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University of Zurich — Department of Economics

Policy Design Lab

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University of Zurich — Department of Economics

Designing policy that works in the real world.

We study the design and evaluation of public policies through field experiments, behavioral science, and institutional partnerships. We bridge evidence and governance across public administrations and international institutions.

Our Research Work With Us

News

Award
Prof. Maréchal receives the 2025 Swiss Economics Prize for behavioral policy research.
March 2025
New Project
PDL launches a field experiment on nudge-based enforcement in Swiss municipalities.
January 2025
Publication
New paper on regulated cannabis markets accepted at the American Economic Review.
November 2024

Team

Directors
Michel Maréchal
Michel Maréchal
Professor
University of Zurich
Andreas Beerli
Andreas Beerli
Senior Researcher
ETH Zurich
Core Team
Flavia Hug
Flavia Hug
PhD Student
ETH Zurich
Aljosha Henkel
Aljosha Henkel
PhD Student
ETH Zurich
Arto Arman
Arto Arman
PhD Student
ETH Zurich
Massimiliano Pozzi
PhD Student
University of Zurich
Research Staff
Gisela Martins da Fonseca
Junior Research & Pre-Doc
Fintan Marugg
Junior Research & Pre-Doc
Domenico Sorrentino
tbd
Tringa Morina
Research Assistant
Seny Sancar
Research Assistant
Ermir Binakaj
Research Manager
Associates
Alain Cohn
Associate Professor
University of Michigan
Jeffrey Yusof
Assistant Professor
University of Stuttgart
Alumni
Philipp Sternal
PhD Student
Franka Huhn
Junior Researcher
Amadeo Grob
Junior Researcher
Rachid Ben-Maatoug
Junior Researcher
Andrea Weber
Research Assistant
Morris Niklaus
Research Assistant
Andrin Gehrig
Research Assistant
Florian Horber
Research Assistant
Melanie Senn
Research Assistant
Camilla Weder
Research Assistant
Urs Eichenberger
Research Assistant
XX
Bachelor Thesis
ZZ
Bachelor Thesis
Selma Schneider
Bachelor Thesis

Research

Justice Study: The Impact of Short-Term Incarceration on Human Life
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Project 1 lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. See NOMIS Foundation for more information.

Lab Authors: Beerli, Maréchal
Social and Economic Consequences of Cannabis Legalization
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Project 1 lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Lab Authors: Arman, Henkel, Beerli, Maréchal
Mental Wellbeing and Reintegration of Prisoners
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Project 2 lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Lab Authors: Henkel, Beerli, Maréchal
Public Attitudes towards Criminal Justice Policies
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Project 4 lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Lab Authors: Beerli, Arman, Henkel, Maréchal
Non-take-up of Health Insurance Subsidy
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Project 3 lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Lab Authors: Hug, Maréchal
Project Title Placeholder Five
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Project 5 lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Lab Authors: xyzx

Partners

Swiss Federal Office of Justice
Swiss Cannabis Research
Social Insurance Office Zurich
Swiss Federal Office of Public Health
Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School

Contact

For enquiries, reach us at info@policydesignlab.ch

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