The Chair's research activities focus on the analysis of firms as well as the design of markets and services in the Internet and telecommunications industry. Our research addresses technical, strategic, economic as well as policy questions and employs an interdisciplinary pluralism of methods, tailored to best address the respective research question.

Publications

The area of research of the Chair is inherently interdisciplinary, because it is located in the triad of economics, computer science and law.

Due to the importance of the Internet and telecommunications industry for social and economic activities, our research enjoys high practical relevance and presence. Therefore, the Chair takes an active part in the public discussion and the exchange of knowledge with industry partners. Thereby, the research of the Chair is able to combine academic rigor with practical relevance. Due to this fact our research is funded, both by government institutions (e.g., the German research foundation (DFG)) as well as by industry partners within the framework of cooperation projects. Moreover, our research is regularly published by the most prestigious scientific journals (e.g., Information Systems Research or Management Science).

Focus Areas:

1. Economics and Regulation of the Internet and data economy (e.g., on data-sharing agreements)
2. Economics and Regulation of the Internet-ecosystem (e.g., on net neutrality)
3. Competition and investment in telecommunications networks (e.g., incentives to invest in Next-Generation-Networks)
4. Design and perception of electronic markets and services (e.g., design of Internet auctions)

Furthermore, the chair is interested in research topics that address the intelligent use of information and communication technology to empower the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources (e.g., smart metering).    

In our research, we predominantly employ quantitative methods from economics (e.g., game-theoretical modelling, experimental economics) as well as quantitative methods from computer science (e.g., (agent-based) simulation or data mining). Depending on the research question, these methodical approaches are enriched by approaches and theories of neighboring disciplines, such as mathematics (e.g., Operations Research), psychology (e.g. psychometric and psychophysiological measurements) and law (e.g., telecommunications and competition law).

For an overview of our research approach, understanding of theory development, and philosophy of science, please refer to this article, which has been published as 
Krämer, J., & Schnurr, D. (2016).
Microeconomically Founded Information Systems Research. In M. Bichler & U. Frank (Eds.), Theories in Business and Information Systems Engineering. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 58(4), 291-319. doi:10.1007/s12599-016-0439-z