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Final Theses

We offer supervision for students that show interest in our group's research topics on both the bachelor and master levels. If you are interested in writing a final thesis under supervision of our group, please make sure to read the following document before contacting us:  

Information/advice for your final thesis

We would also like you to familiarize yourself with the specific information listed under the "Bachelor Theses" and "Master Theses" tabs below.

Please note that we are a small research group and at times we might therefore be unable to satisfy all requests for thesis supervision.

Bachelor Theses

The recent high amount of supervision requests force us to follow somewhat stricter principles in accepting students for a bachelor thesis with our research group.

We only sometimes list preformulated topic recommendations for bachelor theses (see below). However, we require prospective thesis writers to have at least completed our bachelor level course "Umweltökonomik" and ideally also a seminar offered by our research group. In that way we can expect interested students to have a sound idea about topics that could be potentially interesting for us to supervise. All prospective bachelor thesis writers who would like to write their thesis on an original topic are kindly expected to formulate at least a basic research exposé on the idea. The topic should be thematically related to the topics covered in our bachelor courses and seminars.

Apart from the topic itself, the research methodology that is planned to be applied in the thesis should be rooted in economics methodology. As an example, systematic literature reviews are acceptable if they cover a topic interesting to us, if the topic "only" has a connection to our research group through the more general concept of "sustainability" but is in fact more rooted in the fields of e.g., business administration and/or finance, we will likely redirect you to a more fitting research group.

Currently, we are not listing topic proposals for bachelor theses. However, you can of course still apply proactively in accordance with the information above.

Master Theses

Master students can also propose original ideas. However, we like to incorporate master students into our research projects by having them write their master theses on topics related to those projects. We therefore ask master students to take a look at our research projects page. If there is a project that is particularly interesting to you, you can write an e-mail directly to the contact person(s) mentioned on the respective page. 


We also maintain a list of potential thesis topics, most of which are related to the research projects mentioned above. Here you can find a list of currently available tops:

  • Ostrom’s Design Principles from an Experimental Perspective

    Contact:  

    Elinor Ostrom’s design principles for the successful management of common-pool resources (CPRs) have been a cornerstone in understanding self-governance and sustainability. These principles, derived from extensive case studies, offer a framework to explain how communities can sustainably manage shared resources without centralized regulation. While much of the literature has been theoretical or qualitative, there is an emerging body of experimental research—both in the lab and the field—that tests the validity and applicability of these principles under controlled conditions.

    Objective
    This Master’s thesis aims to systematically review the experimental literature addressing Ostrom’s design principles and related aspects of self-governance in resource management. The goal is to identify how experimental studies have contributed to our understanding of these principles, their limitations, and their relevance to contemporary challenges in CPR management.

    Research Questions
    To what extent have Ostrom’s design principles been tested and validated through lab and field experiments?
    What experimental designs and methodologies have been used to study self-governance in resource management?
    How do experiments address other factors influencing CPR governance, such as trust, communication, and external shocks?

    Methodology
    Literature Review: Conduct a systematic search for experimental studies related to Ostrom’s design principles, using databases like Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
    Categorization: Organize the literature based on the type of experiment (lab vs. field), specific design principles addressed, and geographical or contextual focus.
    Analysis: Identify gaps in the experimental literature and evaluate how different principles perform under varying experimental conditions (e.g., resource scarcity, heterogeneity in groups).
    Case Studies: Highlight specific experiments that have provided significant insights into the application of Ostrom’s framework.
    Expected Outcomes

    The thesis will provide
    a comprehensive overview of experimental studies on Ostrom’s design principles.
    Insights into the strengths and weaknesses of experimental approaches in studying CPR governance.
    Recommendations for future experimental research to explore untested or underexplored aspects of self-governance.

  • Literature Review and Meta-Study on Disaster Recovery Across Hazards

    Contact: 

    Natural disasters present complex challenges for communities worldwide, disrupting livelihoods, infrastructure, and ecosystems. The processes through which communities recover are influenced by the interplay of various forms of capital—natural, financial, human, and social—yet these interactions remain insufficiently explored. This literature review and meta-study will synthesize findings from empirical studies on disaster recovery across hazards, focusing on the roles and interactions of different forms of capital and the influence of pre-disaster vulnerability. By analyzing a wide range of disasters, including tropical cyclones, earthquakes, and floods, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of recovery processes to inform a planned longitudinal analysis.

