Kris De Jaegher

Dr. Kris De Jaegher serves as an Associate Professor of Economics at Utrecht University School of Economics, where he has built a distinguished career since joining as an assistant professor in 2005 and being promoted to associate professor in 2012. He currently holds multiple leadership positions including Head of the Department of Economics (since 2023), acting chairholder of Microeconomics (since 2021), and coordinator of the Master's program in Strategy, Competition and Regulation (since 2020). His academic journey began with a Bachelor in Business Translation from Mercator Hogeschool, Ghent (1991), followed by a Bachelor in Economics from the University of Gent (1993), a Master in Economics from the University of Helsinki (1995), and culminating in a PhD in Economics from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2002).

Dr. De Jaegher's primary research expertise lies in game theory and microeconomic theory, with a specialized focus on the conditions that facilitate collective action and the formation of mutually beneficial networks. His work extensively examines how external threats or common enemies can catalyze cooperative behavior among individuals who might otherwise act selfishly. More recently, he has pioneered research on the 'dark side' of competition, investigating how competitive environments can incentivize sabotage behaviors that undermine collective welfare. His research methodology combines rigorous theoretical modeling with experimental verification through collaborations with experimental economists.

His extensive publication record reveals a strong interdisciplinary approach spanning economics, political science, and theoretical biology. Recent work (2023-2025) demonstrates particular expertise in network disruption dynamics, the common-enemy effect in collective action problems, political repression strategies, and age-performance relationships in cognitive tasks. His publications appear in high-impact journals across multiple disciplines including Economic Journal, Journal of Conflict Resolution, American Economic Journal Microeconomics, and Scientific Reports.

Dr. De Jaegher has received multiple teaching qualifications from Utrecht University including a Basic Teaching Qualification (2007), Senior Teaching Qualification (2010), and Senior Research Qualification (2023). His administrative service includes chairing the Senior Teaching Qualification Commission for the LEG faculty (since 2024), serving on the Graduate Board of Utrecht University School of Economics (since 2020), and previously serving as PhD Dean (2021-2023). His research has practical applications across diverse domains from understanding authoritarian regimes to designing effective public procurement systems and fostering community cooperation.