about

briq is a research institute and knowledge hub with strong connections to the University of Bonn and leading international scholars.

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mission

The institute promotes innovative thinking and research in the fields of behavioral economics and the sources of inequality. This research aims at improving individual opportunities and social cohesion. briq provides a platform for the exchange of novel ideas and an infrastructure for the cooperation of international, top-level researchers. We believe that scientific, interdisciplinary research is a precondition for evidence-based policy advice and the evaluation of economic and social policies.

" Our goal is to advance innovative thinking about the sources and consequences of inequality while pushing the frontiers of behavioral economics research.
Armin Falk

scientific council

The Scientific Council meets once a year to advise the institute on strategic matters. Its current members are Janet M. Currie (Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University), James J. Heckman (Professor of Economics at The University of Chicago) and Ulrike M. Malmendier (Professor of Finance and Economics at University of California, Berkeley).

" The COVID-19 pandemic highlights relationships between individual and group behavioral responses and inequalities in health and economic wellbeing. We need insights from the type of research briq supports now more than ever.
Janet M. Currie

cooperation

Research is all about collaboration. A close cooperation with the University of Bonn and its Department of Economics is essential for briq’s success. Armin Falk, Botond Kőszegi and Florian Zimmermann, all of them also professors at the department, are involved in teaching and PhD supervision. The briq Scholarship Program provides support to students from the Bonn Graduate School of Economics (BGSE). briq is an integral part of key department initiatives such as the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy and the Collaborative Research Centre Economic Perspectives on Societal Challenges: Equality of Opportunity Market Regulation and Financial Stability – EpoS. Armin Falk is also director of BonnEconLab, the Laboratory for Experimental Economics at the Department of Economics. Beyond this intensive local cooperation, our researchers collaborate on a project basis with world leaders in their respective disciplines.

" With the Department of Economics literally across the street, briq is ideally located to closely collaborate with the department on many fronts. These collaborations, the daily exchange with department colleagues, the joint seminars and workshops, the interactions with the BGSE students, simply being part of a very active and stimulating broader research environment, all this is invaluable for our work here at briq.
Florian Zimmermann

projects

In addition to personal research projects, researchers at briq work on large-scale projects such as the Global Preferences Survey (GPS), the briq Family Panel (BFP), and the ERC project MEMEB on the role of memory for economic belief formation.

The Global Preferences Survey (GPS) is a globally representative dataset on risk and time preferences, positive and negative reciprocity, altruism, and trust. The project homepage describes the dataset, offers an interactive tool to compare preferences across countries, and allows researchers to download the questionnaires and access the data.

The briq Family Panel (BFP) tracks the impact of a mentoring program on children’s personality and skill development. The 9th wave has now been completed, with the 10th wave in preparation and about 500 families still participating. The project is supported by Eleven – Verein für Kinder- und Jugendförderung e.V. and the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute of the University of Bonn. Within this project, briq cooperates with the SOEP of the DIW Berlin in terms of data collection.

The ERC-supported project MEMEB aims at enhancing our understanding of the critical role of memory on economic behavior. It is based on the assumption that when forming opinions and expectations, people frequently consult their memory about relevant prior knowledge and experiences. Belief-based decisions are not only relevant for individual economic outcomes but may also have important effects on the economy as a whole.

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history

  • December 2015
    briq was founded by the Deutsche Post Foundation and registered as “Behavior and Inequality Research Institute GmbH”.
  • April 2016
    briq became operational with the appointment of Armin Falk as CEO.
  • April 2016
    briq/BGSE Applied Micro Workshops started as regular events.
  • May 2016
    briq Twitter channel was created.
  • August 2016
    briq signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Bonn and started supporting the BGSE.
    First Summer School on Socioeconomic Inequality jointly organized with HCEO.
  • December 2016
    Rebranding as “briq Institute on Behavior & Inequality” for brand consistency with our sister institutes.
  • April 2017
    First briq Research Affiliate appointed.
  • June 2017
    Our Visiting Program started with first briq Visiting Fellows.
    briq Short Lecture Series established.
  • July 2017
    briq Summer School in Behavioral Economics was held for the first time.
  • September 2017
    First meeting of the briq Scientific Council.
    Formal opening ceremony with invited guests and friends of briq.
  • October 2017
    Launch of the briq Newsroom.
  • January 2018
    briq Visiting Professor Program started with five professors.
  • May 2018
    First cohort started its Gap Year as part of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.
  • June 2018
    Launch of the Global Preferences Survey website.
  • October 2018
    Florian Zimmermann became briq Research Director.
  • December 2019
    Armin Falk’s ERC Grant MORALITY successfully completed.
  • December 2020
    briq certified as a carbon-neutral institute.
    Florian Zimmermann’s ERC Grant MEMEB started.
  • June 2021
    Relaunch of the briq website.
  • July 2022
    Botond Kőszegi appointed briq Research Director