Who is involved in the MELESSA program?

The linking of different disciplines promotes the inter-faculty exchange of scientists and enables innovative research at a high level.

MELESSA was founded within the framework of the Excellence Initiative by 19 professors of LMU Munich, from five different faculties under the direction of Prof. Dr. Klaus M. Schmidt (VWL). The laboratory was put into operation in January 2008.

By linking the different disciplines, the inter-faculty exchange of scientists and innovative research are specifically promoted. Such a strong participation of different disciplines in one laboratory offers best conditions for versatile research on a high level.

The laboratory consists of several laboratory rooms. The air-conditioned large laboratory room contains a permanently installed network of 25 computers. Two other rooms are used to conduct audio, video and group experiments. In addition, there are 25 tablet computers that can be used for mobile experiments outside the lab. With this equipment, MELESSA is one of the most modern experimental laboratories in Germany.

Associated Chairs

Munich School of Management SOM

ECONM Faculty of Economics

Faculty of Psychology

Faculty of Philosophy

Chair of Philosophy of Mind
Prof. Dr. Ophelia Deroy

Publications made possible by the research laboratory

2024 - 2025

  • Kapetaniou, G. E., Vural, G., & Soutschek, A. (2025). Frontoparietal theta stimulation causally links working memory with impulsive decision making. Cortex, 185, 240–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2025.02.012
  • Mengel, F., Grimm, V., & Zhou, X. (2025). The impact of social identity for social learning and the dynamics of opinions. SSRN. https://ssrn.com/abstract=5280340
  • Englmaier, F., Grimm, S., Grothe, D., Schindler, D., & Schudy, S. (2024). The effect of incentives in non-routine analytical team tasks. Journal of Political Economy, 132(8), 2695–2747. https://doi.org/10.1086/729443
  • Reichel, F. J. (2024). Communication and social norms: Experimental evidence on beliefs and behavior (Dissertation, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München). LMU München, Volkswirtschaftliche Fakultät. https://doi.org/10.5282/edoc.XXXX
  • Reichel, F. (2024). What’s in a name? The breadth of moral labels. SSRN. https://ssrn.com/abstract=4830673
  • Soutschek, A., & Wittekind, C. E. (2024). Lower motivation for rewarded mental effort in tobacco dependence. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 32(5), 615–623. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000726

2021 - 2023

  • Balbaa, M., & Worch, M. (2023). Sustainability, prices and emotions (SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 4563467). SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4563467
  • Kapetaniou, G. E., Deroy, O. & Soutschek, A. (2023). Social metacognition drives willingness to commit. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Advance online publication. https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2023-67483-001.html
  • Ziegler, A. (2023). Persuading an audience: Testing information design in the laboratory (Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. TI 2023-048/I). Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. https://hdl.handle.net/10419/282861
  • Back, C., Morana, S., & Spann, M. (2021). Do robo-advisors make us better investors? Working Paper.
  • https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233499/1/1755397119.pdf
  • Berndt, M., Schmidt, F. M., Sailer, M., & Fischer, F. (2021). Investigating statistical literacy and scientific reasoning & argumentation in medical-, social sciences-, and economics students. Learning and Individual Differences, 90, 102038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2021.102038
  • Brodbeck, F. C., Kugler, K. G., Fischer, J. A., Heinze, J., & Fischer, D. (2021). Group-level integrative complexity: Enhancing differentiation and integration in group decision-making. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 24(1), 125–144. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430219892698
  • Furtner, N. C., Kocher, M., Martinsson, P., Matzat, D., & Wollbrant, C. (2021). Gender and cooperative preferences. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 181, 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2020.11.030
  • Grosch, M. (2021). Metabolic brain connectivity after acute unilateral vestibulopathy: Longitudinal analysis and single subject classification in the rat [Doctoral dissertation, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München]. LMU Munich Institutional Repository. https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/28874/7/Grosch_Maximilian.pdf
  • Grimm, S., Kocher, M. G., Krawczyk, M., & Le Lec, F. (2021). Sharing or gambling? On risk attitudes in social contexts. Experimental Economics, 24(4), 1253–1279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-020-09690-8
  • Guber, R., Kocher, M. G., & Winter, J. (2021). Does having insurance change individuals' self-confidence? Journal of Risk and Insurance, 88(2), 429–442. https://doi.org/10.1111/jori.1231
  • Kapetaniou, G., Reinhard, M. A., Christian, P., Jobst, A., Tobler, P. N., Padberg, F., & Soutschek, A. (2021). The role of oxytocin in delay of gratification and flexibility in non-social decision making. eLife, 10, e61844. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.61844
  • Karmeliuk, M. (2021). Team behavior in auctions, reciprocity on markets, and gender bias in student evaluations of teachers [Doctoral dissertation, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München]. LMU Munich Institutional Repository. https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/27453/1/Karmeliuk_Maria.pdf
  • Knoller, C., Neuß, S., & Peter, R. (2021). How social preferences provide effort incentives in situations of financial support. PLOS ONE, 16(1), 183–205. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244972
  • Lohse, T., & Qari, S. (2021). Gender differences in face-to-face deceptive behavior. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 187, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.03.026
  • Reinhard, M. A., Kapetaniou, G. E., Christian, P., Jobst, A., & Derntl, B. (2021). The role of oxytocin in delay of gratification and flexibility in non-social decision making. eLife, 10, e61844. https://elifesciences.org/articles/61844
  • Schmidt, K. M., & Ockenfels, A. (2021). Focusing climate negotiations on a uniform common commitment can promote cooperation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(11). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2013070118
  • Schindler, D., & Westcott, M. (2021). Shocking racial attitudes: Black G.I.s in Europe. The Review of Economic Studies, 88(1), 489–520. https://doi.org/10.1093/restud/rdaa039

