Timm Opitz, M.Sc.

Doktorand und wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research

+49 89 24246-575
timm.opitz(at)ip.mpg.de

Arbeitsbereiche:

Entrepreneurship, Verhaltens- und Experimentalökonomik, Marktdesign, Entwicklungsökonomie, Entwicklungspsychologie

Wissenschaftlicher Werdegang

Seit 10/2018
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter und Doktorand am Max-Planck-Institut für Innovation und Wettbewerb (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research) sowie an der Munich Graduate School of Economics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

03/2022 – 06/2022
Gastwissenschaftler, University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management, Toronto, Kanada, Gastgeber: Nicola Lacetera

10/2016 – 04/2019
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Psychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

09/2015 – 03/2018
Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Economics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

09/2012 – 05/2015
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Volkswirtschaftslehre, Universität Mannheim und Universität Carlos III Madrid (ERASMUS Stipendium)

Beruflicher Werdegang

02/2016 – 04/2018
Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft, Lehrstuhl für Verhaltensökonomik und experimentelle Wirtschaftsforschung (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Prof. Dr. Martin Kocher)

10/2012 – 06/2013
Werkstudent (Kaufmännische Abteilung), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Publikationen

Artikel in referierten Fachzeitschriften

Klimm, Felix; Kocher, Martin G.; Opitz, Timm; Schudy, Simeon Andreas (2023). Time Pressure and Regret in Sequential Search, Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 206, 406-424. DOI

  • Perceived urgency and regret are common in many sequential search processes; for example, sellers often pressure buyers in search of the best offer, both time-wise and in terms of potential regret of forgoing unique purchasing opportunities. Theoretically, these strategies result in anticipated and experienced regret, which systematically affect search behavior and thereby distort optimal search. In addition, urgency may alter decision-making processes and thereby the salience of regret. To understand the empirical relevance of these aspects, we study the causal effects of regret, urgency, and their interaction on search behavior in a pre-registered, theory-based, and well-powered experiment. Empirically, we find that anticipated regret does not affect search behavior either with or without time pressure, while experienced regret leads to systematic adjustments in search length. Urgency reduces decision times and perceived decision quality, but does not generally alter search length. Only very inexperienced decision-makers buy earlier when pressured. Thus, consumer protection measures against pressure selling tactics can help inexperienced consumers in particular.
  • Also published as CESifo Working Paper No. 9122

Opitz, Timm; Schuwerk, Tobias; Paulus, Markus; Kloo, Daniela; Osterhaus, Christopher; Lesch, Klaus‐Peter; Sodian, Beate (2021). No Links Between Genetic Variation and Developing Theory of Mind: A Preregistered Replication Attempt of Candidate Gene Studies, Developmental Science 2021. DOI

  • Genetic variability is being discussed as a source of inter‐individual differences in Theory of Mind development. Previous studies documented an association between variations in DRD4 VNTR 48 bp, OXTR rs53576, COMT rs4680, and Theory of Mind task performance. As empirical evidence on these associations is sparse, we conducted a preregistered replication attempt of a study reporting a link between DRD4 VNTR 48 bp and false belief understanding in 50‐month‐old children [Lackner, C., Sabbagh, M. A., Hallinan, E., Liu, X., & Holden, J. J. (2012). Developmental Science, 15(2), 272–280.]. Additionally, we attempted a replication of studies on the role of OXTR rs53576 and COMT rs4680 in Theory of Mind. In both replication attempts, we did not find any evidence for associations between the sampled genetic markers and Theory of Mind ability in a series of analyses. Extending the replication attempt of Lackner et al., we employed longitudinal data from several tasks and measurement points, which allowed us to run follow‐up robustness checks with more reliable scores. These extensive analyses corroborated our null finding. This comprehensive non‐replication is important to balance current research on genetic markers of Theory of Mind. In a combined evaluation of our own and previous studies, we point to substantial methodological issues that research on the genetic basis of Theory of Mind development faces. We conclude that these limitations currently prevent firm conclusions on genetic influences on Theory of Mind development.

Diskussionspapiere

Opitz, Timm; Schwaiger, Christoph (2023). Reciprocal Preferences in Matching Markets, Max Planck Institute for Innovation & Competition Research Paper, No. 23-06.

  • Agents with reciprocal preferences prefer to be matched to a partner who also likes to collaborate with them. In this paper, we introduce and formalize reciprocal preferences, apply them to matching markets, and analyze the implications for mechanism design. Formally, the preferences of an agent can depend on the preferences of potential partners and there is incomplete information about the
    partners’ preferences. We find that there is no stable mechanism in standard two-sided markets. Observing the final allocation of the mechanism enables agents to learn about each other’s preferences, leading to instability. However, in a school choice setting with one side of the market being non-strategic, modified versions of the deferred acceptance mechanism can achieve stability. These results provide insights into non-standard preferences in matching markets, and their implications for efficient information and mechanism design.
  • Available at SSRN

Opitz, Timm; Schwaiger, Christoph (2022). Everyone Likes to Be Liked: Experimental Evidence from Matching Markets, CRC TRR 190 Discussion Paper, No. 366.

