Prof. Dr. Simon Luechinger
Professor of Economics
Dr. oec. publ.
T +41 41 229 58 30
simon.luechinger@unilu.ch
Frohburgstrasse 3, Room 4.B30
CV
Simon Luechinger has been a professor of economics at the University of Lucerne since 2010, first an assistant professor and since 2014 a full professor. His research interests are in the fields of political economics and environmental economics. In the field of political economics, his research investigates the personnel connections between the private and public sectors and the effects of political institutions. In the field of environmental economics, his research examines the social costs of pollution and the effectiveness of environmental policies. He publishes in leading international journals such as the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, the Economic Journal, the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, the Journal of Human Resources, or the Journal of Public Economics.
Simon Luechinger holds a PhD in economics from the University of Zurich. He was postdoc at the KOF Swiss Economic Institute of the ETH Zurich and visiting researcher at the London School of Economics. For shorter research visits, he was at the European University Institute, the Columbia University, the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, and the Freie Universität Berlin. He is a member of the Chapter of Environmental and Resource Economists of the Association of German-speaking Economists and member of the board of the Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics.
Research
Research Priorities
- Energy and environmental economics
- Political economics
Current and completed projects financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation
- How the Internet is reshaping rural society: The impact of fast Internet rollout on political accountability and interfaith cooperation in India
- The effects of geographical representation on legislators, voters, and economic policy
- The Effects of Electoral Institutions and Information on Electoral Competition and Selection
- Tax incentives for reducing energy consumption: An empirical evaluation of tax reforms in Swiss cantons, (project page)
Publications
- Krebs, B., & Luechinger, S. (2024). Air pollution, cognitive performance, and the role of task proficiency. Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, 11 (4), 921–958. https://doi.org/10.1086/728270
- Luechinger, S., Schelker, M., & Schmid, L. (2024). Measuring closeness in proportional representation systems. Political Analysis, 32 (1), 101–114. https://doi.org/10.1017/pan.2023.22
- Leisibach, P., Luechinger, S., Roellin, J., & Schaltegger, C. A. (2023). The effects of natural resource revenues on municipal finance. Economic Policy, 38 (115), 567–600. https://doi.org/10.1093/epolic/eiad015
- Luechinger, S., & Moser, C. (2020). The European Commission and the revolving door. European Economic Review, 127, 103461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2020.103461
- Krebs, B., & Luechinger, S. (2020). The effect of an electricity tax on aggregate electricity consumption: evidence from Basel. Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, 156, 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41937-020-00064-8
- Lalive, R., Luechinger, S., & Schmutzler, A. (2018). Does expanding regional train service reduce air pollution? Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 92, 744–764. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeem.2017.09.003
- Luechinger, S., & Roth, F. (2016). Effects of a mileage tax for trucks. Journal of Urban Economics, 92, 1–15. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2015.09.005
- Hodler, R., Luechinger, S., & Stutzer, A. (2015). The effects of voting costs on the democratic process and public finance. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 7 (1), 141–171. Retrieved from https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pol.20120383
- Luechinger, S., Schelker, M., & Stutzer, A. (2014). Governance, bureaucratic rents and well-being differentials across U.S. states. Oxford Economic Papers, 66 (2), 443–464. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpt006
- Luechinger, S. (2014). Air pollution and infant mortality: A natural experiment from power plant desulfurization. Journal of Health Economics, 37, 219–231. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2014.06.009
- Luechinger, S., & Moser, C. (2014). The value of the revolving door: Political appointees and the stock market. Journal of Public Economics, 119, 93–107. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2014.08.001
- Luechinger, S., & Schaltegger, C. (2013). Fiscal rules, budget deficits and budget projections. International Tax and Public Finance, 20 (5), 785–807. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s10797-012-9245-9
- Gassebner, M., & Luechinger, S. (2011). Lock, stock, and barrel: A comprehensive assessment of the determinants of terror. Public Choice, 149 (3–4), 235–261.
- Luechinger, S., Meier, S., & Stutzer, A. (2010). Why does unemployment hurt the employed? Evidence from the life satisfaction gap between the public and the private sector. Journal of Human Resources, 45 (4), 998–1045.
