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Vielfalt in der ökonomischen Wissenschaft: Verhaltensökonomische Ansätze in der Diskussion

Author

Listed:
  • Georg Weizsäcker
  • Martin G. Kocher
  • Felix Gelhaar
  • Simon Bartke

Abstract

In der Regel wird in der etablierten wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Lehre angenommen, dass der Mensch ein Homo oeconomicus ist: rational handelnd und auf materielle Gewinne ausgerichtet. Aber wird das Verhalten der Menschen durch dieses Bild richtig abgebildet? Handeln sie rational, oder wird das Verhalten vor allem durch Emotionen und Erfahrungen gesteuert? Georg Weizsäcker, Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin, unterstreicht, dass den Ökonomen diese Vorstellung eines Idealbildes vollkommen vertraut und auch sehr nützlich ist. Sie beschäftigen sich täglich mit dem sogenannten Homo oeconomicus, der ein solches Idealbild für die Entscheidungen in den ökonomischen Modellen sei. Aber gerade unter den Verhaltensökonomen habe der Homo oeconomicus einen besonders schlechten Ruf. Sie nutzen ihn als Referenzpunkt und fokussieren ihre Forschung darauf, diesen Referenzpunkt als unrealistisch darzustellen. Die Auseinandersetzung mit dem Idealbild sei aber sinnvoll. Erst wenn man umfassend nachweisen könne, dass der Homo oeconomicus ein Phänomen nicht hervorbringen kann, wisse man, dass die ihm zugrunde liegenden Annahmen zu verwerfen seien. Dadurch lerne man viel über die echten menschlichen Entscheidungen. Allerdings betont Georg Weizsäcker auch, dass die Maxime der vernünftigen Handlung gerade in schwierigen Zeiten wichtig sei. Nach Ansicht von Martin G. Kocher, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, ist die Verhaltensökonomik nicht nur der Türöffner zu einer neuen ökonomischen Interdisziplinarität, sondern hat auch mit dazu beigetragen, die Wirtschaftswissenschaft von einer stark theoretisch geprägten Wissenschaft zu einer stark empirisch bestimmten Wissenschaft umzubauen. Felix Gelhaar, Universität zu Kiel, und Simon Bartke, Institut für Weltwirtschaft, Kiel, weisen darauf hin, dass Verhaltensänderungen langfristig nur durch Veränderungen der Präferenzen zu erreichen sind. Es sei daher erforderlich, Einfluss auf die Kultur und gesellschaftlichen Normen, z.B. durch eine langfristig orientierter Verbraucherinformationsarbeit oder einer Anpassung des Unterrichtsstoffes in Schulen, zu nehmen.

Suggested Citation

  • Georg Weizsäcker & Martin G. Kocher & Felix Gelhaar & Simon Bartke, 2015. "Vielfalt in der ökonomischen Wissenschaft: Verhaltensökonomische Ansätze in der Diskussion," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 68(24), pages 03-12, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifosdt:v:68:y:2015:i:24:p:03-12
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Verhaltensökonomik; Wirtschaftswissenschaft; Wirtschaftspolitik; Homo Oeconomicus;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles

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