Matthias Sutter

Prof. Dr. Matthias Sutter is a leading academic in behavioral and experimental economics, holding professorships at the University of Cologne and University of Innsbruck, and serving as Director of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods in Bonn. He is a member of prestigious institutions including the German National Science Association (Leopoldina) and Academia Europaea. His research focuses on workplace dynamics, decision-making, fairness, and social preferences, with notable contributions to understanding leadership, cooperation, and behavioral interventions in corporate and societal contexts. He leads the Excellence Cluster ECONtribute funded by the German Science Foundation (DFG).

Key research areas include experimental studies on child development, economic preferences formation, and policy-relevant behavioral insights. His 2023 book Behavioral Economics for Leaders translates academic findings into practical management strategies. Sutter's work bridges theoretical economics with real-world applications, addressing topics like energy consumption behavior during crises, gender dynamics in leadership, and the impact of social networks on decision-making.

He has authored over 150 publications in top journals like Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Management Science, and Review of Economic Studies. His research frequently involves large-scale field experiments, such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in Bangladesh to study pandemic containment strategies. Collaborations with international teams highlight his global academic reach.

Notable awards include recognition for his 2023 book and impactful contributions to understanding workplace climate interventions. His leadership in the ECONtribute cluster underscores his role in shaping policy-relevant economic research. Sutter's work is characterized by interdisciplinary methods, integrating behavioral insights with policy design to address societal challenges.