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Prof. Dr. Aleksander Berentsen is a Professor of Economics at the University of Basel’s Faculty of Business and Economics, specializing in Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, and nonconventional monetary policy. His research addresses topics like Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC), negative interest rates, and financial innovation. He has held visiting positions at top institutions including UC Berkeley and the University of Pennsylvania, and is a research fellow at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Berentsen co-authored the influential book Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Cryptoassets: A Comprehensive Introduction (MIT Press, 2020), and has published extensively in journals like the American Economic Review and the Review of Economic Studies. Education: Studied at the Universities of Basel, Bern, and the London School of Economics. Key roles include advisory positions for the Swiss National Bank, ECB, and Bank for International Settlements. His work bridges theoretical economics with practical policy, particularly in digital finance and monetary systems. Research Interests: Blockchain technology, CBDC design, cryptocurrency stability, monetary policy tools (e.g., negative interest rates), and financial inclusion. He explores how decentralized systems can reshape traditional financial frameworks, with a focus on liquidity, stability, and regulatory challenges. Publications highlight his contributions to understanding cryptoasset dynamics, CBDC frameworks, and the societal implications of digital currencies. His 2020 book is widely praised as a foundational text for both academics and practitioners. Current projects include zero-knowledge proofs in blockchains and CBDC remuneration strategies. Labs/Teams: Co-founded the Center for Innovative Finance at the University of Basel to advance interdisciplinary research in fintech and digital currencies.

• Blockchain Technology
• Cryptocurrencies
• Monetary Policy
• +5 more

Dr. Bjarne Steffen is an Assistant Professor of Climate Finance and Policy at ETH Zürich's Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, leading the Climate Finance and Policy Group (CFP). He holds a PhD in Energy Economics from the University of Duisburg-Essen and studied at the University of Mannheim and UC Berkeley. His research focuses on policy design for the low-carbon transition in energy and financial sectors, combining environmental/energy economics with financial and innovation studies. Key affiliations include ETH's Institute of Science, Technology and Policy, the ETH Energy Science Center, and advisory roles with the World Economic Forum and OECD/UNEP. He secured an ERC Starting Grant (2020) for research on public policy's role in mobilizing low-carbon technology investments. Recent projects address cost-of-capital heterogeneity in energy models, renewable finance in OECD countries, and climate risks for financial investors. His interdisciplinary team explores policy sequencing for carbon removal integration and energy security in net-zero pathways. Awards: ERC Starting Grant (2020).

• Climate Finance and Policy
• Energy Economics
• Financial Economics
• +4 more

Kristen McNeill is an Assistant Professor in Anthropology and Sociology and holds the Pictet Chair in Finance and Development. She is affiliated with the Centre for Finance and Development and the Gender Centre, focusing on themes such as Economies and Institutions, Gender, Class, Race, and Intersectionality. Her research examines the social drivers of financial behaviors, gender inequalities in development contexts, and the gendered dimensions of microfinance processes. McNeill earned a PhD from Brown University. Her work employs mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, notably exploring how gender-neutral financial policies can produce unequal outcomes in practice, such as in microlending contexts. She has conducted fieldwork in Western and Southern Africa, contributing to global policy analyses on topics like child rights, labor policies, and pension systems. Her publications span journals like Socio-Economic Review and American Sociological Review , addressing themes such as informal financial assistance, microsavings program dynamics, and global policy comparisons. McNeill collaborates with institutions to develop indicators for assessing international covenant compliance and child policy effectiveness. Her research emphasizes intersectional approaches, linking gender, class, and race to economic structures. She has contributed to books like Children’s Chances: How Country Action Changes Children’s Opportunities , examining global policy impacts on child well-being.

• Microfinance
• Gender Inequalities
• International Development
• +5 more

Morten Olsen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Economics , University of Copenhagen . His research focuses on labor economics , income inequality , automation , climate change policy , and international trade . He has published extensively on these topics in journals such as the AEJ Macroeconomics , Journal of Economic Growth , and Journal of International Economics . Recent research includes automation's impact on labor markets (2024) and adverse selection in climate policy (2023). His work often intersects technological innovation with economic inequality , examining how horizontal innovation and directed technical change affect income distribution and labor dynamics. Scientific Awards : AEJ Macro Best Paper Award (2023) Contact: morten@morten-olsen.com | Phone: +45 31 19 99 30