2017 - 2020

  • Kugler, K. G., & Coleman, P. T. (2020). Get Complicated: The Effects of Complexity on Conversations over Potentially Intractable Moral Conflicts. Negotiation and Conflict Management Research, 13(3), 211-230. https://doi.org/10.1111/ncmr.12192
  • Litterscheidt, R., & Streich, D. (2020). Financial education and digital asset management: What's in the black box?. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 87, 101573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2020.101573
  • Batrancea, L. et al. (2019). Trust and power as determinants of tax compliance across 44 nations. Journal of Economic Psychology, 74, 102191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2019.102191
  • Cagala, T., Glogowsky, U., Grimm, V., Rincke, J., & Tuset-Cueva, A. (2019). Rent extraction and prosocial behavior. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 166, 709-723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2019.08.008
  • Doyle, L., & Schindler, D. (2019). μCap: connecting FaceReaderTM to z-Tree. Journal of the Economic Science Association 5(1), 136-141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40881-019-00065-1
  • Grimm, S. (2019). Effects of choice observability on risk taking: The role of norms. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 80, 34-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2019.03.003
  • Grimm, S., & Klimm, F. (2019). Blaming the refugees? Experimental evidence on responsibility attribution. Journal of Economic Psychology, 72, 156-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2019.03.004
  • Klimm, F. (2019). Suspicious success - Cheating, inequality acceptance, and political preferences. European Economic Review, 117, 36-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2019.04.008
  • Klimm, F., & Loipersberger, F. (2019). Choice as justification for dishonesty. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 81, 185-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2019.06.006
  • Kocher, M, Lucks, K.E., & Schindler, D. (2019). Unleashing Animal Spirits: Self-Control and Overpricing in Experimental Asset Markets. The Review of Financial Studies, 32(6), 2149–2178. https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhy109
  • Martinsson, P., Persson, E. (2019). Physician behavior and conditional altruism: the effects of payment system and uncertain health benefit. Theory Decis 87, 365–387 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11238-019-09714-7
  • Schwardmann P., & van der Weele J. (2019). Deception and self-deception. Nature Human Behaviour, 3, 1055–1061. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0666-7
  • Dwenger, N., & Lohse, T. (2018). Do individuals successfully cover up their lies? Evidence from a compliance experiment. Journal of Economic Psychology, 71, 74-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2018.08.007
  • Fiederling, K., Schiller, J., & von Bieberstein, F. (2018). Can we Trust Consumers' Survey Answers when Dealing with Insurance Fraud? Schmalenbach Business Review, 70(2), 111-147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41464-017-0041-z
  • Hartmann, F. G. H., & Schreck, P. (2018). Rankings, Performance, and Sabotage: The Moderating Effects of Target Setting. European Accounting Review, 27(2), 363-382. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638180.2016.1244015
  • Kocher, M. G., Lahno, A. M., & Trautmann, S. T. (2018). Ambiguity aversion is not universal. European Economic Review, 101, 268-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2017.09.016
  • Kocher, M. G., Schudy, S., & Spantig, L. (2018). I lie? We lie! Why? Experimental evidence on a dishonesty shift in groups. Management Science, 64(9): 3971-4470. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2017.2800
  • Kocher, M. G., Tan, F., & Yu, J. (2018). Providing global public goods: Electoral delegation and cooperation. Economic Inquiry, 56(1), 381-397. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecin.12482
  • Kocher, M., Schindler, D., S. Trautmann T., & Xu, Y. (2018). Risk, Time Pressure, and Selection Effects. Experimental Economics, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-018-9576-1
  • Kugler, K. G., Reif, J. A., Kaschner, T., & Brodbeck, F. C. (2018). Gender differences in the initiation of negotiations: A meta-analysis. Psychological bulletin, 144(2), 198. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000135
  • Kuhn, T., Solaz, H., & van Elsas, E. J. (2018). Practising what you preach: how cosmopolitanism promotes willingness to redistribute across the European Union. Journal of European Public Policy, 25(12), 1759-1778. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2017.1370005
