Research in Focus: Prof. Kurschilgen on identity and its influence on our decisions

Since 2022, Prof. Michael Kurschilgen has been conducting research at UniDistance Suisse on the mechanisms that shape our behaviour – in particular the interplay between identity and financial incentives. His aim is to better understand “how society functions” and the role played by preferences (what matters to us) and expectations (how we perceive the world).

A current research project examines these questions through experiments in the context of football betting. The findings show that people not only have biased expectations about the likelihood of certain events – they also systematically overestimate the chances of their favourite team winning. Moreover, they evaluate financial gains differently depending on whether these align with their identity or not. As a result, a gain from betting against one’s favourite team is subjectively worth up to 27% less – comparable to a “tax” of that magnitude.

These findings have far-reaching implications: they could contribute not only to improved regulation of betting markets, but also provide important insights for the regulation of financial markets and for a better understanding of political decision-making processes.

Alongside his research, Prof. Kurschilgen is also involved in teaching as a lecturer in microeconomics at Bachelor level – both in German and French. He places particular importance on fostering a strong sense of community despite the physical distance inherent in online learning.

This interview is part of the new “Research in Focus” series, in which some of our professors present their current research projects.