Edmond de Rothschild Foundations Chair in Behavioural Philanthropy

This unique chair in Europe promotes research and teaching in an emerging discipline at the crossroad between behavioural finance, economics, psychology and neuroscience.

 

Assistant Professor Giuseppe Ugazio will occupy the new chair: a graduate from the University of Zurich and a Harvard University post-doctoral researcher, Professor Ugazio holds two PhDs, one in philosophy and the other one in neuro-economics. He has been appointed for his skills as an interdisciplinary researcher and for his innovative methodology in behavioural science.

The challenge

Recent developments in behavioural finance and economics have boosted philanthropy research, focusing primarily on the psychological mechanisms and contextual phenomena that govern charitable donation decision-making. It’s an emerging discipline at the crossroads between behavioural finance, behavioural economics, psychology and neuroscience. At the moment there are only a handful of researchers in this field at the international level.

Our ambition

"What motivates a person to help others?" asks professor Giuseppe Ugazio. This is the question that behavioral philanthropy research seeks to answer. What are the cognitive and neurobiological processes behind philanthropic motivation?

Build a theoretical framework that allows characterizing different types of philanthropists

to provide the scientific means to build personalized strategies to help donors fulfill their philanthropic desires

Shed new light on the complex human mechanisms that drive philanthropy

with research backed by a rigorous and creative modus operandi in a laboratory filled with inspiration, critical thinking, and solutions.

Create Synergies between different philanthropic actors in Switzerland

establishing common interest areas and identifying sectors where foundations are less active

Our solutions

Fundamental and Applied Research

Diffusing articles and interdisciplinary studies on the specifics of the giving process

 

Raising Awareness 

Through conferences, seminars, and roundtable discussions to get a transversal look at little-explored subject areas

"This is the result of close work with UNIGE and will open new horizons in philanthropy. At the crossroads between economy and neuroscience, this chair brings a new look at the complexities of human mentality."

Ariane de Rothschild
President
Edmond de Rothschild Foundations

"The interdisciplinary approach of the new chair is a perfect illustration of the methodology adopted by the Centre: to address philanthropy from a transversal perspective, providing academic insight into rarely-explored subjects knowing that the most relevant topics today often lie at the interface between several disciplines."

Henry Peter
Director
GCP