• Economics
• Labor Economics
• Income Inequality
• +7 more

Tanushree Kaushal is a Visiting Lecturer in International Relations & Political Science at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. She recently completed her PhD summa cum laude from the same institution, where she was affiliated with the Gender Centre and the Centre for Finance and Development. Her research spans international and feminist political economy, sociology of finance, and postcolonial studies of capitalism. Her academic journey includes: PhD in International Relations/Political Science from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (defended May 16, 2025) Visiting research fellow at the University of Edinburgh Visiting research fellow at the Centre de Sciences Humaines in New Delhi Kaushal's research examines how financial value is generated through the transformation of social, moral, and political values, with particular attention to the often-invisible forms of labor that financial intermediaries perform. Her doctoral work traced the financialisation of microcredit from West Bengal to Geneva through a year of multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork. She employs diverse research methods including ethnography, photo elicitation, interviews, and financial dataset analysis across geographical contexts from Geneva's financial hubs to microfinance institutions in West Bengal, India. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on gendered labor in finance, imperial legacies in contemporary finance, microfinance regulation in India, and women's everyday practices across financial registers. Her work critically examines how finance claims to solve poverty and gender inequality while revealing the contradictions within social finance systems. Among her notable achievements is completing her PhD summa cum laude with the thesis titled 'Social Finance in India: Coloniality, Gender and Labour Transformations of Values into Value'. Kaushal is currently preparing a book on women's vernacular critiques of financial concepts and the gendered labor of producing financial value. Fluent in English, Hindi, and French, she bridges theoretical frameworks from feminist political economy and postcolonial theory with empirical research on financial practices across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts.

• International Relations
• Political Science
• Feminist Political Economy
• +7 more

Lorenzo Casaburi is the UBS Foundation Associate Professor of Development Economics (with tenure) at the University of Zurich's Department of Economics. His research focuses on economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly agricultural finance, competition, and land markets. He holds affiliations with BREAD, CEPR, IGC, IPA, and J-PAL, and serves as an Associate Editor for Econometrica and the Economic Journal . Casaburi earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford SIEPR. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, Harvard University (2013) B.A. in Economics (cum laude), University of Bologna (2004) Education Abroad Program, University of California, Berkeley (2003-2004) Research Interests: Development Economics, Political Economy, Behavioral Economics, Public Finance. His work emphasizes agricultural markets, land policies, and institutional dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa, supported by grants from the ERC, Swiss National Science Foundation, and USAID. Awards: Prize for Excellence in Development (2019) Excellence in Refereeing Award (AER, 2017, 2018, 2020) Harvard Teaching Excellence (2010) Grants & Supervision: Secured over $3.8M in research funding. Advised six Ph.D. students placed in top institutions like NYU Abu Dhabi, LSE, and Brown University. Leads projects on land rentals, cash transfers, and ICT in agriculture. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with IPA, J-PAL, and the International Growth Centre on field experiments and policy evaluations in Africa and beyond.

• Development Economics
• Political Economy
• Behavioral Economics
• +4 more

Dr. Marina Markheim is a Postdoc at the University of Basel's Faculty of Business and Economics and concurrently holds a Postdoc position at the University of Regensburg, where she earned her PhD in 2018. Her research focuses on microeconomic theory, particularly mechanism design within blockchain systems, with current interests in applying blockchain technology to microfinance and real estate sectors. Her academic affiliation includes the Department of Economic Theory at the University of Basel. She contributes to teaching activities (Lehrveranstaltungen) and research projects, though specific courses or projects are not detailed here. Her work bridges theoretical economic frameworks with practical applications in emerging technologies like blockchain. No specific scientific awards or grants are mentioned in the provided text. Her professional trajectory emphasizes active research and postdoctoral contributions in her field.

• Blockchain Technology
• Microeconomic Theory
• Mechanism Design
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Julia Meyer is a Professor of Sustainable Finance at the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Management and Law , and a member of the Center for Corporate Performance and Sustainable Financing. Her research focuses on Sustainable Finance, Microfinance/Inclusive Finance , and the intersection of financial practices with sustainability goals. Key Projects: Sustainability and Financial Preferences for Investors (2024, Project Leader) Integration of Sustainability Assessment in SME Financing (2024, Team Member) The Anatomy of Sustainability (2020, Project Leader) Networks: Swiss Sustainable Finance - Focus Group Impact Investing Research Interests include understanding how sustainability targets in financial instruments (e.g., sustainability-linked bonds) influence investor behavior, market reactions, and corporate strategies. She investigates the credibility of sustainability signals, differential market responses to ESG metrics, and the role of fintech in advancing sustainable financing. Her work often employs event studies , field experiments , and empirical finance to analyze the financial and behavioral impacts of sustainability initiatives. Scientific Awards include funding from the Schwyzer-Winiker Stiftung for her research on sustainability-linked bonds. Her peer-reviewed articles span topics like ESG ratings, impact investing, and climate finance, with methodologies such as quasi-natural experiments and market reaction analyses. She also contributes to book chapters and conference proceedings on fintech and sustainability. Education: Ph.D. in Finance or related field (inferred from professorship and research output).

