Gesine Stephan

Prof. Dr. Gesine Stephan is Professor of Economics, particularly Empirical Microeconomics, at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) since May 2009 and heads the 'Employment Promotion and Employment' research department at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) in Nuremberg. Her work focuses on analyzing and evaluating labor market policy instruments and programs, with particular attention to effectiveness and public perceptions of fairness.

Her educational background includes:

• Studied Economics at the University of Hannover until 1990
• Scientific Assistant at Institute for Quantitative Economic Research, University of Hannover
• Promoted (PhD) in 1994
• Habilitation in 2000
• Research stays at universities in Austin and Berkeley, USA (1996/1997)

Prof. Stephan's research centers on labor and personnel economics, labor and social policy, microeconometrics, and policy evaluation. She specializes in empirical methods to examine the effectiveness of labor market policies, particularly through field and survey experiments. Her work investigates how institutional frameworks influence labor market structures, the effectiveness of placement and training measures for the unemployed, and public perceptions of justice regarding unemployment benefits and sanctions. She frequently employs innovative methodologies including factorial survey experiments, high-frequency panel data analysis, and biomarker measurements to address complex questions in labor economics.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output with a clear thematic focus on labor market policy evaluation. Recent work examines justice perceptions regarding minimum wage increases, unemployment benefit durations, and training subsidies, often with attention to demographic differences and crisis contexts like the pandemic. The research shows methodological sophistication through the use of experimental designs and diverse data sources.

Prof. Stephan holds several significant academic affiliations:

• Fellow of the Labor and Socio-Economic Research Center (LASER) at FAU
• Research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• Member of the Standing Field Committees Social Policy and Population Economics of the Verein für Socialpolitik

Her research department at IAB addresses critical questions about labor market policy effectiveness, access to support through these instruments, and institutional influences on labor market structures. This work has direct relevance for policymakers designing effective and socially accepted labor market interventions.