Michael Weber, a globally recognized economist renowned for his work on household finance and macroeconomic expectations, has been awarded the eminent Alexander von Humboldt Professorship and is set to join ESMT Berlin. This marks a milestone for ESMT, as it becomes the first German business school to receive this prestigious research honor. 

Michael Weber, internationally esteemed for his groundbreaking research in behavioral and macroeconomics, has been awarded the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship. Weber is currently a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and plans to join ESMT Berlin in Spring 2026, pending final appointment negotiations. This will make ESMT the first business school in Germany to host the holder this elite award. 

The Humboldt Professorship, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and awarded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, is designed to attract global research talent for high-impact, long-term academic endeavors in Germany. Valued at up to €5 million it is one of the most prestigious and generously endowed research awards in Germany.

This distinction underscores not just ESMT’s research ambitions but also the growing significance of interdisciplinary approaches in management and economics. "Michael Weber is one of the most influential voices in household finance and macroeconomic expectations today," said Jörg Rocholl, president of ESMT, highlighting the boost Weber’s insights will bring to the school. 

Weber’s research links how inflation expectations affect consumer behavior, savings, and economic trust, and shows the value of transparent central bank communication. 

In his new role, Weber intends to set up the European Expectations Center at ESMT, a pioneering hub focused on understanding how inflation expectations evolve and impact decision-making among households and firms. The center will conduct comprehensive annual surveys, publish both academic and policy work, and host events for stakeholders across Europe. Weber is expected to begin his appointment in spring 2026, with recruitment for the new Center already underway.

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_{^{Image Credit: Chicago Booth University}}