    Objectives
    To review empirical studies on disaster recovery across different hazards, focusing on the roles of natural, financial, human, and social capital. How do different forms of capital (natural, financial, human, and social) contribute to disaster recovery across various hazards?
    o   What evidence exists for interactions between these capital forms, and how do they collectively influence resilience?

    To explore how pre-disaster vulnerability shapes recovery trajectories and interacts with various forms of capital.
    To identify methodological approaches and theoretical frameworks in the disaster recovery literature.
    To highlight gaps and opportunities for future research.

    Methodology
    Search Strategy: Use academic databases (e.g., Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar) with keywords such as "disaster recovery," "resilience," "social capital," "financial capital," "vulnerability," and hazard-specific terms like "cyclone," "earthquake," or "flood."
    Selection Criteria: Empirical studies related to disaster recovery, regardless of the type of hazard. Studies focusing on at least one of the capital forms or their interactions. Inclusion of peer-reviewed articles, case studies, and grey literature.
    Extract key findings, hazard types, regions, methodologies, and theoretical contributions.
    Where possible, quantify relationships between capital forms and recovery outcomes across different hazards.

  • Technology Optimism and Climate Change Mitigation – Insights from WVS Data

    Contact:  

    Technology optimism—the belief in the potential of technological innovations to address major challenges—shapes public attitudes toward climate change mitigation. While technological advancements are critical for reducing emissions and adapting to climate impacts, there is ongoing debate about their effectiveness and potential drawbacks. This thesis uses data from the World Values Survey (WVS) to examine how technology optimism influences support for climate action and investigates the factors driving differences in these attitudes across countries and over time.

    Research Focus
    How does technology optimism influence support for environmental protection (climate mitigation)?
    What socio-demographic factors (e.g., age, education, political interest) drive technology optimism?
    How do country-level factors (e.g., GDP per capita, emissions) and time trends shape the relationship between technology optimism and climate attitudes?

    Methodology
    Data Source: World Values Survey (WVS) waves 3–7, focusing on countries with consistent data across multiple waves to ensure comparability.
    Variables:
    Dependent Variable: Support for environmental protection versus economic growth.
    Independent Variable: Technology optimism (based on composite scores from survey questions).
    Control Variables:
    Individual-level: Age, education, income, gender, political interest.
    Country-level: GDP per capita, CO₂ emissions per capita, World Bank income classification.
    Analysis:
    Descriptive Analysis: Visualize trends in technology optimism and climate attitudes by country and time period.
    Regression: Assess the influence of technology optimism on climate mitigation attitudes, controlling for individual-level factors.
    Interaction Effects: Explore how the relationship between technology optimism and climate attitudes varies across socio-demographic or country contexts.
    Graphical Representation: Use simple plots to show trends in perceptions over time and between regions.

  • Donor Guidelines and Community-Based Natural Resource Management: A Comparative Study with Ostrom’s Design Principles

    Contact:
     
    Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) and co-management systems between governments and local communities are frequently implemented to promote sustainable resource use and improve community livelihoods. These systems often rely on external support from international donors or organizations, which provide financial aid, technical expertise, and institutional guidelines. However, the extent to which these external actors allow communities the autonomy to design and enforce their own resource governance rules remains an open question. This study investigates whether donor-imposed guidelines align with Elinor Ostrom's design principles for sustainable common-pool resource management, emphasizing the balance between external support and community-driven governance.

    Research Focus
    To systematically review guidelines and best practices provided by major development aid donors for community-driven development (CDD), CBNRM, or co-management systems.
    To analyze whether these guidelines provide communities with sufficient autonomy to establish their own governance systems or impose external rules.
    To compare the principles embedded in donor guidelines with Ostrom’s design principles, identifying gaps and potential areas for improvement.

    Methodology
    Systematic Literature Review: Identify major donors in CDD aid (e.g., USAID, World Bank, GIZ, UNDP) and CBNRM donors (WWF, Conservation International, Peace Parks).
    Collect and review guidelines, toolkits, and best practices related to CDD, CBNRM, or co-management systems.
    Comparative Analysis: Evaluate donor guidelines against Ostrom’s design principles. What is left out? What is added?
    Data Sources: Donor websites, policy documents, guidelines, and reports. Academic articles and grey literature on CBNRM programs. Interviews with practitioners, where feasible.

