Christian Biener

Professor Christian Biener is a faculty member at the University of St. Gallen, affiliated with the School of Economics and Political Science and the Department of Economics. His research focuses on insurance economics, behavioral economics, and risk management, with particular emphasis on topics like cyber risk, microinsurance, health insurance design, and the societal impacts of emerging technologies such as chatbots and telematics. He holds a prominent role in academic and industry discourse through his extensive publication record and contributions to policy-relevant research.

Biener’s work bridges theoretical economic analysis with practical applications, addressing challenges in global insurance markets, pandemic response strategies, and the interplay between technological innovation and human behavior. His research has explored how factors like microbiome composition influence economic decision-making, the ethical implications of contact-tracing apps, and the design of effective reinsurance strategies. He actively engages with industry trends, advising on future skills requirements in reinsurance and the balance between privacy and risk hedging in digital environments.

His scholarly output spans over a decade, with recent trends emphasizing behavioral aspects of insurance decisions, the impact of global events on healthcare costs, and the transformational role of technology in insurance products. Biener’s articles consistently analyze both micro-level individual decision-making and macro-level market dynamics, offering insights that inform both academic theory and policy formation.

While no formal awards are explicitly mentioned, his prolific publication record and institutional affiliation suggest significant recognition within the field. Biener’s work often incorporates experimental methodologies, such as randomized controlled trials, to empirically validate theoretical models. He collaborates across disciplines, integrating insights from psychology, computer science, and public health into his economic analyses.

Biener’s current research agenda includes investigating the insurability of novel risks (e.g., cyber threats), optimizing microinsurance programs in emerging markets, and analyzing non-cognitive skills’ role in post-crisis economic recovery. He leads projects at the Institute for Economics (IVW) at HSG, contributing to both academic and applied research initiatives.