Teaching
Here you can find information on teaching and seminars offered by the Chair of Economics of Digitalisation
The Chair of Economics of Digitalisation offers a colloquium for M.Sc. thesis supervision to students of economics.
M.Sc. Thesis
- Cycle: Winter and summer semester
- Credits: 30 CP
- Working Period: 180 days
- Module code: 02-VWL:MSc-Thesis / 02-BWL:MSc-Thesis
- Language: German/Englisch
- Examination format: Written thesis and presentation
Framework conditions for M.Sc
- Applications for a thesis place must be submitted in good time before each semester. Students apply during the summer semester for a thesis place in the following winter semester, and analogously during the winter semester for a thesis place in the following summer semester. Please refer to the official deadlines listed in the examination office’s schedule on the homepage of the examination office
- Thesis places are allocated centrally by the examination office.
- The outcome of the thesis place allocation process will be published on the homepage of the examination office after completion of the procedure.
- If you have been allocated a thesis place at our chair, we will enrol you in the course "Supervision of MSc Master Theses in Economics of Digitalisation" on StudIP. Here you will find all further announcements, documents, and dates.
- Please ensure that, by the kick-off meeting, you have completed all required preliminary coursework as stipulated in the current study regulations.
- For formal requirements and citation guidelines for written work, please consult the Guidelines for Academic Writing (in German: "Leitfaden für wissenschaftliches Arbeiten") of the economics chairs.
- Professor Meckl’s chair (VWL III) has developed a LaTeX template that complies with the citation guidelines outlined in the "Guidelines for Academic Writing". You will find a zip archive containing all necessary files via the following link.
- Template for the title page of MSc master theses
Topic areas
The topic of the thesis is determined individually. In-depth suggestions regarding desired topic areas from students are welcome and can be taken into account during topic selection. Empirical, methodological, or literature-based thematic focuses are all possible.
Formalities
- Important notes on academic writing can be found on the homepage of the examination office of Faculty 02. Assistance with literature research is available on the homepage of the branch library.
- The German Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften (ZBW) also provides information and access to full-text resources.
- For students of Faculty 02, the Branch Library Law & Economics regularly conducts user training sessions on literature search and acquisition. The highly useful reference management software Citavi is available to all students and staff of Justus Liebig University. It significantly simplifies literature research and the creation of bibliographies. Citavi on the HRZ homepage
Plagiarism
Academic integrity requires that ideas taken from others are clearly acknowledged. Presenting someone else’s intellectual work as your own constitutes plagiarism. Hence, all quotations—whether verbatim or paraphrased—must be explicitly cited with full source information. This commitment is confirmed by your signature at the end of the written thesis.
Plagiarism is not a minor offence – even suspicion of plagiarism is subject to disciplinary action and may result in failure of the examination.
Further information on good academic practice can be found on the university’s website .
Master-Course "Economics of Digitalisation" Summerterm 2026
In the upcoming summer term, the Chair of Economics of Digitalisation offers the following course:
Lecture and Practice „Economics of Digitalisation", SS 2026 Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek
The course is intended for students in the Master.
The master course "Economics of Digitalisation" deals with the following aspects of digitalisation from a theoretical and application-oriented perspective:
- Digital Technologies as general purpose technologies
- Effects of digitalisation on firms
- Effects of digitalisation on employees
- Digital platforms
The course consists of lectures and homework, which students work on and present independently.
The course language is English. The lecture will start on 15.04.2026 at 4:00 pm. The course will mainly take place in presence.
Please refer to the current information on the homepage and in Studip.
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek, Robin Sack
Successful completion of courses in industrial economics and econometrics is highly recommended for participation.
Contact:
Irene.Bertschek@wirtschaft.uni-giessen.de
Master-Course "Economics of Digitalisation" Summerterm 2025
In the upcoming summer term, the Chair of Economics of Digitalisation offers the following course:
Lecture and Practice „Economics of Digitalisation", SS 2025 Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek
The course is intended for students in the Master.
The master course "Economics of Digitalisation" deals with the following aspects of digitalisation from a theoretical and application-oriented perspective:
- Digital Technologies as general purpose technologies
- Effects of digitalisation on firms
- Effects of digitalisation on employees
- Digital platforms
The course consists of lectures and homework, which students work on and present independently.
The course language is English. The lecture will start on 23.04.2025 at 16:00. The course will mainly take place in presence.
Please refer to the current information on the homepage and in Studip.
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek, Vincent Rost
Successful completion of courses in industrial economics and econometrics is highly recommended for participation.
Contact:
Irene.Bertschek@wirtschaft.uni-giessen.de
In the upcoming summer term, the Chair of Economics of Digitalisation offers the following course:
Lecture and Practice „Economics of Digitalisation", SS 2023 Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek
The course is intended for students in the Master.
