Institute

Actually, about 700 students (as of the winter term 2019/20) are enrolled for the different programs at the Institute of Economics and Business. In addition, numerous students visit courses at the Institute as minor or elective subject or for their key skill program. Furthermore, the Institute offers courses for the programs in Mathematical economics and in Middle Eastern studies and several courses for the law school and the school of Engineering.

History

The Institute of Economics and Business evolved from the Institute of Political Economy at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University Erlangen. Up to 1961, this institute was responsible for all programs in Economic Sciences (Diplom, magister, teaching degrees).

After the university incorporated the Nuremberg College for Economics and Social Sciences in 1961, the Diploma programs were relocated to the new Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences (today: School of Business and Economics). In consequence, almost all chairs and staff members of our Institute moved to Nuremberg.

One chair with some employees remained in Erlangen. The remaining institute was responsible for the Magister program and the programs for teacher degrees, as a relocation to Nuremberg would have created difficulties for the students due to the necessary combinations with other courses taught in Erlangen. After several renamings, the institute got its present name “Institute of Economics and Business”. In 1984, a professorship for the contemporary middle east (with focus on Economics) was established at the Institute, initially funded by the Volkswagen Foundation. This professorship is today’s Professorship for Economy and Society of the Middle East.

Due to a reform of the programs and the introduction of Bachelor and Master degrees, the Magister program was replaced by a Bachelor of Economics in 2007. A bit later, the master programme Development Economics and International Studies was established at the Institute.