About us
Current research at the Institute of Public Economics is particularly concerned with the following questions:
- How should government policy respond to the widespread introduction of artificial intelligence?
- Should we introduce a tax on robots or a universal basic income?
- Can we design taxes and subsidies to encourage innovation for sustainable and inclusive growth?
- How can we make fair decisions in pluralistic and increasingly polarized societies?
- How can we design political institutions to maximize prosperity for society?
- How does people's desire for status affect the efficiency of the economy, income inequality and the design of an optimal tax system?
- Should we (more heavily) subsidize charitable giving and how does the optimal tax treatment of charitable giving affect optimal income taxation?
Research at the Institute of Public Economics therefore lies at the intersection of public economics with innovation and growth economics as well as social choice and political economy.
Our research is also related to the academic legacy of Joseph A. Schumpeter, who was a professor at the University of Graz between 1911 and 1918. His work is honored by the annual Schumpeter Lectures and the Graz Schumpeter Centre.
Further details on our research and publications can be found here.
In addition to research, members of the Institute teach Public Economics, Economics of Institutions and related topics at undergraduate and graduate level to students of economics, business administration, law and environmental systems science. We invite you to learn more about us and our activities by following the links on this website.