The master course "Economics of Digitalisation" deals with the following aspects of digitalisation from a theoretical and application-oriented perspective:
- Information and communication technologies as a general purpose technology
- Effects of digitalisation on companies
- Effects of digitalisation on employees
- Digital platforms
The course language is English. The lecture will start on 19.04.2023 at 14:00 ( Licher Straße 68, Room 45 ) and will probably take place in presence.
Please refer to the current information on the homepage and in Studip.
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek, Vincent Rost
Successful completion of courses in industrial economics and econometrics is highly recommended for participation.
Contact:
Irene.Bertschek@wirtschaft.uni-giessen.de
Block Seminar – Digitalisation and the transformation of labour , WS 202 2 /2 3 , Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek
In the master seminar “ Digitalisation and the transformation of labour ” we will learn about how the world of labour is changing through the use of digital technologies:
- Which tasks and jobs are replaced by digital technologies? In which industries and professions are new jobs created?
- Which flexible forms of work such as home office and mobile working are made possible by digitalisation?
- Which professional opportunities does digitalisation create for women?
- How do online labour markets (crowdworking) work? What role do they play alongside the regular labour market?
The focus is on research papers with an empirical / econometric focus. Further information on the content can be found on StudIP. The assessment will be based the seminar paper and the presentation. The seminar language is German.
The seminar takes place in blocks. Further information on seminar dates will follow:
- Kickoff event (introduction, topic presentation and assignment)
- Group meeting and discussion
- Final presentation (presentation + discussion)
The exact dates will be announced in due time.
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek, Vincent Rost
If you are interested, please send a current performance record / FlexNow statement to via email to carmen.hersener@wirtschaft.uni-giessen.de and irene.bertschek@wirtschaft.uni-giessen.de with the subject "MasterseminarWiSe2022/23".
In the upcoming summer term, the Chair of Economics of Digitalisation offers the following course:
Lecture and Practice „Economics of Digitalisation", SS 2022 Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek
The course is intended for students in the Master.
The master course "Economics of Digitalisation" deals with the following aspects of digitalisation from a theoretical and application-oriented perspective:
- Information and communication technologies as a general purpose technology
- Effects of digitalisation on companies
- Effects of digitalisation on employees
- Digital platforms
Successful completion of courses in industrial economics and econometrics is highly recommended for participation.
Contact: Irene.Bertschek
Block Seminar – Digital Markets and Platforms, WS 2020/21, Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek
In the master seminar “Digital Markets and Platforms” we will learn about the characteristics of digital markets and platforms such as two- or multi-sidedness, network effects, reputation mechanisms. Different markets and platforms will be analyzed such as social media platforms, sharing platforms, content providers, e-commerce markets, online-labor markets.
The seminar builds on research papers with empirical / econometric focus.
The main purpose of the seminar is to let students present research papers on digital markets and platforms and inspire their own research in this area.
Each student is required to
- write a seminar paper of 10 to 15 pages,
- present his or her own paper during the block seminar, and
- contribute to the general discussion during the block seminar.
Prerequisites:
Participants will benefit from prior completion of courses in industrial economics and econometrics.
Seminar organisation:
- seminar language will be English
- the seminar will be held as a block seminar
- obligatory virtual kick-off meeting (introduction, allocation of topics): date and time will be specified soon
- presentation of research papers (presentation and discussion) on the JLU campus : date and time will be specified soon
Further information will be provided in StudIP.
Requirements for seminar admission:
- please send a current transcript of records (“FlexNow-Auszug”) with the subject line „master seminar winter 2020/21“ via email to carmen.hersener@wirtschaft.uni-giessen.de and irene.bertschek@wirtschaft.uni-giessen.de
Seminar content and purpose
In the master seminar “The economics of cybersecurity“, we will take a microeconomic perspective on cybersecurity addressing issues like network externalities and asymmetric information and will discuss the economic impact, in particular on companies.
The seminar builds on research papers with microeconomic and / or empirical focus.
Main purpose of the seminar is to let students present research papers on the economic perspective of cybersecurity and inspire their own research in this area.
Each student is required to
- write a seminar paper of 10 to 15 pages,
- present his or her own paper during the block seminar, and
- participate in the general discussion during the block seminar.
Prerequisites:
Participants will benefit from prior completion of courses in industrial economics and econometrics.
Seminar organisation:
- seminar language will be English
- the seminar will be held as a block seminar
- obligatory kick-off meeting (introduction, allocation of topics): 23. April 12:15 – 13:45, the meeting will be digital; Participants will be contaced via E-Mail.
- presentation of research papers (presentation and discussion): date and time will be specified soon
Further information will be provided in StudIP.
Requirements for seminar admission:
- please send a current transcript of records (“FlexNow-Auszug”) with the subject line „master seminar summer 2020“ via email to carmen.hersener@wirtschaft.uni-giessen.de and irene.bertschek@wirtschaft.uni-giessen.de