  • Investigating the Feasibility of Using AI in Citizens’ Juries and Deliberative Approaches

    Contact:

    Citizens’ Juries and other deliberative processes have become valuable tools for participatory decision-making, enabling informed discussions and collective solutions to societal challenges. Traditionally reliant on human facilitation, these processes could benefit significantly from advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). AI offers the potential to enhance deliberation by not only facilitating discussions and analyzing input but also by providing expert-level information tailored to the jury’s focus. This study examines the feasibility of leveraging AI in deliberative processes, with an emphasis on designing and implementing a trial version of an AI-assisted Citizens’ Jury on a topic of personal or societal relevance. To identify the technical, ethical, and social challenges of using AI in these contexts.

    Research Questions
    What are the current capabilities of AI in facilitating deliberative processes, such as Citizens’ Juries?
    What are the opportunities and limitations of using AI to deliver expert-level information tailored to deliberation topics ensuring that discussions are well-informed and balanced.?
    How can AI be integrated into key aspects of these processes, including agenda setting, information provision, and discussion facilitation?
    What are the potential risks and limitations of using AI in participatory decision-making?
    How do participants perceive and interact with AI in the context of deliberative discussions?

    Methodology
    Literature and Technology Review: Assess available AI tools and platforms that could support facilitation, analysis, or participant engagement.
    Feasibility Assessment: Analyze ethical concerns, including biases in AI systems and data privacy.
    Trial Design and Implementation: Develop a trial version of an AI-assisted Citizens’ Jury or similar deliberative process on a topic of personal or societal relevance (e.g., climate policy, urban planning, or digital privacy).
    Utilize AI to support specific aspects of the process, such as summarizing discussions, moderating debates, or providing tailored information to participants.
    (Evaluation): Gather qualitative and quantitative feedback from participants to assess the usability and effectiveness of the AI tool.
    Evaluate the impact of AI on the quality of deliberation and inclusivity of the process.

  • Perspectives on Transformation: A Systematic Review of How Conservation Actors Conceptualize and Implement Systems Change

    Contact:

    Global conservation efforts are increasingly recognizing the need for transformative approaches to address the challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and ecosystem degradation. Transformation implies systemic change—fundamental shifts in how societies manage natural resources, balance human needs with ecological limits, and address underlying drivers of environmental harm. However, the concept of transformation is understood and operationalized differently by various conservation actors, including governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local communities, and the private sector. While some actors emphasize top-down institutional reform, others prioritize bottom-up, community-driven initiatives. These diverging perspectives influence the strategies, goals, and outcomes of conservation efforts, often leading to misaligned priorities and missed opportunities for collaboration. The task for this thesis is to systematically review how different actors conceptualize and implement systems change in conservation.

    Research Questions
    How do various conservation actors define and approach "transformation" and "systems change"?
    What are the similarities and differences in the strategies and priorities of governments, NGOs, communities, and the private sector?
    To what extent do these perspectives align with theoretical frameworks for transformation, such as leverage points or adaptive governance?
    Based on case studies: What are the key enablers and barriers to implementing transformative approaches in conservation?

    Methodology
    Systematic Literature Review: Search academic databases, policy documents, and grey literature from organizations like WWF, IUCN, IPBES, and UNDP.
    Focus on texts addressing systemic conservation efforts, transformative governance, and actor collaboration.
    Thematic Analysis: Categorize definitions, priorities, and strategies by actor type (e.g., governments, NGOs, communities).
    Highlight themes such as power dynamics, stakeholder collaboration, and differing scales of intervention.
    Case Studies: Analyze real-world examples of successful transformational conservation initiatives. Describe potential success factors and assess whether this can be seen as transformative based on the various definitions.

  • Research Proposal: The Impact of Marine Protected Areas on Fishing Practices, Rule Enforcement, Sustainability, and Economic Outcomes

    Research Question
    "How do Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) influence fishing practices, rule enforcement, and the economic outcomes of fishermen in the Philippines?"

