Cover Stories

Cover Stories

The Winner Takes It All

The market will take care of itself, runs the economists’ mantra. But does this go for science, too? A brief excursion into a marketplace with rules of its own, where the lead currency is reputation, taking part means little, and winning is everything.

Humboldtians in Focus

Humboldtians in Focus

The Lord of the Beans

These days, coffee isn’t just coffee anymore. How best to enjoy and market the pleasure-seeking society’s drug of choice has long since become a science. Kosmos meets an insider.

Interviews

Interviews

“We’re Not Physicists”

Despite the financial crisis, economics is a genuine success story, according to American economist, Daniel Hamermesh. An interview on the reliability of economic theories, their usefulness in everyday life and the fun of teaching and blogging.

Opinions

Opinions

Herd Instinct, Competition and Forgotten Talents

Helmut Schwarz on the opportunities and risks of economised research

View onto Germany

View onto Germany

Under Palms

They are not usually to be found at the water’s edge, but in pedestrian zones: city beaches hold the promise of relaxation; a Caribbean haven for stressed townies – provided that the German summer does its stuff!

News from the Foundation

News from the Foundation

New Term of Office for Helmut Schwarz

Helmut Schwarz will continue as President of the Humboldt Foundation for another five years. In re-appointing Schwarz, Federal Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, adopted a unanimous proposal made by the Board of Trustees in May of this year.