Starting 15 June 2026, behavioral economist and economics professor Ulrike Malmendier will join the Policy Center of the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE as Distinguished Policy Advisor. In her new role, she will support SAFE in providing decision-makers in politics and business with evidence-based research findings and independent policy advice. The focus of her work lies in strengthening a financial system that fosters economic innovation and the needs of both economy and society.
"I am thrilled to welcome Ulrike to SAFE's Policy Center. Her exceptional academic standing and proven commitment to policy engagement will greatly strengthen our research transfer and outreach activities,” says Florian Heider, SAFE’s Scientific Director.
Malmendier is a professor of finance at the Berkeley Haas School of Business and professor of economics at UC Berkeley. She is a leading expert in behavioral economics, behavioral finance, and corporate finance. In addition, she served as a member of the German Council of Economic Experts from 2022 to February 2026 and as president of the American Finance Association from early 2025 to early 2026.
Financial economist with expertise in policy advisory
“Given the current challenges facing Germany and Europe, I am pleased to continue serving as a policy advisor in Germany and Europe. SAFE offers an excellent platform, particularly in the area of financial markets,“ says Malmendier.
Malmendier’s research on the impact of CEOs’ overconfidence on corporate governance and financial decisions has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Finance and the Journal of Financial Economics. Her study on the relationship between experience with macroeconomic shocks and the willingness to take financial risks appeared in the Quarterly Journal of Economics. Her publications have been cited thousands of times, and she has been honored with numerous awards, including the Fischer Black Prize from the American Finance Association.
Malmendier earned a PhD in Business Economics from Harvard University and a PhD in Law from the University of Bonn. After completing her doctoral studies, she taught at Stanford University, with visiting appointments at the University of Chicago and Princeton University. She is also a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), a Faculty Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), a CESifo Affiliate, and a Research Affiliate at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR).
