Contributions in Merlin

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird das Verhalten der Hauptpersonen des Cum-Ex Skandals anhand verhaltensethischer Theorien und Modelle analysiert. Es resultiert, dass die Drahtzieher Merkmale der Dunklen Triade besitzen und ihnen ethische Kompetenzen fehlen. Nicht nur sie, sondern auch weitere involvierte Parteien haben die juristischen Gegebenheiten beachtet und die moralische Ebene ausser Acht gelassen. Die neuartige, verhaltensethische Analyse des Skandals zeigt auf, wie wichtig die Betrachtung der moralische Ebene ist, schliesslich basieren künftige Gerichtsurteile darauf. Moralische Normen müssen an Wichtigkeit gewinnen. Dazu kann das Gesetz oder die juristische Ausbildung angepasst werden, sowie Firmen und Gesellschaft die Handlungen stärker überwachen.

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Im Jahr 2008 waren global Zinsen von ca. drei bis fünf Prozent üblich, bis die Zentralbanken diese als Reaktion auf die Finanzkrise drastisch zur Nullgrenze hin senkten. Mit der Einführung des Negativzinses von –0.75 % im Jahr 2015 durch die SNB, hat das Zinsniveau in der Schweiz einen historischen Tiefstand erreicht. Die SNB betrat mit dieser Entscheidung Neuland, weshalb damals die zu erwartenden Folgen der Negativzinspolitik auf die Gesamtwirtschaft schwierig einzuschätzen waren. Heute, sechs Jahre später, gibt es zahlreiche Studien und Literatur zu den Auswirkungen der Negativzinsen. Zu den Hauptbetroffenen dieser Zinspolitik zählt unter anderem der Schweizer Bankensektor, dessen Geschäfte massgeblich vom Zinsniveau abhängig sind. In dieser Arbeit werden mittels Sichten und Auswerten der bestehenden Literatur- und Datenquellen die Negativzinspolitik der SNB sowie deren Auswirkungen auf den Schweizer Bankensektor diskutiert. Im Rahmen der Analyse Letzterer wird zudem in einer Einzelbetrachtung untersucht, ob und wie sich die identifizierten Branchentrends bzw. -beobachtungen in einzelnen Fällen abbilden. Dabei wird ebenfalls analysiert, ob es diesbezüglich Unterschiede zwischen den untersuchten Bankengruppen gibt. Zur Beantwortung dieser Forschungsfrage wird auf die Geschäftsberichte der fünf untersuchten Banken zurückgegriffen, um die Entwicklungen einiger Kennzahlen, Erfolgs- und Bilanzpositionen während des Zeitraums von 2015 bis 2019 zu analysieren. In einem letzten Schritt wird basierend auf dem Gesamtfazit und weiteren Erkenntnissen der Arbeit ein Ausblick auf den Schweizer Bankensektor gegeben.

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Differences in cognitive sophistication and effort are at the root of behavioral heterogeneity in economics. To explain this heterogeneity, behavioral models assume that certain choices indicate higher cognitive effort. A fundamental problem with this approach is that observing a choice does not reveal how the choice is made, and hence choice data is insufficient to establish the link between cognitive effort and behavior. We show that deliberation times provide an individually-measurable correlate of cognitive effort. We test a model of heterogeneous cognitive depth, incorporating stylized facts from the psychophysical literature, which makes predictions on the relation between choices, cognitive effort, incentives, and deliberation times. We confirm the predicted relations experimentally in different kinds of games.

When choice is stochastic, revealed preference analysis often relies on random utility models. However, it is impossible to infer preferences without assumptions on the distribution of utility noise. We show that this difficulty can be overcome by using response time data. A simple condition on response time distributions ensures that choices reveal preferences without distributional assumptions. Standard models from economics and psychology generate data fulfilling this condition. Sharper results are obtained under symmetric or Fechnerian noise, where response times allow uncovering preferences or predicting choice probabilities out of sample. Application of our tools is simple and generates remarkable prediction accuracy.

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- PURPOSE - By increasing the digitalization of commercial services citizens’ expect more from public services. First of all, this study will strive to identify which problems citizens encounter when they use a complex public service: preparation of an application for a building permit. In the light of the popularity of omnichannel approaches, the study then explores how omnichannel could help to address the problems which have been identified. - METHODOLOGY - We implement the first phases of an action design science research project. We collect data both from citizens and public agencies and frame them as transparency problems. These abstract problems are then addressed by an omnichannel service provision as an abstract solution. The abstract solution is then instantiated in a design in the form of a user scenario developed in collaboration with current and future public officials. - FINDINGS - The analysis uncovers multiple transparency issues: it distinguishes between process, case, language, cross-channel, and cost transparency. One root cause of the transparency issues observed is the lack of service transparency which defines the purpose and scope of a service. We therefore recommend defining a service strategy before informational and technical aspects of an omnichannel approach can be implemented. Following this strategy, omnichannel offers public administrations unique opportunities to excel in citizens’ service provision. - ORIGINALITY / VALUE - The study provides insights into how citizens view complex public services. For researchers, this study offers the conceptualization as transparency issues. Practitioners from the public administrations can also benefit from the concept and vision of omnichannel public services.

Increasing the service lifetime of mobile Internet-enabled devices (MIEDs) such as smartphones, tablets and laptops is a promising strategy to reduce the number of devices that need to be produced and reduce environmental impacts associated with device production. A broad spectrum of lifetime-extending measures has been explored in literature and in industry practice. In this article, we present an overview of explored measures, discuss challenges in their implementation and environmental impacts of lifetime extension. We find that measures can be distinguished into measures aiming at (1) the improvement of the device design (e.g. modular or durable design of smartphones), (2) device retention (increasing the time a user keeps a device, e.g. by offering repair services or fostering emotional attachment to devices), and (3) recirculation (creating a second life with a different user and/or in a different context, e.g. by refurbishing and reselling devices). The implementation of measures is challenged by trade-offs faced by organizations in the MIED value chain, which specifically occur when revenues depend on the number of new devices produced and sold. Furthermore, measures are subject to rebound and induction effects (e.g. imperfect substitution, re-spending effects), which can compensate for the (theoretical) environmental gains from service lifetime extension. In particular, it is uncertain to what extent a measure actually leads to lifetime extension and eventually reduces primary production of devices (displacement rate). Thus, more systematic research is needed on the feasibility of measures and the conditions under which they effectively contribute to a net reduction of environmental impacts.