ECONtribute - Markets & Public Policy
The Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute conducts research on markets at the intersection of economics, politics and society.
- Funded since 2019
- Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences
- Part of the Key Profile Area “Social and Economic Behavior”
- Number of doctoral researchers (2022): 37 (total), 22 (UoC)
- Professors recruited in the current funding period: 9 (total), 5 (UoC)
- Relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals: Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Quality Education (SDG 4)
The aim is to better understand markets and to analyze market failures in times of social, technological and economic challenges – such as increasing inequality, global financial crises and digitalization – with a new approach.
Insights from economics, psychology, political science, law and sociology are combined to better connect basic research with a socio-political perspective.
The Cluster is supported by the Universities of Bonn and Cologne. All research activities are conducted in the joint Reinhard Selten Institute (RSI).
ECONtribute is the only Cluster of Excellence in economics and related disciplines.

Prof. Dr. Matthias Heinz
Research leader
Email: heinz@wiso.uni-koeln.de
Phone: +49 221 470 7263

Dr. Carola Braun
Coordinator
Email: carola.braun@uni-koeln.de
Phone: +49 221 470 76227

Lara Hölzer
Project manager D7
Email: l.hoelzer@verw.uni-koeln.de
Phone.: +49 221 470 76228