Economic and Technological Change (ECON)

ZEF's Division of Economic and Technological Change focuses on sustainable economic development and the reduction of poverty, malnutrition, and inequality. The current research program has a strong focus on economic and social aspects of food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and food systems, technical and institutional innovations, and rural development.

Typical examples of studies include the analysis of:

Links between climate change, poverty, and nutrition
Changing food environments, diets, and nutrition
Adoption, public acceptance, regulation, and effects of new technologies
Infrastructure, institutions, and sustainable development
Job futures and rural employment
Sustainable supply chains and international trade
Food demand trends and healthy and sustainable diets
Gender relations and women’s empowerment
Social policies, nutrition, and health
Development of sustainable bioeconomies

Much of the empirical analysis is carried out in low- and middle-income countries, but we also examine trends and policies in high-income countries. Analytical approaches developed and applied by our team include econometrics, experimental approaches, modeling of households, sectors, and economies, life cycle assessment (LCA), bioeconomic systems analysis, among others. We apply economic concepts in an interdisciplinary way, combined with approaches from the social, environmental, agronomic, nutrition and health sciences and other relevant disciplines. Research projects are often in cooperation with partners from all over the world. We try to combine academic rigor with policy relevance and outreach to the science community, other relevant stakeholders, and the broader public.

Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim

mqaim@uni-bonn.de

+49-228-73-1847

Chair and executive Director

Genscherallee 3

53113 Bonn

Current Fields of Research

Sustainable Food Systems

We analyze how diets can be made more healthy, sustainable, and affordable for all, with a particular focus on poor population segments. We examine the role of food supply chains, changing food environments, dietary choices, and nutrition outcomes for rural and urban populations.

Role of New Technologies

We analyze the adoption and impacts of various types of agricultural and food technologies, such as genetic/genomic innovations, agroecology practices, digital technologies, and robotics, among others. We also examine technology perceptions and broader implications for sustainable development.

Rural Labor Markets

We analyze the role of farm and off-farm income sources and jobs for rural livelihoods, resilience, and structural transformation, with a particular focus on food and nutrition security, gender roles, and decent work.

ECON Staff

Professors

Qaim, Prof. Dr. Matin, mqaim@uni-bonn.de
von Braun, Prof. Dr. Joachim, jvonbraun@uni-bonn.de

Senior Researchers

Ameye, Dr. Hannah, hameye(at)uni-bonn.de
Chichaibelu, Dr. Bezawit Beyene, bchichai(at)uni-bonn.de
Getahun, Dr. Tigabu Degu, tigyget14(at)gmail.com, tigabu@uni-bonn.de, tigyget@yahoo.com
Klemm, Dr. Janosch, jklemm(at)uni-bonn.de
Latka, Dr. Catharina, clatka(at)uni-bonn.de
Maina, Dr. Cecilia, cmaina(at)uni-bonn.de
Müting, Dr. Luisa, luisa.mueting(at)uni-bonn.de
Nguyen, Dr. Thanh Tung, tnguyen3(at)uni-bonn.de
Paris, Dr. Juliana Minetto Gellert, jminetto(at)uni-bonn.de
Parlasca, Dr. Martin, mparlasc(at)uni-bonn.de
Rana, Dr. Md. Sohel, srana(at)uni-bonn.de
Schilling, Dr. Friederike, fschilling(at)uni-bonn.de

