Florian Spitzer

Florian Spitzer is a behavioral economist at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Vienna, since 2018 and a member of the Research Group Social Sustainable Transformation. He previously served as a University Assistant at the University of Vienna and the Vienna University of Economics and Business. He studied Economics in Heidelberg and Copenhagen and earned his PhD in Economics from the University of Vienna in 2018.

• Education
  • PhD in Economics, University of Vienna (2018)
  • Studies in Economics, University of Heidelberg and University of Copenhagen

Spitzer's research examines how institutional settings shape human behavior, particularly in promoting sustainable actions (e.g., environmentally sustainable mobility, financial health-related decisions). He employs a mix of methods: laboratory, field, and online experiments, alongside qualitative approaches. His work bridges behavioral economics with practical applications for sustainability.

His selected publications analyze ESG investments, active mobility policies, behavioral interventions for vaccination compliance, and family policy design. He also explores the impact of medical insurance on patient overtreatment through experimental economics. These studies reflect his focus on behavioral mechanisms in financial, health, and environmental domains.

Spitzer contributes to continuing education programs for policymakers, emphasizing behavioral science applications in governance. His funded projects include:

• Das „Betreute Konto“ aus verhaltensökonomischer Perspektive (ERSTE Stiftung)
• Finanzberatung optimal gestalten (OeNB Jubiläumsfonds)

He is affiliated with the Social Sustainable Transformation research group, leveraging interdisciplinary methodologies to address individual and societal sustainability challenges.