Ekkehart Schlicht
Encyclopedia
Ekkehart Schlicht is a German economist. He is best known for his work in labor economics, custom
in the economy
, and his contributions to the field of institutional economics
.
. He attended the Freie Waldorfschule Rendsburg
(Schleswig-Holstein
) where he completed his Abitur
in 1965.
from 1965 to 1967, and University of Regensburg
from 1967 to 1969, where he received the title of Diplom
-Volkswirt in 1969. The topic of Schlicht's Diplomarbeit was "Die Einbeziehung des technischen Fortschritts in die Produktionstheorie" (The inclusion of technical progress in production theory). Two years later, he completed his doctorate, writing his thesis on "Eine neoklassische Theorie der Vermögensverteilung" (A neo-classical theory of wealth distribution). Schlicht finished his habilitation
in Regensburg in 1976.
(1975–76), Brown University
(1987/88), the University of Minnesota
(1991), University of Melbourne
(1995), and University of California at Berkeley (2000/2001), as well as many further research positions.
, and economic methods.
Among his work in labor economics are papers on the theory of wealth distribution, efficiency wages
and wage discrimination, in which Schlicht offers rationales for why such commonly observed phenomena may emerge in a free market. On efficiency wages, Schlicht has argued that the offering by employers of above-market wages may have to do with fluctuation costs, which the employer attempts to reduce by paying a "job rent". This is an alternative to other common approaches to efficiency wages such as the "discipline
" theory by e.g. Shapiro
and Stiglitz, or the "adverse selection" and "loyalty" models by e.g. Akerlof
.
In the field of institutional economics Schlicht has written a book on custom
in the economy
and numerous publications on topics which combine economic, psychological, and institutional analysis. Several articles have also focused on social evolution
, comparing the evolution of biological organisms to the evolution of social norms and institutions.
Some other publications by Prof. Schlicht have focused on seasonal adjustment
of time series
data and a "moving equilibrium theorem".
Custom
Custom may refer to:* Convention , a set of agreed, stipulated or generally accepted rules, norms, standards or criteria, often taking the form of a custom* Customization , anything made or modified to personal taste...
in the economy
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
, and his contributions to the field of institutional economics
Institutional economics
Institutional economics focuses on understanding the role of the evolutionary process and the role of institutions in shaping economic behaviour. Its original focus lay in Thorstein Veblen's instinct-oriented dichotomy between technology on the one side and the "ceremonial" sphere of society on the...
.
Early life
Ekkehart Schlicht was born in 1945 in the Northern German city of KielKiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
. He attended the Freie Waldorfschule Rendsburg
Rendsburg
Rendsburg is a town on the River Eider and the Kiel Canal in the northeastern part of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis of Rendsburg-Eckernförde. As of 2006, it had a population of 28,476.-History:...
(Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
) where he completed his Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
in 1965.
Studies
Schlicht attended the University of KielUniversity of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
from 1965 to 1967, and University of Regensburg
University of Regensburg
The University of Regensburg is a public research university located in the medieval city of Regensburg, Bavaria, a city that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university was founded on July 18, 1962 by the Landtag of Bavaria as the fourth full-fledged university in Bavaria...
from 1967 to 1969, where he received the title of Diplom
Diplom
A Diplom is an academic degree in the German-speaking countries Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and a similarly named degree in some other European countries including Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Finland , Greece, Hungary, Russia, Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Ukraine...
-Volkswirt in 1969. The topic of Schlicht's Diplomarbeit was "Die Einbeziehung des technischen Fortschritts in die Produktionstheorie" (The inclusion of technical progress in production theory). Two years later, he completed his doctorate, writing his thesis on "Eine neoklassische Theorie der Vermögensverteilung" (A neo-classical theory of wealth distribution). Schlicht finished his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in Regensburg in 1976.
Academic career
Prof. Schlicht has taught at the University of Bielefeld (1976–80), Technical University of Darmstadt (1980–93), and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (since 1993). He has also held guest professorships at University of BonnUniversity of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
(1975–76), Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
(1987/88), the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
(1991), University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
(1995), and University of California at Berkeley (2000/2001), as well as many further research positions.
Major contributions
Prof. Schlicht's major contributions have been numerous works on labor economics, institutional economicsInstitutional economics
Institutional economics focuses on understanding the role of the evolutionary process and the role of institutions in shaping economic behaviour. Its original focus lay in Thorstein Veblen's instinct-oriented dichotomy between technology on the one side and the "ceremonial" sphere of society on the...
, and economic methods.
Among his work in labor economics are papers on the theory of wealth distribution, efficiency wages
Efficiency wages
In labor economics, the efficiency wage hypothesis argues that wages, at least in some markets, are determined by more than simply supply and demand. Specifically, it points to the incentive for managers to pay their employees more than the market-clearing wage in order to increase their...
and wage discrimination, in which Schlicht offers rationales for why such commonly observed phenomena may emerge in a free market. On efficiency wages, Schlicht has argued that the offering by employers of above-market wages may have to do with fluctuation costs, which the employer attempts to reduce by paying a "job rent". This is an alternative to other common approaches to efficiency wages such as the "discipline
Discipline
In its original sense, discipline is referred to systematic instruction given to disciples to train them as students in a craft or trade, or to follow a particular code of conduct or "order". Often, the phrase "to discipline" carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order –...
" theory by e.g. Shapiro
Carl Shapiro
Carl Shapiro is the Transamerica Professor of Business Strategy at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the co-author, along with Hal Varian, of Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy, published by the Harvard Business School Press...
and Stiglitz, or the "adverse selection" and "loyalty" models by e.g. Akerlof
George Akerlof
George Arthur Akerlof is an American economist and Koshland Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He won the 2001 Nobel Prize in Economics George Arthur Akerlof (born June 17, 1940) is an American economist and Koshland Professor of Economics at the University of...
.
In the field of institutional economics Schlicht has written a book on custom
Custom
Custom may refer to:* Convention , a set of agreed, stipulated or generally accepted rules, norms, standards or criteria, often taking the form of a custom* Customization , anything made or modified to personal taste...
in the economy
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
and numerous publications on topics which combine economic, psychological, and institutional analysis. Several articles have also focused on social evolution
Social evolution
Social evolution is a subdiscipline of evolutionary biology that is concerned with social behaviors that have fitness consequences for individuals other than the actor...
, comparing the evolution of biological organisms to the evolution of social norms and institutions.
Some other publications by Prof. Schlicht have focused on seasonal adjustment
Seasonal adjustment
Seasonal adjustment is a statistical method for removing the seasonal component of a time series that is used when analyzing non-seasonal trends. It is normal to report un-adjusted data for current unemployment rates, as these reflect the actual current situation...
of time series
Time series
In statistics, signal processing, econometrics and mathematical finance, a time series is a sequence of data points, measured typically at successive times spaced at uniform time intervals. Examples of time series are the daily closing value of the Dow Jones index or the annual flow volume of the...
data and a "moving equilibrium theorem".