Aims and Scope

The Labor and Socio-Economic Research Center (LASER) analyzes labor markets and the world of work from various perspectives, in particular economics, sociology, psychology, management, and law. Within a framework of four research areas, LASER focuses on internationally competitive research activities using an inter-disciplinary approach. In addition, LASER offers policy advice on work-related issues and provides information to the general public.

The main objectives of LASER are

to undertake original research activities on various work-related fields such as labor economics, industrial relations, human resource management, psychology of work, sociology of work, and labor law.
to promote cooperation within the university and with other institutions that focus on labor and socio-economic research.
to initiate research projects that attract outside funding.
to strengthen interdisciplinary research and teaching.
to promote young researchers.
to disseminate research results to the scientific community and the interested public.

While being a joint initiative of researchers beyond the regular structure of a university, LASER has also been approved as an Interdisciplinary Center of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg ("Interdisziplinäres Zentrum Arbeitsmarkt und Arbeitswelt"; see the statute). LASER cooperates closely with the Faculty of Law and Economics and the Faculty of Arts at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg as well as with the Institute for Employment Research of the Federal Employment Agency in Nuremberg.

Prof. Dr. Claus Schnabel heads LASER as its speaker. The steering committee consists of Prof. Dr. Cornelia Niessen, Prof. Dr. Gesine Stephan, Prof. Dr. Klaus Moser, and Prof. Regina Riphahn, PhD.