Sarah Necker

Sarah Necker is Professor of Economics at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Director of the Ludwig Erhard ifo Center for Social Market Economy and Institutional Economics since June 2022. Previously, she served as Managing Research Officer at the Walter Eucken Institute Freiburg (2016-2022) and held various research associate positions at prestigious German institutions including the University of Freiburg and the Alfred Weber Institute of Economics at Heidelberg University.

Her educational background includes a Dr. rer. pol. (summa cum laude) from Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (2010-2014), coursework at the Center for Doctoral Studies in Economics at Universität Mannheim (2009-2010), and a Diplom-Volkswirtin from Philipps-Universität Marburg (2004-2008). Her academic journey began with an apprenticeship as an advertising saleswoman at Wal Mart Germany, followed by business administration studies at Fern-Fachhochschule Hamburg.

• Dr. rer. pol., Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (2010-2014)
• Diplom-Volkswirtin, Philipps-Universität Marburg (2004-2008)
• Ausbildung zur Werbekauffrau, Wal Mart Germany (2001-2004)

Sarah Necker's research focuses on public finance, labor market economics, behavioral economics, and economics of science. Her work investigates how economic policies affect individual behavior, particularly regarding tax compliance, honesty in economic transactions, and public perceptions of the social market economy. She has conducted numerous field experiments examining collaborative tax evasion, the effect of losing and winning on cheating behavior, and how monetary incentives influence unethical behavior. Her recent work increasingly addresses contemporary policy challenges including climate policy, refugee integration, and bureaucratic reform.

Analysis of Necker's recent publications reveals a strong focus on applied economic research with immediate policy relevance. Her work spans transportation economics (9-Euro Ticket evaluation), bureaucratic reform, climate policy acceptance, and integration of Ukrainian refugees. A recurring theme is the intersection of behavioral economics with traditional public finance questions, particularly how psychological factors influence tax compliance and policy acceptance. Her methodological approach combines rigorous empirical analysis with experimental designs that test behavioral responses to economic incentives.

Her notable scientific awards include:

• Friedrich-August-von-Hayek-Preis (2015) for best dissertation in economics at University of Freiburg
• DAAD-Stipendium for research stay at University of Chicago (2015)
• Alumni Marburg-Preis as best doctoral student in economics (2008)

As Director of the Ludwig Erhard ifo Center, Necker leads research on the conceptual development of the social market economy, advises government bodies including the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and regularly contributes to public economic policy debates through media appearances and policy briefs. Her research projects funded by various institutions including the Fritz Thyssen Foundation and the Bavarian State Ministry examine critical economic issues from energy transition subsidies to regional price indices for Bavaria.

Necker is actively involved with several research networks and advisory boards, including the Scientific Advisory Board of the Bavarian Savings Bank Association, the Public Economics Committee of the German Economic Association, and as a CESifo Research Network Fellow. She also serves on the Scientific Boards of the ZEW Public Finance Conference and regularly acts as a referee for leading economic journals.