Innovation, economic resilience, and the impact of policy
UBS Center for Economics in Society
Enabling world-class research in economics on all levels, to be conducted at the University of Zurich.
Dear LinkedIn community,
Innovation, economic resilience, and the impact of policy decisions shape our future. This edition brings you new insights on how wages drive automation, the role of AI in shaping democracy, and exciting research on cognitive training.
We also celebrate Dina Pomeranz 's appointment and invite you to upcoming events.
Sincere regards,
Ernst Fehr, Director & Hans-Joachim Voth, Scientific Director
New evidence on the wage-innovation link
Do firms innovate more in automation when wages rise? A new study by David Hemous and co-authors confirms this widely held theory. By analyzing automation patents and wage data across 41 countries, they find that higher wages encourage firms to develop automation technologies, while lower wages slow innovation. The findings highlight how labor policies shape long-term technological progress, with broader implications for economic growth and job markets.
Long-term benefits of cognitive training in early education
Can working-memory training improve children’s cognitive and academic skills? A study by Ernst Fehr and co-authors shows that early interventions significantly enhance IQ, math abilities, and self-control. Three years later, children who received the training were far more likely to enter advanced secondary schools. The research underscores the long-term benefits of cognitive training in early education.
Dina Pomeranz appointed as Associate Professor
We warmly congratulate Dina Pomeranz on her appointment as Associate Professor ad personam at the University of Zurich . As a leading researcher in public finance and taxation, she has worked closely with policymakers in Chile, Ecuador, and Kenya to improve economic governance. Dina has been recognized as one of Switzerland’s most influential economists and continues to bridge research with policy impact.
In the media
21 February 2025
What are the effects of wealth taxes? A study by Florian Scheuer and co-authors shows that the effects on the distribution of wealth in the cantons are concentrated at the upper end of the scale.
8 February 2025
The economist Daron Acemo?lu sees a dangerous loss of trust in Western democracies. He believes that social networks are strengthening extremism.
Reshaping power, wealth & democracy through AI
In the latest Thought Supply episode, Daron Acemoglu joins Joachim Voth to discuss AI’s impact on economic progress, automation, and democracy. Will AI enhance human productivity or replace workers? How do political and economic forces shape technological development? Watch this thought-provoking conversation on the future of work and inequality.
Upcoming events
Wirtschaftspodium Schweiz
Warum ist die Schweiz so reich und weshalb muss es nicht so bleiben?
April 3, 15:00 – 19:00, Kongresshaus Zürich / Zurich Convention Center
(sold out on-site, livestream available)
Switzerland is prosperous – but will it remain so? This public event explores economic resilience in times of geopolitical shifts, demographic change, and technological disruption. Speakers include Federal Councillor Albert R?sti, economist Gunther Schnabl , historian Tobias Straumann, Director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda and business leaders discussing Switzerland’s future.
Inaugural lecture
The good
7 April, 17:00 – 17:45, University of Zurich
Maya Eden 's research addresses critical areas of economics, focusing on welfare economics, macroeconomics and the normative analysis of economic policy. Her work aims to understand how economic systems and policies can improve societal well-being and offers insights into the ethical and practical implications of policy making. She explores the dynamics of monetary policy and assesses its impact on economic stability and growth and examines labor market behavior, including employment trends, wage formation and mobility. In addition, she examines the drivers of long-term economic development and thus contributes to growth economics. In her research, Eden combines theoretical approaches with applied analysis to advance our understanding of key economic mechanisms and their policy implications.
Professor Eden's inaugural lecture is open to the public and followed by a cocktail reception in the Lichthof.
Inaugural lecture
The causes and consequences of long-term unemployment
5 May, 17:00 – 17:45, University of Zurich
Andreas I. Mueller 's research focuses on macroeconomics and labor markets with a special interest in Business Cycles, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Job Search, Time Use, and Monetary Policy Research. His research includes studying the effects of unemployment insurance, job search efforts, and the implications of policy changes on employment and wages. By combining theoretical models with empirical data, Mueller aims to provide insights that can inform both academic understanding and practical policymaking in the labor market sphere.
Professor Mueller's inaugural lecture is open to the public and followed by a cocktail reception in the Lichthof.
University of Zurich UBS UZH Department of Economics UZH Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics