News

The Impact of Narrative Persuasion

Image
Kai Barron explains Narrative Persuasion
Lena Gatscha

How do narratives shape economic decision-making? In our interview, WZB researcher Kai Barron discusses how narratives influence investors' interpretations of objective information. Barron delves into the complexities of belief formation and the impact one narrative can have on another's perspective. He also explains how everyday language can provide valuable insights for behavioral economists.

Do climate protests matter?

Image
Klimaprotest Brandenburger Tor
querbeet / iStock / Getty Images Plus

In a research brief on the political effects of climate protests, WZB researchers Daniel Saldivia Gonzatti and Swen Hutter show that sustained mobilisation can positively shape public perceptions and policy outcomes. They also challenge claims that confrontational protest tactics reduce public support for progressive climate policies.

A.SK Social Science Awards 2025 - Call for Nominations

Image
ASK Award - die Preisträger  und Stifter
David Ausserhofer

The WZB Berlin Social Science Center invites nominations for the A.SK Social Science Award 2025 and for the A.SK Social Science Bright Mind Award 2025. Endowed with 75,000 euros, the main A.SK award is one of the world’s largest in the social sciences. Past winners include Nobel laureates Daron Acemoglu and Esther Duflo.

Shorter Distances - Especially for Academics

People with a university degree are more likely to live in central locations with good infrastructure. They can therefore travel in a more environmentally friendly way than people with a lower level of education.

Conference: What can older people expect from AI?

Modern society is full of hope for the promises of digitalisation for older people, as it enables participation and inclusion. At the same time, the digital divide also carries the risk of exclusion for older people. The contributions to the two-day conference of the Age(ing) and Society Section of the German Sociological Association from 20 to 21 February describe the ambivalent, intended and unintended consequences of current digital developments. The conference will be held in German and English.

Season's Greetings

Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year from the WZB! May 2025 offer many opportunities to come together and build something new. 

Call for nominations

The WZB Berlin Social Science Center invites nominations for the A.SK Social Science Award 2025 and for the A.SK Social Science Bright Mind Award 2025. Since 2007, the main A.SK Award has honoured research on public policy with a focus on economic and governance reform with a prize of 75,000 euros. Past winners include Nobel laureates Daron Acemoglu and Esther Duflo.

Limits of ‘sportswashing’

Major sporting events offer authoritarian regimes an opportunity to improve their image. The effect of 'sportswashing' can be mitigated by critical reporting. This is shown by a study of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

How governments regulate reproduction

Reproduction policy remains on political agendas around the globe. In a new edited volume, WZB sociologist Hannah Zagel, who researches the sociology of the life course, brings together new research on various aspects of reproduction policy, including sex education, contraception, abortion, pregnancy care, and medically assisted reproduction.

Lessons from South Africa’s Alcohol Ban

Kai Barron and South African health scientists have investigated the effects of South Africa's alcohol ban during the Covid19 pandemic.