• Sustainable Finance
• Microfinance
• Inclusive Finance
• +4 more

Esther Duflo is the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics at MIT's Department of Economics, co-founder and co-director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), and Chaire at Collège de France. She holds a PhD in Economics from MIT (1999) and earlier degrees in history and economics from École Normale Supérieure, Paris. Research Focus: Development economics, education policy, public health, financial inclusion, and governance in low-income contexts. Key Contributions: Pioneering randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate poverty-alleviation programs, including microfinance, education subsidies, and health interventions. Recent Publications (2024–2019): Analyzed climate change adaptation, intergenerational education impacts, technology diffusion, social media health campaigns, and long-term poverty interventions. Her work spans empirical economics, behavioral science, and policy design, emphasizing scalable solutions. 2019: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2015: Princess of Asturias Award 2014: Infosys Prize 2010: John Bates Clark Medal 2009: MacArthur Fellowship Books: Co-authored Poor Economics and Good Economics for Hard Times , and authored children's books explaining poverty through economic concepts (e.g., Nilou's Dreams ).

• Development Economics
• Education Policy
• Public Health
• +7 more

Bernd Balkenhol is a Retired Professor at the University of Geneva's Geneva School of Economics and Management and a member of the Geneva Finance Research Institute. His career includes roles as Senior Policy Advisor at the International Labour Organization (ILO), where he directed the Social Finance Program from 1991. He contributed to the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion and coordinated the 2015 European Microfinance Research Conference. His research focuses on microfinance access, financial inclusion policies, and their socioeconomic impacts. Education: Ph.D., Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg; M.A., Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Professional highlights include advising the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) and lecturing at institutions like ULB, Paris Dauphine, and University Zurich. His work bridges academia and policy, emphasizing sustainable finance and development outcomes.

• Microfinance
• Financial Inclusion
• Development Economics
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Manuel Oechslin is a Full Professor of Economics at the University of Lucerne's Faculty of Economics and Management since 2014. Previously, he held an Associate Professorship at Tilburg University. His research focuses on international economics, macroeconomics, and the role of uncertainty in economic decision-making. He leads an SNSF-funded project exploring how fundamental uncertainty drives economic fluctuations and crises. Manuel Oechslin earned his PhD in Economics from the University of Zurich. His work has been published in top journals such as the Economic Journal , Journal of International Economics , and Journal of Economic Growth . His recent articles analyze geopolitical risks' impact on foreign investment (2025), behavioral macroeconomic models (2024), and transformative innovation under uncertainty (2023). These studies emphasize linkages between cognitive biases, institutional quality, and economic outcomes. While no specific awards are listed, his research has consistently addressed pressing issues like fiscal reforms, informal economies, and environmental scarcity. His work often intersects with policy design and institutional capacity-building in weakly institutionalized states. Grants and research projects include SNSF funding for his uncertainty-focused project. He advises doctoral candidates through the University of Lucerne's Graduate Academy and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams exploring topics like statistical governance and corruption dynamics.

• International Economics
• Macroeconomics
• Economic Growth
• +4 more

Solène Morvant-Roux is an Associate Professor at the University of Geneva , holding a Doctor of Economics degree. Her work bridges economics and sociology, focusing on microfinance, financial inclusion, over-indebtedness , and rural development in Latin America and North Africa. She employs mixed methods approaches to analyze financial markets' socio-economic impacts. Research Trends: Her recent publications examine debt moralities in Switzerland, ecological dispossession in Mexico's Río Santiago region, and transnational financial behaviors in West Africa. She critiques financialization processes in social policies and explores collective resistances against microcredit systems through empirical studies in India and Morocco. 2023: Authored the book Sacralized Debt , analyzing Swiss debt hierarchies 2021: Co-authored replication study on Moroccan microcredit failures in Third World Quarterly 2020: Published two articles in Development and Change and Oxford Development Studies on ecological dependency and mobile money politics Grants & Projects: Led Swiss National Science Foundation research (2016-2020) on microcredit water access in the Global South. Directed projects for the European Investment Bank, AFD, and ANR on financial inclusion during crises and rural Moroccan markets.