- Luechinger, S. (2010). Life satisfaction and transboundary air pollution. Economics Letters, 107 (1), 4–6.
- Luechinger, S., Stutzer, A., & Winkelmann, R. (2010). Self-selection models for public and private sector job satisfaction. Research in Labor Economics, 30, 233–251.
- Luechinger, S. (2009). Valuing air quality using the life satisfaction approach. Economic Journal, 119 (536), 482–515.
- Frey, B. S., Luechinger, S., & Stutzer, A. (2009). The life satisfaction approach to valuing public goods: The case of terrorism. Public Choice, 138 (3–4), 317–345.
- Luechinger, S., & Raschky, P. A. (2009). Valuing flood disasters using the life satisfaction approach. Journal of Public Economics, 93 (3–4), 620–633.
- Luechinger, S., Meier, S., & Stutzer, A. (2008). Bureaucratic rents and life satisfaction. Journal of Law, Economics and Organization, 24 (2), 476–488.
- Luechinger, S., Rosinger, M., & Stutzer, A. (2007). The impact of postal voting on participation. Evidence for Switzerland. Swiss Political Science Review, 13 (2), 167–202.
- Frey, B. S., Luechinger, S., & Stutzer, A. (2007). Calculating tragedy: Assessing the costs of terrorism. Journal of Economic Surveys, 21 (1), 1–24.
- Frey, B. S., & Luechinger, S. (2004). Decentralization as a disincentive to terror. European Journal of Political Economy, 20 (2), 509–515.
- Frey, B. S., & Luechinger, S. (2003). How to fight terrorism: Alternatives to deterrence. Defence and Peace Economics, 14 (4), 237–249.
- Lüchinger, S., & Stutzer, A. (2002). Skalenerträge in der öffentlichen Kernverwaltung. Eine empirische Analyse anhand von Gemeindefusionen. Swiss Political Science Review, 8 (1), 27–50.
- Koch, B., Luechinger, S., & Moser, C. (23 December 2024). Prediction markets, the true value of the revolving door and the US cabinet (CESifo Working Paper No. 11557). Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5068681
- Luechinger, S., & Schelker, M. (2016). Regulation in Swiss cantons: Data for one century (CESifo Working Paper No. 5663). Munich. Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2719532
- Luechinger, S., Stutzer, A., & Winkelmann, R. (2006). The happiness gains from sorting and matching in the labor market (IZA Discussion Paper No. 2019). Bonn.
- Lüchinger, S., & Christoph, M. (2023). Das Revolving-Door-Phänomen: Die Drehtür zwischen Politik und Wirtschaft. In Polk, Andreas & Mause, Karsten (Eds.), Handbuch Lobbyismus (pp. 351–368). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14961627
- Luechinger, S., & Moser, C. (2023). The revolving door phenomenon. In Polk, Andreas & Mause, Karsten (Eds.), The Political Economy of Lobbying: Channels of Influence and their Regulation (pp. 167–182). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14961549
- Frey, B. S., & Luechinger, S. (2010). The life satisfaction approach to environmental valuation. In Rausser, Gordon C., Smith, Kerry V. & Zilberman, David (Eds.), Annual Review of Resource Economics (Vol. 2, pp. 139–160). Palo Alto: Annual Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.resource.012809.103926
- Frey, B. S., & Luechinger, S. (2009). Countering terrorism: Beyond deterrence. In Morgan & Matthew J. (Eds.), The impact of 9/11 on politics and war. The day that changed everything? (pp. 131–139). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Frey, B. S., & Lüchinger, S. (2009). Tourismus und Terrorismus aus ökonomischer Sicht. In Deutsche Gesellschaft für Tourismuswissenschaft e.V. (Ed.), Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft (pp. 63–73). Stuttgart: Lucius & Lucius.
- Frey, B. S., & Luechinger, S. (2008). Three strategies to deal with terrorism. In Economic Society of Australia (Ed.), Economic Papers (pp. 107–114). Hoboken: Wiley.
- Frey, B. S., & Luechinger, S. (2007). Concepts of happiness and their measurement. In Meyerhoff, Jürgen & Schwarze, Reimund (Eds.), Jahrbuch Ökologische Ökonomik, Vol. 5: Soziale Nachhaltigkeit (pp. 219–237). Marburg: Metropolis Verlag.
