The Institute was founded as "Institute of Economics (FGN-HSG)" in 1952 by professors Walter Adolf Jöhr, Theo Keller and Emil Küng. It was the first of more economics institutes to follow.
A key task is provided by article 1 in the bylaws agreed on when the institute was founded:
'The institute fosters and supports basic research in the field of economics and looks for synergies and a synthesis with other social sciences.'
The activities of the founding directors give proof of a broad understanding of basic research. For them it was not theorizing and debating in the ivory tower, but scientific work that ignites policies, the economy and teaching, and also receives impulses from these areas.
As part of the new University Act the institute was as of January 2025 renamed in: “Institute for Economic Research and Policy (ERP-HSG)”
The Institute for Economic Research and Policy is managed by several directors. The Directorate is responsible for the Institute's strategy, organizational structure and work programme in accordance with the tasks set out in the Institute's statutes.
Actual members of the Board of Directors:
Professor Dr. Stefan Bühler |
Professor Dr. Guido Cozzi |
Professor Dr. Paolo Piacquadio (Managing Director) |
Professor Dr. Samuel Häfner (Dep.) |
Professor Dr. Michèle Müller-Itten (Dep.) |
Since the Institute was founded in 1952, members of the Board of Directors were, in chronological order:
1952 – 1987 | Prof. Dr. Walter Adolf Jöhr, † 1987 |
1952 – 1968 | Prof. Dr. Theo Keller, † 1980 |
1952 – 1981 | Prof. Dr. Emil Küng, † 1992 |
1956 – 1958 | Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Krelle, † 2004 |
1967 – 1992 | Prof. Dr. Hans Christoph Binswanger, † 2018 |
1973 – 1978 | Prof. Dr. Silvio Borner, † 2020 |
1977 – 1991 | Prof. Dr. Bernd Schips, retired, ETH Zurich |
1979 – 2003 | Prof. Dr. Norbert Reetz, retired, University of St. Gallen |
1981 – 2004 | Prof. Dr. Kurt Dopfer, retired, University of St. Gallen |
1981 – 1984 | Prof. Dr. Ernst Baltensperger, retired, University of Berne |
1987 – 1990 | Prof. Dr. Robert Leu, retired, University of Berne |
1988 – 1991 | Prof. Dr. Franz Jaeger, retired, University of St. Gallen |
1992 – 2013 | Prof. Dr. Manfred Gärtner, retired, University of St. Gallen |
2011 – 2017 | Prof. Dr. Martin Kolmar, University of St. Gallen |
2011 – 2024 | Prof. Dr. Christian Keuschnigg, retired, University of St. Gallen |
The ERP-HSG has an advisory board. This serves as an advisory “sounding board” for the institute. The members of the advisory board advise the Directorate on specialist matters and can be consulted on strategic issues. From 1.1.2025, the advisory board of the ERP-HSG will consist of the following personalities: :
tbd. |
Individual sponsors or organizations support the Institute for Economic Research and Policy financially.
Under the presidency of Dr. Klaus Wellershoff, the following companies are members of a group of sponsors in support of our institute:
acrevis Bank AG, St.Gallen |
UBS Switzerland AG, Zurich |
Holcim (Schweiz) AG, Zurich |
Leica Geosystems AG, Heerbrugg |
St. Galler Kantonalbank, St.Gallen |
Swiss Life, Zurich |