Welcome to the Innsbruck Winter School on Credence Goods, Incentives and Behavior
February 1-7, 2025
Program | Course Lecturers & Topics | Fees & Application
We are delighted to announce the 2025 edition of the Innsbruck Winter School on Credence Goods, Incentives and Behavior. The course will focus on theoretical, experimental and behavioral approaches towards analyzing the economic implications of credence goods and will be taught by Rudolf Kerschbamer (University of Innsbruck) and Loukas Balafoutas (University of Exeter / University of Innsbruck). In addition, special sessions on selected topics in Environmental and Behavioral Economics/Finance will be held by Jürgen Huber, Esther Blanco, and Markus Walzl (University of Innsbruck).
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the tools needed to analyze key determinants of individual behavior and market performance in credence goods markets (with a wide definition of credence goods), such as markets for health care, repair and legal services, as well as markets for financial advice and fund management. In addition, science as a credence good, metasciences approaches, and nudging are subjects of the course.
The course will take place at the Hotel Lizum1600 in the centre of the picturesque ski resort Axamer Lizum close to Innsbruck (accommodation and half-board included). Generous time-slots in between the scientific sessions will enable participants to network with scholars and other students while enjoying the various winter sport activities and using opportunities to connect with other researchers in this area.
Part of the program will be the two-day workshop Innsbruck Winter Summit – (Un)Ethical Behavior in Markets. Keynotes will be given by Marie-Claire Villeval (CNRS / University of Lyon) and Daniel Benjamin (UCLA Anderson School of Management).
© Axamer Lizum GmbH & Co KG | Innsbruck Tourismus / Tom Bause / Christian Vorhofer | Lizum 1600
Program
The Winter School will be held from Saturday, February 1 until Friday, February 7 and will cover the following topics:
- Theoretical foundations of credence goods
- The method of running laboratory and field experiments in the social sciences
- Credence goods and laboratory/field experiments
- Market design
- Label credence goods
- Green behavior
- Credence goods and environmental aspects
- Science as a credence good
The scientific program starts on Saturday afternoon and ends on Friday after lunch.
Course Lecturers & Topics
Field evidence on credence goods and fraud
Loukas Balafoutas
University of Exeter / University of Innsbruck
Metascience approaches
Jürgen Huber
University of Innsbruck
Theory and lab evidence on credence goods and fraud
Rudolf Kerschbamer
University of Innsbruck
Green Behavior
Esther Blanco
University of Innsbruck
Label Credence Goods
Markus Walzl
University of Innsbruck
Fees & Application
The tuition fee is 990 Euros for the 6-day course and includes accommodation (double-rooms with separate beds, breakfast, dinner, coffee breaks, and attendance at the Innsbruck Winter Summit.
We welcome PhD students and PostDocs in economics, finance, and other related social sciences that apply theoretical and/or experimental methods in their respective fields.
Note: Students who are not enrolled at the University of Innsbruck need to upload a single pdf file during the application process called "surname.pdf" containing (i) a short motivation letter, (ii) CV and (iii) a list of publications and ongoing work. PhD students are expected to present their (planned) research during the course.
You can apply HERE. The deadline for applications is November 17, 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact Tobias Haller (credence-goods@uibk.ac.at).