Research

Our research advances and applies modern econometric and machine learning methods to study key questions in education, gender, and labor economics, as well as other areas.

Here you can find further information about selected completed and ongoing research projects of the group.

Econometrics

Econometrics

Methods for evaluating dynamically assigned programs

  • Bleher, J. (2024). A quantile regression approach to calculating relative entropy measures (SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 5005387). Social Science Research Network. doi.org

  • Bleher, J. (2024). Conditional density estimation and hypothesis testing through smoothed quantile regression (SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 5005311). Social Science Research Network. doi.org

  • Bleher, J., & Bleher, M. (2024). An algebraic framework for the modeling of limit order books (arXiv:2406.04969). arXiv. doi.org

  • Bleher, J., Koch, S., & Dimpfl, T. (2024). Density forecasts with local quantile projection and quantile vector autoregression applied to inflation (SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 4855124). Social Science Research Network. doi.org

  • Bernd Fitzenberger, Aderonke Osikominu, and Marie Paul, “The Effects of Training Incidence and Planned Training Duration on Labor Market Transitions”, Journal of Econometrics, 235(1), 2023, 256-279, doi: 10.1016/j.jeconom.2022.03.004
  • Bleher, J., & Dimpfl, T. (2022). Knitting multi-annual high-frequency Google Trends to predict inflation and consumption. Econometrics and Statistics, 24, 111–134. doi.org

  • Bleher, J., Bleher, M., & Dimpfl, T. (2020). From orders to prices: A stochastic description of the limit order book to forecast intraday returns (SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 3589763). Social Science Research Network. doi.org [1]

  • Bleher, J., & Dimpfl, T. (2019). Today I got a million, tomorrow, I don’t know: On the predictability of cryptocurrencies by means of Google search volume. International Review of Financial Analysis, 63, 147–159. doi.org

  • Aderonke Osikominu, “The Dynamics of Training Programs for the Unemployed”, IZA World of Labor, 277, 2016, doi: 10.15185/izawol.277

  • Aderonke Osikominu, “Quick Job Entry or Long-Term Human Capital Development? The Dynamic Effects of Alternative Training Schemes”, Review of Economic Studies, 80 (1), 2013, 313-342, doi: 10.1093/restud/rds022

Other

  • Volker Grossmann and Aderonke Osikominu, “Let the Data Speak? A Skeptic's Guide to Instrumental Variable Estimations in Macro-Development Economics”, German Economic Review, 20 (4), 2019, e831-e851, doi: 10.1111/geer.12192
                 
                Research Projects 

                Education

                Education

                Choice of STEM at university and returns to STEM education

                • Aderonke Osikominu, Gregor Pfeifer and Tim Ruberg, “Characterizing the Returns to STEM: Marginal and Policy Relevant Treatment Effects”, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 20112, 2025

                • Aderonke Osikominu, Volker Grossmann, and Marius Osterfeld, “Sociocultural Background and Choice of STEM Majors at University”, Oxford Economic Papers, 72 (2), 2020, 347-369, doi: 10.1093/oep/gpz034

                Causal effects of educational reforms and features of education systems

                • Schwerter, Jakob; Bleher, Johannes; Doebler, Philipp; McElvany, Nele (2025): Metropolitan, Urban, and Rural Regions: How Regional Differences Affect Elementary School Students in Germany. In: AERA Open, Bd. 11. DOI: 10.1177/23328584251331453.

                • Aderonke Osikominu, Gregor Pfeifer and Kristina Strohmaier, “When Parents Get to Decide: Choice of Secondary School Track and Student Outcomes”, 2024 (early version: IZA Discussion Paper No. 14033)

                • Schwerter, Jakob; Stang-Rabrig, Justine; Kleinkorres, Ruben; Bleher, Johannes; Doebler, Philipp; McElvany, Nele (2024): Importance of Students’ Social Resources for Their Academic Achievement and Well-Being in Elementary School. In: European Journal of Psychology of Education, Bd. 39, Heft 4, S. 4515–4552. DOI: 10.1007/s10212-024-00877-8.

                • Schwerter, Jakob; Dimpfl, Thomas; Bleher, Johannes; Murayama, Kou (2022): Benefits of Additional Online Practice Opportunities in Higher Education. In: The Internet and Higher Education, Bd. 53, Artikel 100834. DOI: 10.1016/j.iheduc.2021.100834.

                • Bleher, Johannes; Dimpfl, Thomas (2021): Computergestützte Methodenkompetenzvermittlung für Studienanfänger in den wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Studiengängen. In: Tübinger Beiträge zur Hochschuldidaktik, Bd. 17, Heft 1. DOI: 10.15496/publikation-57442. 

                 

                Research Projects  
                • FAIR Data Science - Buchprojekt zu reproduzierbaren, auffindbaren, zugänglichen, interoperablen und wiederverwendbaren Data-Science-Workflows für empirische Forschung.

