Dr Clemens Hetschko

Profile

Prior to joining the University of Leeds, I worked as a post-doctoral researcher on a project funded by the German Science Foundation at Free University Berlin and the Institute for Employment Research in Nuremberg (2017-2019). From 2009 to 2017, I was employed in varying roles at Free University Berlin, where I also completed my PhD in 2014 as well as my economics diploma in 2009 (equivalent to a Master’s degree).

Research interests

Economists have been hesitant to use survey data for a long time. I address both opportunities offered by survey data and their methodological challenges, while examining the fundamental economic concepts of welfare and preferences. My research has mostly been applied to the labour market and, recently, to the political economy of globalisation.

Wellbeing and the labour market

The need to measure welfare empirically has made the study of subjective wellbeing an important field within economics. I have devoted a large part of my work to this area, including my PhD. For instance, I have examined to what extent social norms and identity contribute to the wellbeing effects of unemployment and social policy. Moreover, I have studied labour market flexibility and job mobility as determinants of job satisfaction. By means of an externally funded project, I am currently collecting monthly panel data of job seekers using a smartphone app to compare the effect of unemployment on different indicators of wellbeing and health. A special focus of this research is on the impact of Covid-19. The data collection also allows me to gain survey-methodological insights into the pros and cons of using research apps. In another project, I am examining if sharing the same occupation and industry benefits the wellbeing of couples.

Political economy of globalisation

Western societies have seen a rise in support of political parties opposing globalisation in the form of migration, free trade, or European integration. It is therefore crucial to understand the circumstances under which societies adopt efficiency-enhancing international economic integration. My collaborators and I focus on the role of ‘economic preference’ (e.g., time preference) in anti-globalist voting, from a theoretical angle as well as by using survey data. 

Qualifications

• PhD (Free University Berlin, 2014)
• Diploma in economics (Master-equivalent, Free University Berlin, 2009)

Professional memberships

• CESifo Munich
• Royal Economic Society
• Verein für Socialpolitik
• Berlin Network of Labor Market Research (BeNA)
• Berlin Network for Research on Wellbeing

Research groups and institutes

• Applied Institute for Research in Economics