The Institute of Economics (FGN-HSG) was founded in 1952 by professors Walter Adolf Jöhr, Theo Keller and Emil Küng. It was the first of more economics institutes to follow.
A key task is provided by article 1 in the bylaws agreed on when the institute was founded:
'The institute fosters and supports basic research in the field of economics and looks for synergies and a synthesis with other social sciences.'
The activities of the founding directors give proof of a broad understanding of basic research. For them it was not theorizing and debating in the ivory tower, but scientific work that ignites policies, the economy and teaching, and also receives impulses from these areas.
The Board of Directors is responsible for day to day operations in consideration of the strategic guidelines set by the Supervisory Board and the Statute of the Institute of Economics.
Actual members of the Board of Directors:
Professor Dr. Stefan Bühler |
Professor Dr. Guido Cozzi |
Professor Dr. Paolo Piacquadio (Managing Director) |
Professor Dr. Samuel Häfner (Dep.) |
| Professor Dr. Michèle Müller-Itten (Dep.) |
Since the Institute of Economics was founded in 1952, members of the Board of Directors were, in chronological order:
1952 – 1987 | Prof. Dr. Walter Adolf Jöhr, † 1987 |
1952 – 1968 | Prof. Dr. Theo Keller, † 1980 |
1952 – 1981 | Prof. Dr. Emil Küng, † 1992 |
1956 – 1958 | Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Krelle, † 2004 |
1967 – 1992 | Prof. Dr. Hans Christoph Binswanger, † 2018 |
1973 – 1978 | Prof. Dr. Silvio Borner, † 2020 |
1977 – 1991 | Prof. Dr. Bernd Schips, retired, ETH Zurich |
1979 – 2003 | Prof. Dr. Norbert Reetz, retired, University of St. Gallen |
1981 – 2004 | Prof. Dr. Kurt Dopfer, retired, University of St. Gallen |
1981 – 1984 | Prof. Dr. Ernst Baltensperger, retired, University of Berne |
1987 – 1990 | Prof. Dr. Robert Leu, retired, University of Berne |
1988 – 1991 | Prof. Dr. Franz Jaeger, retired, University of St. Gallen |
1992 – 2013 | Prof. Dr. Manfred Gärtner, retired, University of St. Gallen |
2011 – 2017 | Prof. Dr. Martin Kolmar, University of St. Gallen |
| 2011 – 2024 | Prof. Dr. Christian Keuschnigg, retired, University of St. Gallen |
The Supervisory Board (Geschäftsleitender Ausschuss) is the supreme body of FGN-HSG. It is responsible for the strategic direction of the institute:
Dr. Klaus Wellershoff, Wellershoff & Partners Ltd. and WPuls, Zurich | President |
Prof. Dr. Heike Bruch, University of St. Gallen | Member |
Prof. Dr. Aymo Brunetti, University of Berne | Member |
Prof. Winfried Ruigrok, PhD, Universität St.Gallen | Member |
Individual sponsors or organizations support the Institute of Economics financially.
Under the presidency of Dr. Klaus Wellershoff, the following companies are members of a group of sponsors in support of our institute:
acrevis Bank AG, St.Gallen |
Credit Suisse, Zurich |
Holcim (Schweiz) AG, Zurich |
Leica Geosystems AG, Heerbrugg |
St. Galler Kantonalbank, St.Gallen |
Swiss Life, Zurich |