About the MPIfG
About the Department of Economics and Social Sciences [PDF]
About the University of Cologne
Faculty
The faculty is made up of professors and associate professors
from the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies and
the University of Cologne.
Professors
PD Dr. Martin Höpner (Political Science)
Prof. Dr. Sigrid Quack (Sociology)
Director at the Max Planck Institute
for the Study of Societies (MPIfG)
Phone + 49 221 2767-216
Fax + 49 221 2767-416
beckert@mpifg.de
Professor Beckert's primary research interest is in the sociology of markets. In pursuing his research, he combines approaches from economics and sociology, utilizing the particular contribution of the new economic sociology. Taking a research perspective whose theoretical framework is both action- and institution-oriented, he focuses on the social, institutional, and cultural embeddedness of markets.
With his research group on markets at the MPIfG, Beckert looks at the markets for lottery, labor, fashion, and wine. Further research includes the role of collective institutional entrepreneurship in market constitution and change in the market embeddedness of firms through relocation. Market-relevant behavior, such as trust and the role of power and emotions in the economy, is also examined.
More:
http://www.mpifg.de/people/jb1/index_en.asp
Corporate Development and Organization
University of Cologne
Phone + 49 221 470-5660
Fax + 49 221 470-7883
ebers@wiso.uni-koeln.de
Organizational research as conducted by Professor Ebers constitutes a critical addition to the School. His research mainly focuses on different institutional forms that govern organizational exchange relations, their antecedents, dynamics, and consequences. Specifically, he has conducted survey research on the institutional and relational governance of buyer-supplier relations in the construction industry, case studies on the impact of social capital on firm development and performance in the biotechnology industry, and surveyed how different forms of contractual governance and social capital influence innovation outcomes in the machine tools industry.
His current empirical research projects focus on contingencies and moderators of how project members' social capital affects organizational learning and innovation within and across inter-organizational projects, on the nature and implications of firms' dynamic capabilities, and on better understanding the adoption and adaptation of management concepts by the firms involved in a merger or acquisition and the possible consequences for these firms' subsequent performance.
More:
http://uo.uni-koeln.de/
University of Cologne
Phone + 49 221 470-2852
Fax + 49 221 470-7447
andre.kaiser@uni-koeln.de
Research by Professor Kaiser, who holds the chair in Comparative Politics, investigates the economic effects of the organization of the political system. Understanding these effects is crucial for any institutional analysis of the economy since political decisions still account for the most influential regulatory interventions in modern economies. Aimed at a positive theory of the effects of political institutions, Professor Kaiser's research shows among other things how and why economic regulation does not follow a simple logic of efficiency. Current research projects investigate the effects of federalism and decentralization on the economy, the political-institutional foundations of local production systems and the effects of government alternation on different policy areas. Professor Kaiser's doctoral students work in the fields of comparative political institutions and comparative political economy.
More:
http://www.politik.uni-koeln.de/kaiser/mitarbeiter/kaiser1.htm
Director at the Max Planck Institute
for the Study of Societies (MPIfG)
Phone + 49 221 2767-212
Fax + 49 221 2767-412
streeck@mpifg.de
Presently Professor Streeck is working mainly on two themes: the current liberalization of the "German model" of a democratic-capitalist economic and social order, and the dynamics of institutional change. The former is of a more empirical and the latter, of a more theoretical character. Both subjects hang closely together and belong in the context of a historical-institutionalist theory of the crisis and, possibly, the reform of the postwar order after 1945.
Professor Streeck's research is located in the intersection between political science and political economy on the one hand and sociology, especially economic sociology, on the other. His general subject is the tension between a democratic polity and a capitalist economy, as reflected in the constitution of the modern welfare state and in the regulation of labor relations and of the employment relationship through trade unions and employer associations.
More:
http://www.mpifg.de/people/ws/index_en.asp
Phone + 49 221 2767-188
Fax + 49 221 2767-412
hoepner@mpifg.de
Martin Hpner's research focuses on the analysis of institutional forms, functions and political dynamics of contemporary capitalism. In particular, he has conducted research on the political foundations of the German variety of capitalism and on its current transformation in comparative perspective. Special empirical interest has been dedicated to industrial relations, corporate governance, party politics, internationalization and Europeanization. His research programme contributes to comparative political economy from a political science perspective. His current research project analyzes the politics of the current liberalization phase in developed democracies. Since the mid-80s, liberalization policies such as privatization, the withdrawal of the state from the formerly "mixed sectors", market oriented reforms of corporate governance, competition policy and market-driven reforms of labor market and social policy have gained importance in all developed industrial democracies. The project will identify dimensions, political sources and typical sequences of politically imposed liberalization.
More:
http://www.mpifg.de/people/mh/
for the Study of Societies (MPIfG)
Phone + 49 221 2767-152
Fax + 49 221 2767-412
quack@mpifg.de
Sigrid Quack's research investigates the preconditions, actors and effects of the development of transnational institutions. Her research is located at the boundaries of institutional sociology and organizational theory. Of particular interest are examples of rule-setting that extend beyond traditional forms of national or supranational state authority. Her research programme focuses on cases of institution building that are characterized by the participation of private actors and the interplay of intended and emergent processes of institutionalization. Ongoing projects study the evolution and development of international standards and legal norms in the fields of labour law, accounting and licences, as well as the impact of different organizational forms in transnational rule-setting (such as international organizations, multinational companies, transnational communities and international networks of experts).
