Department of Economics, University of Zurich
Professorship of the Economics of Child Welfare and Development
Die kleinen Unterschiede kennen. Wie beeinflussen entscheiWhat
influence
does development in early
dungen
einzelner
den Gesamtmarkt?
childhood have on children’s welfare and
over all economic prosperity?
Well trained and motivated workers are the cornerstone of economic prosperity. Investment
in the health and skills of children and young
people is thus crucial both for the welfare of our
children and for the overall economic prosperity of a country. But which means of child
development are the most effective and costefficient? It is not only emerging countries that
are seeking a clear answer to this question.
The new professorship of the Economics of
Child Welfare and Development at the University of Zurich is researching which factors
favor children’s development and which measures are most effective.
Can we raise our children to be successful? What
influence do health and social security have on
development? How can we eradicate controversial
social conventions such as female genital cutting?
What do we need to do to ensure that children develop self-discipline, perseverance, and willingness
to cooperate? There is much to indicate that fostering
these qualities improves not only children’s welfare,
but also overall economic prosperity. Investing in
children’s development pays off several times over in
economic terms as it results in higher individual incomes, reduced crime rates, and a motivated
population.
Cost-efficient measures
Unfortunately, empirical knowledge of the effectiveness of specific measures is still very sparse. Today’s
findings base largely on assumptions. There is a lack
of proven findings, for example, regarding the
decisive factors for the development of self-discipline
and willingness to cooperate in children. In times
when public budgets are tight, especially in emerging
countries, it is particularly important to know which
programs can achieve the greatest possible impact
while also being cost-efficient.
Prof. Ernst Fehr
Prof. Ernst Fehr is responsible for the
new professorship of the Economics
of Child Welfare and Development.
He is Professor of Microeconomics
and Experimental Economics at the
University of Zürich.
Prof. Ernst Fehr
University of Zurich
Department of Economics
Blümlisalpstrasse 10
8006 Zurich, Switzerland
The new professorship seeks
to establish hard and fast
findings on the effective economic benefits of early
childhood development and
to demonstrate which
programs can achieve the
greatest possible impact
while also being costefficient.
Page 2 – Department of Economics, University of Zurich – Professorship of the Economics of Child Welfare and Development
World-class research at the University of Zurich
The Department of Economics has established a
strong international reputation in several fields. The
Center for Engineering Social and Economic
Institutions combines new approaches in mechanism
design theory with experimental methods in the
interests of optimizing social, political, and economic
institutions. The Center for Institutions, Policy,
and Culture in the Development Process deals with
macroeconomics, growth, globalization, and technological progress. Both research centers are
supported by the European Research Council (ERC).
Innovative research laboratories
In addition to the world-renowned Laboratory for
Experimental and Behavioral Economics, the
Department recently opened its Laboratory for
Social and Neural Systems Research. This new
laboratory employs the latest imaging technologies
in conjunction with non-invasive brain stimulation,
neuropharmacology, and computer simulation,
making it possible to investigate the biological
mechanisms underlying the economic decisionmaking process.
The objective:
understanding the prerequisites for positive
development in children
The new professorship focuses on the following aims:
– Understanding how to improve the conditions (health, safety, access to education) in which children grow up.
– Achieving reliable findings in relation to specific development measures for children that are effective and cost-efficient.
– Understanding the influence that developing emotional and motivational skills has on children’s welfare and overall economic prosperity.
The benefits:
sustainable prosperity for individuals and the
overall economy
The professorship will produce well-founded data on
the effective economic benefits of early childhood
development – for example with regard to measures
aimed at improving motivational skills such as concentration, perseverance, and willingness to cooperate.
Excellence Foundation Zurich
The Excellence Foundation Zurich is an independent foundation
established in accordance with Swiss law. It is committed to
top-level research in economics and the social sciences that will
enable us to address the pressing issues of our time at the
University of Zurich.
The Foundation aims to establish the best science for the solution
of important issues and problems.
Its findings will provide answers to the question of
which measures a state should invest in to develop
its own economy sustainably – and thus promote
prosperity for all – while using resources
as efficiently as possible.
Cognitive
skills
Effective cooperation
Motivational
skills
The development of motivational skills in childhood has
a direct, positive impact on many factors that are
important to economic prosperity:
- Higher incomes
- Better education
- Lower crime rates
- Greater opportunities for full-time employment
- Reduced truancy
- Less obesity
- Improved health
Department of Economics,
University of Zurich
The Department of Economics at the University
of Zurich is one of the leading research
centers in Europe. The broad area of research
includes various fields in economics, including
econometrics, macroeconomics, microeconomics and neuroeconomics. Research is done
with an interdisciplinary approach, combining
modern economic theory with the newest
elements from psychology, sociology, biology
and neuroscience. Above and beyond this,
the success of the Department of Economics
is based on the dedicated research done by
a large number of promising young scientists.
www.econ.uzh.ch
The Excellence Foundation Zurich supports the Department of
Economics in forging new paths in collaboration with economy and
society. By playing a pivotal role in the relationship between
research and society, the Excellence Foundation Zurich brings the
Department of Economics together with companies, foundations,
and private individuals. It is an innovative Foundation that offers its
patrons a varied range of opportunities and tailor-made
partnerships.
Your contact:
Excellence Foundation Zurich
Philip Kramer, Managing Director
Schönberggasse 1
8001 Zurich, Switzerland
T +41 44 634 59 38
[email protected]
www.efzh.org