- Frey, B. S., & Luechinger, S. (2007). Terrorism: Considering new policies. In Richardson, Harry W., Gordon, Peter & Moore, James E. (Eds.), The economic costs and consequences of terrorism (pp. 17–37). Cheltenham/Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Frey, B. S., & Luechinger, S. (2006). Costs and benefits of anti-terrorism policies. In Hamilton & Daniel S. (Eds.), Terrorism and international relations (pp. 169–180). Washington: Center for Transatlantic Relations.
- Frey, B. S., & Luechinger, S. (2005). Measuring terrorism. In Marciano, Alain & Josselin, Jean-Michel (Eds.), Law and the state: A political economy approach. (pp. 142–181). Cheltenham/Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Frey, B. S., & Lüchinger, S. (2003). Anti-Terrorismus-Politik. Eine ökonomische Analyse. In Berthold, Norbert & Lingenfelder, Michael (Eds.), WiSt - Wirtschaftswissenschaftliches Studium (pp. 264–269). München/Frankfurt a.M.: C. H. Beck/Vahlen.
- Frey, B. S., & Lüchinger, S. (2002). Ist Abschreckung wirksam? Eine ökonomische Analyse des Terrorismus. In List Gesellschaft e.V. (Ed.), List Forum für Wirtschafts- und Finanzpolitik (pp. 209–221). Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft.
- Leisibach, P., Lüchinger, S., & Schaltegger, C. (4 December 2023). Wenn Wasserzinse sprudeln. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 18. Retrieved from https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/hoehere-ausgaben-oder-tiefere-steuern-wie-die-gemeinden-ihre-einnahmen-aus-den-wasserzinsen-verwenden-ld.1766317
- Lüchinger, S., Schelker, M., & Schmid, L. (1 November 2023). Glanzvoll gewählt oder knapp verfehlt? Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 19. Retrieved from https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/glanzvoll-gewaehlt-oder-knapp-verfehlt-die-stimmendistanz-zur-wahl-oder-nichtwahl-richtig-messen-ld.1762600
- Lüchinger, S., Schelker, M., & Schmid, L. (1 October 2019). Der Bisherigenbonus verzerrt den Wettbewerb an der Urne. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 14. Retrieved from https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/nationalratswahlen-der-bisherigenbonus-verzerrt-den-wettbewerb-ld.1512667
- Lüchinger, S., & Schelker, M. (2015). Kantone regulieren unterschiedlich. Die Volkswirtschaft, (10), 28–30. Retrieved from https://dievolkswirtschaft.ch/de/2015/09/10-2015-luechinger-schelker/
- Lüchinger, S., & Schelker, M. (2015). Tous les cantons ne légifèrent pas au même rythme. La vie économique, (10), 28–30. Retrieved from https://dievolkswirtschaft.ch/fr/2015/09/10-2015-luechinger-schelker-franz/
- Lüchinger, S. (2014). Umweltökonomie – am Beispiel des Bahnausbaus. Jahresbericht 2013, Universität Luzern, 26–28. Retrieved from https://www.unilu.ch/forschung/aktivitaeten/fokus-forschung/umweltoekonomie-am-beispiel-des-bahnausbaus/
- Schaltegger, C. A., & Lüchinger, S. (3 November 2012). Weniger Schätzfehler dank Schuldenbremsen: Fiskalregeln verringern Verzerrungsanreiz. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, (257), 31.
- Luechinger, S. (10 July 2008). Caving in to fuel protesters would sour the atmosphere. European Voice, 14 (27), 9.
- Stutzer, A., Rosinger, M., & Lüchinger, S. (21 September 2007). Le vote par correspondance a peu augmenté la participation. Le Temps, (2899), 19.
- Hertig, G., & Lüchinger, S. (24 November 2007). Wenn Ökonometrie im Gerichtsaal zur Alltäglichkeit wird: Neue Entwicklungen in Law and Economics als Horizonterweiterung für Juristen und Ökonomen. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, (274), 31.
- Stutzer, A., Lüchinger, S., & Rosinger, M. (4 August 2007). Die briefliche Stimmabgabe wirkt mobilisierend: Im Durchschnitt eine um vier Prozentpunkte höhere Beteiligung. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, (178), 16.