More:
http://www.mpifg.de/people/sq
Professors
- Jens Beckert (Sociology)
- Mark Ebers (Organization Studies)
- André Kaiser (Political Science)
- Wolfgang Streeck (Sociology)
PD Dr. Martin Höpner (Political Science)
Prof. Dr. Sigrid Quack (Sociology)
Jens Beckert
Professor of SociologyDirector at the Max Planck Institute
for the Study of Societies (MPIfG)
Phone + 49 221 2767-216
Fax + 49 221 2767-416
beckert@mpifg.de
Professor Beckert's primary research interest is in the sociology of markets. In pursuing his research, he combines approaches from economics and sociology, utilizing the particular contribution of the new economic sociology. Taking a research perspective whose theoretical framework is both action- and institution-oriented, he focuses on the social, institutional, and cultural embeddedness of markets.
With his research group on markets at the MPIfG, Beckert looks at the markets for lottery, labor, fashion, and wine. Further research includes the role of collective institutional entrepreneurship in market constitution and change in the market embeddedness of firms through relocation. Market-relevant behavior, such as trust and the role of power and emotions in the economy, is also examined.
More:
http://www.mpifg.de/people/jb1/index_en.asp
Mark Ebers
Professor of Business Administration,Corporate Development and Organization
University of Cologne
Phone + 49 221 470-5660
Fax + 49 221 470-7883
ebers@wiso.uni-koeln.de
Organizational research as conducted by Professor Ebers constitutes a critical addition to the School. His research mainly focuses on different institutional forms that govern organizational exchange relations, their antecedents, dynamics, and consequences. Specifically, he has conducted survey research on the institutional and relational governance of buyer-supplier relations in the construction industry, case studies on the impact of social capital on firm development and performance in the biotechnology industry, and surveyed how different forms of contractual governance and social capital influence innovation outcomes in the machine tools industry.
His current empirical research projects focus on contingencies and moderators of how project members' social capital affects organizational learning and innovation within and across inter-organizational projects, on the nature and implications of firms' dynamic capabilities, and on better understanding the adoption and adaptation of management concepts by the firms involved in a merger or acquisition and the possible consequences for these firms' subsequent performance.
More:
http://uo.uni-koeln.de/
André Kaiser
Professor of Comparative PoliticsUniversity of Cologne
Phone + 49 221 470-2852
Fax + 49 221 470-7447
andre.kaiser@uni-koeln.de
Research by Professor Kaiser, who holds the chair in Comparative Politics, investigates the economic effects of the organization of the political system. Understanding these effects is crucial for any institutional analysis of the economy since political decisions still account for the most influential regulatory interventions in modern economies. Aimed at a positive theory of the effects of political institutions, Professor Kaiser's research shows among other things how and why economic regulation does not follow a simple logic of efficiency. Current research projects investigate the effects of federalism and decentralization on the economy, the political-institutional foundations of local production systems and the effects of government alternation on different policy areas. Professor Kaiser's doctoral students work in the fields of comparative political institutions and comparative political economy.
More:
http://www.politik.uni-koeln.de/kaiser/mitarbeiter/kaiser1.htm
Wolfgang Streeck
Professor of SociologyDirector at the Max Planck Institute
for the Study of Societies (MPIfG)
Phone + 49 221 2767-212
Fax + 49 221 2767-412
streeck@mpifg.de
Presently Professor Streeck is working mainly on two themes: the current liberalization of the "German model" of a democratic-capitalist economic and social order, and the dynamics of institutional change. The former is of a more empirical and the latter, of a more theoretical character. Both subjects hang closely together and belong in the context of a historical-institutionalist theory of the crisis and, possibly, the reform of the postwar order after 1945.
Professor Streeck's research is located in the intersection between political science and political economy on the one hand and sociology, especially economic sociology, on the other. His general subject is the tension between a democratic polity and a capitalist economy, as reflected in the constitution of the modern welfare state and in the regulation of labor relations and of the employment relationship through trade unions and employer associations.
More:
http://www.mpifg.de/people/ws/index_en.asp
PD Dr. Martin Hpner
Head of Research Group "Liberalization policies" at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (MPIfG)Phone + 49 221 2767-188
Fax + 49 221 2767-412
hoepner@mpifg.de
Martin Hpner's research focuses on the analysis of institutional forms, functions and political dynamics of contemporary capitalism. In particular, he has conducted research on the political foundations of the German variety of capitalism and on its current transformation in comparative perspective. Special empirical interest has been dedicated to industrial relations, corporate governance, party politics, internationalization and Europeanization. His research programme contributes to comparative political economy from a political science perspective. His current research project analyzes the politics of the current liberalization phase in developed democracies. Since the mid-80s, liberalization policies such as privatization, the withdrawal of the state from the formerly "mixed sectors", market oriented reforms of corporate governance, competition policy and market-driven reforms of labor market and social policy have gained importance in all developed industrial democracies. The project will identify dimensions, political sources and typical sequences of politically imposed liberalization.
More:
http://www.mpifg.de/people/mh/
Prof. Dr. Sigrid Quack
Head of Research Group "Institution building across borders" at the Max Planck Institutefor the Study of Societies (MPIfG)
Phone + 49 221 2767-152
Fax + 49 221 2767-412
quack@mpifg.de
Sigrid Quack's research investigates the preconditions, actors and effects of the development of transnational institutions. Her research is located at the boundaries of institutional sociology and organizational theory. Of particular interest are examples of rule-setting that extend beyond traditional forms of national or supranational state authority. Her research programme focuses on cases of institution building that are characterized by the participation of private actors and the interplay of intended and emergent processes of institutionalization. Ongoing projects study the evolution and development of international standards and legal norms in the fields of labour law, accounting and licences, as well as the impact of different organizational forms in transnational rule-setting (such as international organizations, multinational companies, transnational communities and international networks of experts).
More:
http://www.mpifg.de/people/sq
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