• Microfinance
• Financial Inclusion
• Over-indebtedness
• +4 more

Solène Morvant-Roux is an Associate Professor at the University of Geneva with a Doctorate in Economics. Her research specializes in microfinance, financial inclusion, and development economics, focusing on Latin America and North Africa. She leads significant research projects funded by institutions like the Swiss National Science Foundation and European Investment Bank, examining water access via microcredit, cross-border financial systems, and crisis impacts on financial inclusion. Her research explores: The intersection of poverty, debt, and market integration in vulnerable communities Gender dimensions of financial policies in Mexico Mixed-method approaches to microcredit impact evaluation Transnational financial practices in West Africa Socioeconomic drivers of over-indebtedness Her publications demonstrate strong focus on microfinance systems in Morocco, Mexico, Dominican Republic and India, with recurring themes of debt dynamics, policy implementation gaps, and methodological innovations in impact research. Recent work engages with monetary theory and Polanyian economic sociology. Teaching activities include graduate courses in Socioeconomics of Development (University of Geneva), Economic History (University of Fribourg), and specialized seminars on Microfinance and Financial Inclusion. She maintains active media engagement through outlets like Le Temps and The Guardian, discussing microcredit reforms and monetary policy. She leads research teams for international projects like 'Financial Inclusion in Crisis' (EIBURS program) and coordinates multi-country studies. Current works include forthcoming books on debt hierarchies in Switzerland and indigenous financial systems in Mexico.

• Microfinance
• Financial Inclusion
• Over-indebtedness
• +5 more

Jonathan Fu is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich's Department of Finance, affiliated with the Center of Competence for Sustainable Finance and the Center for Human Rights Studies. His research focuses on sustainable finance, fintech, financial intermediation, and political economy. He holds a BA in Economics from UC San Diego and Master's degrees from LSE and Sciences Po, specializing in public and economic policy. Education: Bachelor of Arts in Economics, University of California, San Diego Master's in Public and Economic Policy, London School of Economics & Sciences Po Research Interests: Sustainable finance mechanisms and policy impacts Fintech adoption dynamics in crises Political economy of financial systems Microfinance and business environment interactions Publications highlight themes like fintech's global expansion during crises, green bond valuation using NLP, and business environment effects on micro-enterprise growth. His work bridges theoretical finance with real-world policy applications. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Center of Competence for Sustainable Finance and Center for Human Rights Studies at UZH, exploring intersections between finance and socio-environmental justice.

• Sustainable Finance
• Financial Intermediation
• Fintech
• +3 more

Annette Krauss is a Senior Academic Associate at the University of Zurich’s Department of Finance. She is affiliated with the Competence Center for Sustainable Finance and the Executive Education unit, overseeing teaching programs on sustainable finance. Her career includes founding the Center for Microfinance (2009) and co-founding the Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (2017). She previously served as a Senior Lecturer at the Kellogg School of Management (2007–2009) and held roles at the United Nations Capital Development Fund as a Training Manager (2000–2005). She earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Ruhr-University Bochum (1999) and a Diploma in Economics from the University of Trier (1995), with research stays at UC Berkeley (USA) and Toulouse (France). Education: Ph.D. in Economics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany (1999) Diploma in Economics (M.Sc. Equivalent), University of Trier, Germany (1995) Exchange Student at Université des Sciences Sociales, Toulouse, France (1991–1992) Research Fellow at University of California, Berkeley (1994–1995) Research Interests: Annette’s work centers on empirical studies of financial inclusion, sustainable banking, and microfinance in developing economies. She explores how business environments influence microenterprise growth and investigates mechanisms to combat financial exclusion in rural regions. Her research also delves into impact investing, ESG integration in financial systems, and the role of social capital in microfinance institutions. Teaching Activities: Annette teaches courses on Impact Investing and Financial Inclusion, Sustainable Banking, and Sustainable Finance programs at the University of Zurich. She actively designs executive education curricula for MAS/DAS/CAS in Sustainable Finance. Grants and Academic Contributions: Principal Investigator for a Data.org grant (2021–2022) on AI-driven financial inclusion for women Co-investigator in Swiss National Science Foundation grants (2014–2017) on entrepreneurial rights and ESG integration Recipient of multiple grants from the Schwyzer Winiker Foundation, SFI Foundation, and Ecoscientia Foundation Labs and Teams: She leads the Competence Center for Sustainable Finance and collaborates with the Center for Microfinance. Her work intersects with institutions like Women’s World Banking, Triodos, and the Financial Inclusion Equity Council (FIEC).

• Financial Inclusion
• Microfinance
• Sustainable Banking
• +5 more