  • Kurz, V., Orland, A., & Posadzy, K. (2018). Fairness versus efficiency: how procedural fairness concerns affect coordination. Experimental economics, 21(3), 601-626. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-017-9540-5
  • Maier, M. A., Dechamps, M. C., & Pflitsch, M. (2018). Intentional observer effects on quantum randomness: a Bayesian analysis reveals evidence against micro-psychokinesis. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 379. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00379
  • Pachler, D., Kuonath, A. , Specht, J., Kennecke, S., Agthe, M., & Frey, D. (2018). Workflow Interruptions and Employee Work Outcomes: The Moderating Role of Polychronicity. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 23(3), 417-427. http://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000094
  • Bieberstein, F., & Schiller, J. (2018). Contract design and insurance fraud: an experimental investigation. Review of Managerial Science, 12(3), 711-736. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-017-0228-1
  • Aydogan, G., Jobst, A., D'Ardenne, K., Müller, N., & Kocher, M. G. (2017). The Detrimental Effects of Oxytocin-Induced Conformity on Dishonesty in Competition. Psychological Science, 28(6), 751-759. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797617695100
  • Autumn, L., Konrad, K. A., & Morath, F. (2017). Balance of power and the propensity of conflict. Games and Economic Behavior, 103, 168-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geb.2015.12.013
  • Herbst, L., Morath, F., & Konrad, K.A. (2017). Balance of power and the propensity of conflict. Games and Economic Behavior, 103, 168-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geb.2015.12.013
  • Jaspersen, J., & Aseervatham, V. (2017). The Influence of Affect on Heuristic Thinking in Insurance Demand. Journal of Risk and Insurance, 84(1), 239-266. https://doi.org/10.1111/jori.12088
  • Kocher, M. G., Martinsson, P., Myrseth, K. O. R., & Wollbrant, C. E. (2017). Strong, bold, and kind: Self-control and cooperation in social dilemmas. Experimental Economics, 20(1), 44-69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-015-9475-7
  • Kocher, M. G., Poulsen, O., & Zizzo, D. J. (2017). Social preferences, accountability, and wage bargaining. Social Choice and Welfare, 48(3), 659-678. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00355-017-1028-x
  • Konrad, K. A., Lohse, T., & Qari, S. (2017). Compliance with endogenous audit probabilities. The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 119(3), 821-850. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjoe.12182
  • Krämer, F., Schmidt, K. M., Spann, M., & Stich, L. (2017). Buyer and seller data from pay what you want and name your own price laboratory markets. Data in brief, 12, 513-517. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2017.04.049
  • Krämer, F., Schmidt, K. M., Spann, M., & Stich, L. (2017). Delegating pricing power to customers: Pay what you want or name your own price?. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 136, 125-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2017.01.019
  • Krämer, F., Schmidt, K. M., Spann, M., & Stich, L. (2017). Delegating pricing power to customers: Pay what you want or name your own price?. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 136, 125-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2017.01.019
  • Lindner, F., & Rose, J. (2017). No need for more time: Intertemporal allocation decisions under time pressure. Journal of Economic Psychology, 60, 53-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2016.12.004
  • Ludwig, S., Fellner-Röhling, G., & Thoma, C. (2017). Do Women Have More Shame than Men? An Experiment on Self-Assessment and the Shame of Overestimating Oneself. European Economic Review, 92, 31-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2016.11.007
  • Malmendier, U., & Schmidt, K. M. (2017). You owe me. American Economic Review, 107(2), 493-526. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20140890
  • Schmidt, K. M., Fey, L., & Thoma, C. (2017). Competition and incentives. European Economic Review, 98, 111-125. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2017.06.012
  • Schumacher, H., Kesternich, I., Kosfeld, M., & Winter, J. (2017). One, two, many—Insensitivity to group size in games with concentrated benefits and dispersed costs. The Review of Economic Studies, 84(3), 1346-1377.https://doi.org/10.1093/restud/rdw043

