Michael Bechtel is Professor of Political Economy at the Econtribute Cluster of Excellence. His research interests are in international and comparative political economy, economic and environmental policy, and political behaviour and survey methods. His interdisciplinary research agenda explores questions that figure prominently in both political science and economics. His academic work investigates how countries can address economic and environmental risks that tend to require redistribution. Current projects focus on the drivers of mass support for global climate action and the impact of economic crises and natural disasters on elections.

Previously, Prof Bechtel was Associate Professor of Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis, where he also served as Director of the Environmental Policy study programme. Prior to that, he held positions at the University of St. Gallen and ETH Zurich, having completed his PhD at the University of Konstanz.