Junior Researchers

Abdullah, Karim, kabdullah(at)uni-bonn.de
Anyokwu, Ewere Evelyn, evelyn.ewere(at)yahoo.com; evelyn.ewere@ilr.uni-bonn.de
Astuti, Riska Dwi, riska.astuti(at)uni-bonn.de
Baum, Johanna, johanna.baum(at)uni-bonn.de
Bonzo, Benjamin Benson, bbkbonzo(at)uni-bonn.de
Brück, Paul, paulbrueck(at)uni-bonn.de
Elmira, Elza, eelmira(at)uni-bonn.de
Ezebuihe, Jessy Amarachi, jezebuih(at)uni-bonn.de
Farjana, Fariha, Fariha(at)uni-bonn.de, farihafarjana@econ.ku.ac.bd
Gupta, Shweta, shweta.gupta(at)uni-bonn.de
Guthoff, Jonas, jguthoff(at)uni-bonn.de
Kafotokoza, Joshua, jshkafotokoza(at)gmail.com
Langella, Elisa, elisa.langella(at)uni-bonn.de
Le, Trang, trangle(at)uni-bonn.de
Mutsami, Chrispinus, cmutsami(at)uni-bonn.de
Ndip, Francis Ebai, francis.ndip(at)uni-bonn.de
Nzira, Jackson Elias, jenzira(at)uni-bonn.de
Pieper, Theresa, theresa.pieper(at)uni-bonn.de
Surendran Padmaja, Subash, subashspar(at)uni-bonn.de
Wang, Yufan, wangyufan_ybu(at)163.com
Wassie, Mengistu Alamneh, mengistuaaau(at)gmail.com
Yadav, Shweta, shwetayadav(at)uni-bonn.de

In the photo, from the back row to the front, from left to right: Dr. Luisa Müting, Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim, Dr. Martin Parlasca, Dr. Janosch Klemm, Dr. Friederike Schilling, Dr. Juliana Minetto Gellert Paris, Dr. Hannah Ameye, Dr. Amy Faye, Dr. Md. Sohel Rana, Dr. Catharina Latka, Dr. Cecilia Maina, Kathrin Bird © ZEF

ECON Projects

AFS-TRP – Agrifood Systems-Transformative Research and Policy Guidance

DAIV – Dynamics of agricultural innovation in Vietnam

Food system changes for healthy and sustainable diets in China

FoodCost – Redefining the value of food

Hermann Eiselen Ph.D. Research Support Program

Job Futures: Livelihood effects, digital innovations, and household dynamics in Africa
(part of SFB 228 Future Rural Africa)

Malabo Montpellier Panel

PARI – Program of Accompanying Research for Agricultural Innovation

START – Sustainable greenhouse production types and resource efficient technologies for future cultivation

Towards healthy and sustainable diets in sub-Saharan Africa

Ameye, H., V. Hülsen, K. Glatzel, A. Laar, M. Qaim (2025). Urbanizing Food Environments in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Accessibility, Affordability, Convenience, and Desirability of Healthy Diets. Food Policy, 137, 102981, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102981.

Pieper, T., T.-T. Nguyen, M. Qaim (2025). Access to Electricity and Gendered Labor Allocation: Insights from Ethiopia. Energy Policy, 207, 114814, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114814.

Llerena Pinto, M.C., A. Mirzabaev, M. Qaim (2025). Effects of Recurrent Rainfall Shocks on Poverty and Income Distribution in Rural Ecuador. World Development, 195, 107107, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2025.107107.

Qaim, M., M.C. Parlasca (2025). Agricultural Economics and the Transformation Toward Sustainable Agri-Food Systems. Agricultural Economics, Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 327-335, https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.70023.

Rana, M.S., A. Faye, M. Qaim (2025). Temporary Migration Decisions and Effects on Household Income and Diets in Rural Bangladesh. Agricultural Economics, 56, 769-781, https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.70030.

Nguyen, T.-T., M. Qaim (2025). Local and Regional Food Production Diversity are Positively Associated with Household Dietary Diversity in Rural Africa. Nature Food, 6, 205-212, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-01096-6.

Qaim, M., R. Barrangou, P.C. Ronald (2024). Sustainability of Animal-Sourced Foods and Plant-Based Alternatives. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 121, e2400495121, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2400495121.

Musungu, A.L., Z. Kubik, M. Qaim (2024). Drought Shocks and Labor Reallocation in Rural Africa: Evidence from Ethiopia. European Review of Agricultural Economics, 51, 1045-1068, https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbae020.

Hülsen, V., M.G. Khonje, M. Qaim (2024). Market Food Environments and Child Nutrition. Food Policy, 128, 102704, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2024.102704.

Zeddies, H.H., G. Busch, M. Qaim (2024). Positive Public Attitudes Towards Agricultural Robots. Scientific Reports 14, 15607, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66198-4.