Department of Macro, International and Labour Economics (MILE)

Prof. Dr. Olaf Sleijpen will be the new president of DNB as of July 1 2025

Prof. Dr. Olaf Sleijpen is part-time professor of European Economic Policy at the School of Business and Economics of Maastricht University. As of July 1, 2025, he will be the new president of De Nederlandsche Bank.

Olaf Sleijpen studied economics at Maastricht University and obtained his PhD from the University of Groningen. Since 2007, he has been a part-time professor of European Economic Policy at Maastricht University at the School of Business and Economics in the MILE department.

Joan Muysken Lecture by Prof. Gerd Gigerenzer

When: Monday 24 November 2025, 20:00
Where: Aula MBB (Minderbroedersberg 4-6, Maastricht)
Time: 20.00
Title: Homo Heuristicus: Decision Making in an Uncertain World

Can less be more? In a world characterized by uncertainty, simple rules—known as heuristics—often lead to better decisions than complex algorithms. These heuristics are not only more efficient but also easier to understand and apply. This talk explores the concept of the adaptive toolbox, the repertoire of heuristics available to individuals or organizations, and examines their ecological rationality—how these heuristics leverage the structure of the environment to achieve effective outcomes. I will demonstrate when and why less can be more.

Prof. Gigerenzer is director emeritus of the Center for Adaptive Behavior and Cognition (ABC) at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy, University of Potsdam, and vice president of the European Research Council (ERC). 

This lecture is organised by the School of Business and Economics (SBE) and Studium Generale. The Joan Muysken Lecture has been named after Joan Muysken, SBE’s first professor of macroeconomics (1984-2014), who was the founding father of the department of economics at SBE.