Economics and Development

Marco Pütz

Groupleader

Dominik Braunschweiger

Scientific staff member

Lena Gubler

Scientific staff member

Tonja Iten

PhD student

Rebecca Pearson

PhD student guest

Pascal Tschumi

Scientific staff member

Environmental and Resource Economics

Roland Olschewski

Groupleader

Fabian Dvorak

Visiting scientist

Laura Garcia Espigares

PhD student guest

Annina Guthauser

PhD student

Isabelle Sophie Jarisch

PhD student guest

Max Rudolf

PhD student

Maritza Satama

Postdoc

Tobias Schulz

Scientific staff member