Mission Statement

28 September 2026, by Internetredaktion

Mission Statement

The Hamburg Institute of Law and Economics is an interdisciplinary centre for research and teaching at the intersection of law, economics, and other social sciences. We analyse how legal norms, informal institutions, and governance structures shape human behaviour, markets, innovation, and societal development in an increasingly interconnected world.

The Institute builds on the rich tradition of the economic analysis of law while expanding its methodological and intellectual horizon. We integrate insights from psychology, history, anthropology, political science, and finance in order to better understand how legal and regulatory systems operate and how they can respond to contemporary societal challenges. Our research combines theoretical, behavioural, and empirical approaches.

We believe that interdisciplinary and internationally connected research is essential for evidence-based policymaking in complex and rapidly evolving environments. The Institute therefore serves as a forum for collaboration among scholars, policymakers, regulators, and practitioners from around the world. Through close intellectual exchange across disciplines, we aim to develop new perspectives on the interaction between law, technology, markets, and society.

The Institute is equally committed to innovative and internationally oriented teaching. It contributes to leading European programmes such as the European Master in Law and Economics (EMLE), the European Doctorate in Law and Economics (EDLE), and further international postgraduate and research initiatives. Through its teaching and research, the Institute seeks to educate a new generation of internationally minded and interdisciplinary scholars and professionals capable of shaping the legal and institutional frameworks of the future.