Research
The Center for Advanced Studies "Finance and Inequality" (CASFI) explores the complex relationship between financial systems and economic inequality across time and regions.
1. What We Research
Understanding the Finance–Inequality Nexus
We explore how income and inequality shapes the structure of financial systems. Drawing from macroeconomic theory, historical sources, and empirical data, CASFI bridges disciplines to generate new insights on finance’s distributive effects.
2. Our Approach
We integrate historical data and modern economic theory, using both micro- and macroeconomic perspectives to analyze long-term trends and structural change.
- Historical depth: Using archival material and long-run data
- Macroeconomic modeling: Applying structural models to heterogeneous agents
- Cross-disciplinary: Blending economics, history, and finance
3. A Unique Research Environment
Located at the University of Bonn, CASFI is part of the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) “Individuals, Institutions and Societies”. CASFI benefits from close links to:
- ECONtribute (Cluster of Excellence)
- Collaborative Research Center (CRC) “Economic perspectives of societal challenges”
The University of Bonn supports CASFI with additional fellowships and a dedicated infrastructure—making it a hub for international, interdisciplinary finance and inequality research.