CINCH is an internationally connected center of excellence in health economics research. Since its founding in 2012, the Center for Health Economics Research in Essen has been at the forefront of empirical health economics in Germany and Europe. Our mission is twofold: to conduct cutting-edge,
policy-relevant research that meets the highest academic standards and to provide outstanding training and career development for the next generation of researchers in the field. 

Our research focuses on three key areas: 

Health as Human Capital What determines individual health, and how does health shape educational, labor market, and socioeconomic outcomes?

Health Insurance as a Social Protection Mechanism How can fair and efficient systems of risk adjustment and cost-sharing be designed? What are the incentive effects of contributions, co-payments, and provider payment schemes? 

The Health Care Sector as a System How do healthcare providers respond to economic, regulatory, and institutional incentives? 

Our projects are internationally oriented and aim to inform evidence-based policy. We address some of the most pressing challenges facing modern societies - from population aging to health inequality - using rigorous empirical methods and interdisciplinary approaches. Our ambition is to generate insights that matter, both within academia and in the world of policymaking. 

CINCH thrives on a vibrant, dynamic, and research-active community. We collaborate with leading scholars worldwide, coordinate competitive research projects, and engage actively in national and international academic networks. Regular events - including our weekly seminar series, the Essen Health Conference, and our Summer Academy - provide an open forum for exchange, learning, and collaboration. 

Excellent research needs a strong environment. Embedded within the University of Duisburg-Essen and closely connected to the RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, CINCH offers a first-class infrastructure for health economics research and training. International fellowships, DAAD guest professorships, graduate schools, and mobility programs make CINCH an ideal place for doctoral candidates, postdocs, and visiting scholars. 

At CINCH, we shape the future of health economics –international, evidence based, policy relevant. 

Find out more about our academic environment