- Lüchinger, S. (21 May 2007). Law and Economics II. Oecnews, (109), 28.
- Frey, B. S., Lüchinger, S., & Stutzer, A. (2005). L’impact économique du terrorisme. La vie économique, (11), 4–7.
- Frey, B. S., Lüchinger, S., & Stutzer, A. (2005). Wirtschaftliche Auswirkungen des Terrorismus. Die Volkswirtschaft, (11), 4–7.
- Frey, B. S., & Lüchinger, S. (1 September 2004). Die Bahamas weit vor den USA und China. Wie ist der Medaillenspiegel sinnvoll zu berechnen? Neue Zürcher Zeitung, (203), 63.
- Frey, B. S., Lüchinger, S., & Stutzer, A. (12 June 2004). Wirtschaftliche Schäden des Terrorismus. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, (134), 29.
- Frey, B. S., & Lüchinger, S. (28 February 2002). Über den Sinn von Medaillenspiegeln. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, (49), 49.
- Schaffer, L., Lüchinger, S., & Heselhaus, S. (24 November 2024). Klimawandel: ‘Kompetenzen bündeln’. cogito. Das Wissensmagazin der Universität Luzern. Retrieved from https://www.unilu.ch/fileadmin/universitaet/dienste/unikomm/dokumente/cogito/cogito_13_2024.pdf
- Lüchinger, S. (2018). Mobility Pricing macht die Verkehrskosten transparent. Forum Raumentwicklung. Retrieved from https://www.are.admin.ch/dam/are/de/dokumente/service/publikationen/forum-raumentwicklung-02-18-mobilitat-der-zukunft.pdf.download.pdf/forum_raumentwicklung_2-18_mobilitaet_der_zukunft.pdf
- Lüchinger, S. (11 October 2018). Lenkungsabgabe funktioniert nicht. Basellandschaftliche Zeitung.
- Lüchinger, S. (10 October 2018). Basler Lenkungsabgabe weitgehend wirkungslos. SRF 1 Regionaljournal Basel.
- Lüchinger, S. (20 September 2018). Ein Mittel wäre eine Lenkungsabgabe. Surseer Woche, Spezialbeilage.
- Luechinger, S. (2010). van Praag, Bernard M. and Ada Ferrer-i-Carbinell (2007). Happiness Quantified. A Satisfaction Calculus Approach, revised edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Economica, 77 (305), 200.
- Lüchinger, S. (December 2005). Sunstein, Cass R. (2005). Laws of Fear. Beyond the Precautionary Principle. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, (295), 77.
- Koch, B., Lüchinger, S., & Moser, C. (2025). Der wahre Wert politischer Verbindungen: Neue Erkenntnisse aus den USA. Retrieved from https://www.diepresse.com/19314772/der-wahre-wert-politischer-verbindungen-neue-erkenntnisse-aus-den-usa
- Lüchinger, S., & Moser, C. (6 September 2022). Wie Unternehmen von der Drehtür zwischen Politik und Wirtschaft profitieren. Retrieved from https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000138807847/wie-unternehmen-von-der-drehtuer-zwischen-politik-und-wirtschaft-profitieren
- Krebs, B., & Lüchinger, S. (15 May 2021). Bescheidene Effekte einer sinnvollen Politik – das Beispiel einer Elektrizitätsabgabe. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20210415043504/https://www.oekonomenstimme.org/artikel/2021/04/bescheidene-effekte-einer-sinnvollen-politik--das-beispiel-einer-elektrizitaetsabgabe/
- Lalive, R., Luechinger, S., & Schmutzler, A. (2013). Can passenger railways curb road-traffic externalities? Empirical evidence. Retrieved from https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/can-passenger-railways-curb-road-traffic-externalities-empirical-evidence
- Luechinger, S. (27 September 2012). The value of the revolving door: Political appointees and the stock market. Retrieved from https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/value-revolving-door-political-appointees-and-stock-market
- Gassebner, M., & Lüchinger, S. (6 November 2011). Der 11. September und seine Kinder. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20220712022831/https://oekonomenstimme.org/artikel/2011/09/der-11-september-und-seine-kinder/