    Sub-Questions:
    1.  Fishing Practices:
    - How have MPAs affected fishing practices, such as gear usage, net sizes, and target species?
    - Are there significant differences in fishing methods between fishermen operating within MPAs and those outside MPAs?
    2.  Rule Enforcement: 
    - How effective are enforcement mechanisms within MPAs compared to non-MPA areas?
    - What is the level of compliance with fishing regulations (e.g., mesh size restrictions, no-take zones) within MPAs?
    3.  Economic Outcomes:
     - What is the impact of MPAs on the income and economic stability of fishermen?
    - How does the effectiveness of rule enforcement within MPAs correlate with fishermen's income?
    4. Sustaining Fishing Stocks:
    - How do fishermen perceive the impact of MPAs on sustaining fish stocks?
    - Is there a measurable difference in fish stock levels between areas with and without MPA

    Methodology
    Data Collection:
    Survey Data:  
    -Use existing survey data from 800 fishermen to analyze responses related to fishing practices, income, perceptions of rule enforcement, and views on fish stock sustainability.
    Quantitative Analysis:
    - Descriptive Statistics: 
    - Analyze the distribution of responses regarding fishing practices, income levels, compliance with MPA regulations, and perceptions of fish stock sustainability.
    - Metrics: frequency, mean, median, standard deviation.
    Comparative Analysis: 
    - Compare fishing practices, compliance levels, and income between fishermen operating within MPAs and those outside MPAs.
    - Statistical Tests: T-tests for differences in means, Chi-square tests for categorical data.
    Correlation and Regression Analysis:
    -Investigate the relationships between rule enforcement effectiveness, compliance levels, and fishermen’s income.
    - Models: Linear regression for continuous outcomes (e.g., income), logistic regression for binary outcomes (e.g., compliance).Determinants of Information Avoidance in Climate Change Communication

    Your task will be to investigate the determinants of information avoidance related to climate change communication among residents in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. You will analyze experimental data to identify the key factors influencing individuals' decisions to avoid climate change information. 
    ·       Conduct a review of existing literature on information avoidance, particularly in the context of climate change communication.
    ·       Identify psychological, social, and environmental factors that have been previously associated with information avoidance behaviors.
    ·       Analyze the experimental data to quantify the extent of information avoidance among participants.
    ·       Use statistical methods (e.g., OLS regression) to identify and evaluate the factors influencing information avoidance, such as trust in information sources, perceived threat, and social capital.

  •  Economic Impact of Typhoon Haiyan on Household Income and Occupational Stability

    Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines in November 2013, was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded. It caused extensive damage to infrastructure, livelihoods, and the economy. Understanding the economic impact on households in affected areas can provide insights into the vulnerabilities and resilience of communities facing such natural disasters.
    Research Question: How did Typhoon Haiyan affect household income and occupational stability in affected areas of the Philippines? One focus can be on fishery.
    ·       analyze the changes in household income levels before and after Typhoon Haiyan.
    ·       investigate the impact of the typhoon on occupational stability and job security.
    ·       identify the economic coping strategies employed by households in response to the disaster.
    Perform a difference-in-differences analysis to compare household income and occupation data before and after the typhoon including economic coping mechanisms (e.g., borrowing, asset sales).

  • The Role of Social Networks and Cooperative Practices in Enhancing Resilience among Fishermen Post-Typhoon Haiyan

    How do social networks and cooperative practices among fishermen influence their resilience and economic recovery following Typhoon Haiyan?
    ·       identify the structure and extent of social networks among fishermen in the surveyed villages.
    ·       analyze the impact of these social networks on economic recovery and resilience post-typhoon.
    ·       investigate the role of cooperative practices in providing support and sharing resources among fishermen.
    Summarize the characteristics of the fishing partners (e.g., duration of the relationship, frequency of fishing together, shared resources). Assess the impact of social networks on economic recovery indicators. For instance, investigate whether fishermen with stronger social networks have higher income stability and better access to resources.

  • Chronic poverty and agency

    In economic theory it is assumed that people can get trapped in poverty and be unable to escape from there without help from outside (a push). Hence, it is assumed that in such a situation of self-enforcing poverty people lose their agency to improve their economic situation. To test whether individuals in chronic poverty do actually feel a reduced sense of agency regarding their economic situation survey in a highly exposed area in southwest Bangladesh. The survey included items to allow a measure of chronic poverty, as well as sense of agency. The main research question of this block is:

    (1)   Do people classified as being trapped in poverty feel reduced agency?
    Beyond these self-stated perception data, ways to measure and operationalize actual agency of participants. Therefore, this master thesis topic also contains a data search task to answer the question:
    (2)   Do people classified as being trapped in poverty actually have no agency?