Sergio Mittlaender

Sergio Mittlaender holds dual academic appointments as faculty at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) Law School at São Paulo and as a Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy in Munich. His interdisciplinary research bridges legal studies, economics, and social psychology through experimental methodologies.

His research interests focus on experimental investigations of legal phenomena, particularly examining contractual obligations, discrimination mechanisms, and social policy effectiveness. Mittlaender's work consistently applies experimental economics methods to legal questions, revealing how moral considerations influence contract enforcement, how intergroup contact affects discrimination patterns, and how voters respond to corruption versus inefficiency in public services. His research demonstrates particular expertise in designing laboratory and field experiments that test theoretical legal frameworks against empirical human behavior.

Analysis of his publication record reveals a strong trend toward interdisciplinary legal scholarship that combines quantitative experimental methods with traditional legal analysis. His recent work increasingly focuses on discrimination reduction strategies and the psychological foundations of contract law, with notable contributions appearing in journals spanning law, economics, and social psychology disciplines. The research demonstrates methodological sophistication through controlled experiments that isolate specific variables affecting legal outcomes.

Mittlaender maintains active research collaborations with scholars across institutions including the University of Cologne (Lisa Lenz) and São Paulo School of Business Administration (Paulo R. Arvate), indicating participation in international research networks focused on experimental legal studies and social policy analysis. His work at the Max Planck Institute suggests involvement in broader European research initiatives on social law and policy.