Maximilian Hiller

Dr. Maximilian Hiller is a Research Assistant and Thesis Coordinator at the University of Vechta, affiliated with the Management of Social Services team within the School of Management. He contributes to teaching and research in behavioral and experimental economics, with a focus on real-world applications in health, personnel, and nonprofit sectors.

• Position: Research Assistant & Thesis Coordinator
• Institution: University of Vechta
• Department: Management of Social Services
• Research Focus: Behavioral and Experimental Economics

His research interests center on behavioral interventions in economic decision-making. Key areas include health economics, personnel economics, and fundraising, with a methodological emphasis on field experiments and behavioral data. He investigates the effectiveness of monetary incentives, self-commitment instruments, and priming in shaping behavior. His work often involves mobile data collection via wearables and promotes evidence-based management in social services.

The recent publications reflect a consistent trend in applying behavioral economics to practical domains, particularly in promoting healthy behavior and ethical decision-making in fundraising. His work bridges academic research and practical implementation, often in collaboration with public and nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Hiller is an active member of several academic associations:

• Association of University Professors of Business Administration (VHB)
• Society for Experimental Economic Research (GfeW)
• German University Association (DHV)
• German Network for Business Ethics (DNWE)

He advises students on bachelor’s and master’s theses, particularly on topics related to personnel management, health economics, and controlling. He has served as a reviewer for Health Science Reports and is involved in multiple ongoing research projects evaluating motivational tools and commitment devices. Dr. Hiller teaches courses in General Business Administration, Accounting, and Data Literacy, especially in the context of fundraising and volunteering.

He is part of active research teams working on projects such as:

• Promises or Payouts? A Field Experiment on Commitment Devices
• Motivating the Weak: The Impact of Group-Based Incentives on Teams
• Recruiting Episodic Volunteers: Influence of Gift-Giving and Favor Requesting
• Deposit Contracts with Performance-Based Refund
• Go the Extra Mile! Assessing Motivational Tools to Promote Physical Activity