2013 - 2016

2009 - 2012

  • Aydin, N., Krueger, J., Fischer, J., Hahn, D., Frey, D., Kastenmüller, A., & Fischer, P. (2012). A man`s best friend: How the presence of a dog decreases mental distress after social exclusion. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48, 446-449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.09.011
  • Bartling, B., Fehr, E., & Schmidt, K. M. (2012). Screening, competition, and job design: Economic origins of good jobs. American Economic Review, 102(2), 834-64 http://doi.org/10.1257/aer.102.2.834
  • Houser, D., Vetter, S., & Winter, J. (2012). Fairness and cheating. European Economic Review, 56(8), 1645-1655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2012.08.001
  • Pahlke, J., Strasser, S. & Vieider, F. M. (2012). Risk-taking for others under accountability. Economics Letters, 114(1), 102-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2011.09.037
  • Vieider, F. M. (2012). Moderate stake variations for risk and uncertainty, gains and losses: methodological implications for comparative studies. Economics Letters, 117(3), 718-721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2011.12.028
  • Fiedler, M., Haruvy, E., & Li, S. X. (2011). Social distance in a virtual world experiment. Games and Economic Behavior, 72(2), 400-426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geb.2010.09.004
  • Faulmüller, N., Kerschreiter, R., Mojzisch, A., & Schulz-Hardt, S. (2010). Beyond group-level explanations for the failure of groups to solve hidden profiles: The individual preference effect revisited. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 13, 653-671. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430210369143
  • Lammers, F., & Schiller J. (2010). Influencing factors for fraudulent behavior of policyholders: first experimental findings. Journal for the entire insurance industry, 99, 649-663. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12297-010-0097-z
  • Fiedler, M., & Haruvy E. (2009). The lab versus the virtual lab and virtual field - An experimental investigation of trust games with communication. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 72(2) , 716-724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2009.07.013

Spokesman of the Board

Klaus Schmidt
Klaus Schmidt

Senior Faculty

Behavioral and Experimental Economics, Contract Theory, Industrial Organisation, Mechanism Design

Send an email

+49 89 2180-2250

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Deputy Spokesman of the Board

Joachim Winter
Joachim Winter

Senior Faculty

Health Economics, Behavioral and Experimental Economics, Econometrics

Send an email

+49 89 2180-2459

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Board members of other faculties

Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogy
Prof. Dr. Felix C. Brodbeck
+49 89 2180-5201
brodbeck@psy.lmu.de
Faculty of Social Sciences
Prof. Dr. Ophelia Deroy
ophelia.deroy@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Faculty of Business Administration
Prof. Dr. Martin Spann
+49 89 2180-72051
spann@lmu.de

Laboratory Manager

Dominik Grothe
Dr. Dominik Grothe

Administrative Staff

Head of Research Department & Experimental Laboratory MELESSA

Organizational, Behavioral and Experimental Economics

Send an email

+49 89 2180-9786

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As a student assistant in the MELESSA team

As a Hiwi at MELESSA you have the chance to actively participate in scientific research and learn from the experience of experimenters from different disciplines. Key tasks include recruiting and managing participants, as well as ensuring that experiments run smoothly. One is always prepared and supported by the management of the laboratory and experienced Hiwis. At the regular "Hiwi meetings" you can address problems and new ideas for improvement and develop the lab further as a team. The friendly chair of MELESSA and the diverse work create a professional and positive atmosphere that allows personal and professional development and provides valuable insights into science for students.

Our Student Research Assistants



Azizullah, Sultan
Baier, Julian
Berthold, Eva
Böck, Jonas
Ye, Gelan
Contact

Phone: +49 (0) 89 / 2180 - 9729
E-Mail: hiwis.melessa@econ.lmu.de
Visitors Adress
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
MELESSA - Munich Experimental Laboratory for Economic and Social Sciences
Giselastr. 10 (1. Stock) - Room 110
80802 München

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