                Gender

                Gender

                Gender differences in (expectations about) pay

                • Aderonke Osikominu, Gregor Pfeifer, and Sascha Satlukal, “Perceived Wages and the Gender Gap in STEM Fields”, 2023, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 12719

                • Stephanie Briel, Aderonke Osikominu, Gregor Pfeifer, Mirjam Reutter, and Sascha Satlukal, “Gender Differences in Wage Expectations: The Role of Biased Beliefs”, Empirical Economics, 62, 2022, 187-212, doi: 10.1007/s00181-021-02044-0

                Abortion liberalization

                 

                Research Projects 
                • Ethics, Gender and AI - Konferenzpräsentation / Forschungsoutput zu algorithmischen Fairness-Audits. Das Projekt untersucht, ob Gender über Proxy-Variablen statistisch rekonstruierbar ist und an welchen Stellen genderbezogene Unterschiede in der Verteilung KI-generierter Scoring-Ergebnisse sichtbar werden.

                Labor

                Labor

                Unemployment, job search, and participation in labor market programs

                • Pipino, Benedetta; Bleher, Johannes (2025): When ESG Stops Signaling: Employer Attractiveness and the Limits of Corporate Responsibility in Institutionalized Sustainability Contexts. SSRN Working Paper. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5960114.

                • Rafael Lalive, Aderonke Osikominu, Lorenzo Pesaresi, Jérémy Zuchuat and Josef Zweimüller,“Duration Dependence in Finding a Job: Applications, Interviews, and Job Offers”, RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 15/25

                • Bernd Fitzenberger, Aderonke Osikominu, and Marie Paul, “The Effects of Training Incidence and Planned Training Duration on Labor Market Transitions”, Journal of Econometrics, 235(1), 2023, 256-279, doi: 10.1016/j.jeconom.2022.03.004.

                • Aderonke Osikominu, “The Dynamics of Training Programs for the Unemployed”, IZA World of Labor, 277, 2016, doi: 10.15185/izawol.277

                • Martin Biewen, Bernd Fitzenberger, Aderonke Osikominu, and Marie Paul, “The Effectiveness of Public Sponsored Training Revisited: The Importance of Data and Methodological Choices”, Journal of Labor Economics, 32 (4), 2014, 837-897, doi: 10.1086/677233

                • Aderonke Osikominu, “Quick Job Entry or Long-Term Human Capital Development? The Dynamic Effects of Alternative Training Schemes”, Review of Economic Studies, 80 (1), 2013, 313-342, doi: 10.1093/restud/rds022

                Health

                Health

                • Lier, Julia; Winter, Karsten; Bleher, Johannes; Grammig, Joachim; Mueller, Wolf C.; Streit, Wolfgang; Bechmann, Ingo (2019): Loss of IBA1-Expression in Brains from Individuals with Obesity and Hepatic Dysfunction. In: Brain Research, Bd. 1710, S. 220–229. DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.01.006.

                 

                Research Projects

                • The Effect of Air Pollution on Mortality: Evidence from Wildfire Smoke in Mexico (Maximilian Nohr)
                • The Effect of Wildfire Smoke on Infant Health: Evidence from Mexico (Maximilian Nohr) 

                Machine Learning and AI

                Machine Learning and AI

                  

                • Weuts, Raphaël; Bleher, Johannes; Bleher, Hannah; Flores, Rozanne Tuesday; Xuanyang, Guo; Pujszo, Paweł; Almási, Zsolt (2025): AI Governance in Higher Education: A Course Design Exploring Regulatory, Ethical and Practical Considerations. arXiv Working Paper. arXiv:2509.06176.
                • Weuts, Raphaël; Billones, Robert Kerwin; Bleher, Johannes; Pujszo, Paweł; Flores, Rozanne Tuesday; Almási, Zsolt; Guo, Xuanyang; Soh, Jerrold (2025): White Paper for Universities on Navigating Artificial Intelligence Innovation Ecosystems in the Area of AI Governance. ASEF White Paper.
                • Weuts, Raphaël; Bleher, Johannes; Billones, Robert Kerwin; Pujszo, Paweł; Flores, Rozanne Tuesday; Almási, Zsolt; Guo, Xuanyang; Soh, Jerrold (2024): Universities as Catalysts: Advancing Ethical and Inclusive AI Governance. In: Tozsa, Réka; Cachapero, Cleo (Hrsg.): Universities’ Role in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ecosystems by 2060 in Asia and Europe. Singapore: Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), S. 20–29.
                • Vogelgesang, Jens; Bleher, Johannes; Krupitzer, Christian; Stein, Anthony; Jung, Robert (2023): Nutzung von ChatGPT in Lehre und Forschung – eine Einschätzung der AIDAHO-Projektgruppe. AIDAHO Position Paper. Universität Hohenheim.

                 

                Research Projects

                Other

                Other

                • Fabienne Helfer, Volker Grossmann, and Aderonke Osikominu, “How Does Immigration Affect Housing Costs in Switzerland?”, Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, 159, 2023, doi: 10.1186/s41937-023-00110-1.

                 

                Research Projects