  • Matching markets can be unstable when individuals prefer to be matched to a partner who also wants to be matched with them. Through a pre-registered and theory-guided laboratory experiment, we provide evidence that such reciprocal preferences exist, significantly decrease stability in matching markets, and are driven both by belief-based and preference-based motives. Participants expect partners who want to be matched with them to be more cooperative, and are more altruistic themselves. This leads to higher cooperation and larger profits when participants can consider each other’s preferences.
  • https://rationality-and-competition.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/366_.pdf

Klimm, Felix; Kocher, Martin G.; Opitz, Timm; Schudy, Simeon Andreas (2021). Time Pressure and Regret in Sequential Search (CESifo Working Paper, No. 9122 ).

  • Perceived urgency and regret are common in many sequential search processes; for example, sellers often pressure buyers in search of the best offer, both time-wise and in terms of potential regret of forgoing unique purchasing opportunities. Theoretically, these strategies result in anticipated and experienced regret, which systematically affect search behavior and thereby distort optimal search. In addition, urgency may alter decision-making processes and thereby the salience of regret. To understand the empirical relevance of these aspects, we study the causal effects of regret, urgency, and their interaction on search behavior in a pre-registered, theory-based, and well-powered experiment. We find that urgency reduces decision times and perceived decision quality but does not alter search length. Only very inexperienced decision-makers buy earlier when pressured. Anticipated regret does not affect search length (neither with nor without time pressure), while experienced regret leads to systematic adjustments in search length. Thus, we recommend that consumer protection policies should particularly focus on markets with inexperienced first-time buyers.
  • https://www.cesifo.org/en/publikationen/2021/working-paper/time-pressure-and-regret-sequential-search
  • Also published in: Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization Volume 206, February 2023, Pages 406-424

Podcast

23.05.2023
Clicking against the Clock: How Time Pressure and Regret Influence Our Behaviour in Online Shopping
Podcast (auf Englisch), Game Changer Podcast, TWS Partners

Vorträge

14.07.2023
Everyone Likes to be Liked – Experimental Evidence from Matching Markets
Matching Market Design Workshop, WZB Berlin
Ort: Berlin


16.05.2023
Gender Specific Project Evaluation and Access to Finance
Micro Workshop, LMU
Ort: Müchen


09.12.2022
Everyone Likes to be Liked – Experimental Evidence from Matching Markets
TIME Seminar (TU München), Forschungsseminar
Ort: Müchen


28.10.2022
Everyone Likes to be Liked – Experimental Evidence from Matching Markets
UMass Amherst, Forschungsseminar
Ort: online


14.09.2022
Identifying and Teaching High-Growth Entrepreneurship: Evidence From Academies for University Students in Uganda
Verein fuer Socialpolitik Jahrestagung 2022
Ort: Basel, Schweiz


15.06.2022
Identifying and Teaching High-Growth Entrepreneurship: Evidence From Academies for University Students in Uganda
2022 NOVAFRICA Conference on Economic Development
Ort: Lissabon, Portugal


09.06.2022
Reciprocal Preferences in Matching Markets
Behavioral Brown Bag Seminar, LMU
Ort: München


27.05.2022
Identifying and Teaching High-Growth Entrepreneurship: Evidence From Academies for University Students in Uganda
Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto), Research Seminar
Ort: Toronto, Kanada


06.12.2021
Identifying and Teaching High-Growth Entrepreneurship: Evidence From Academies for University Students in Uganda
RISE4 Workshop
Ort: online


08.10.2021
Identifying and Teaching High-Growth Entrepreneurship: Evidence From Academies for University Students in Uganda
MGSE Kolloquium 2021
Ort: München


29.09.2021
Identifying and Teaching High-Growth Entrepreneurship: Evidence From Academies for University Students in Uganda
Forschungsseminar
Ort: Feldkirchen-Westerham 


28.09.2021
Time Pressure and Regret in Sequential Search
Verein fuer Socialpolitik Jahrestagung 2021
Ort: online (Regensburg)


09.07.2021
Reciprocating Preferences in Two-sided Matching
ESA 2021 Global Online Conference
Ort: online


15.06.2021
Identifying and Teaching High-Growth Entrepreneurship: Evidence From Academies for University Students in Uganda
Nordic Conference in Development Economics
Ort: online (Bergen, Norwegen)


24.03.2021
Supporting Behavioral Change: Motivated Beliefs in Preventative Health Investments
Forschungsseminar
Ort: online


17.12.2020
Supporting Behavioral Change: How to Turn a Medical Diagnosis Into Actual Behavior?
Behavioral Brown Bag Seminar, LMU
Ort: online (München)


02.10.2020
Time Pressure and Regret in Sequential Search
CRC TRR 190 Workshop
Ort: online (Ohlstadt)


08.09.2020
Reciprocal Preferences in Matching and Teamwork
Forschungsseminar
Ort: online (München)


14.07.2020
Reciprocity of Liking
CRC TRR 190 Workshop: Incentives and Behavior
Ort: Ohlstadt


02.03.2020
Identifying and Teaching High-Growth Entrepreneurship: Evidence From Academies for University Students in Uganda
Forschungsseminar
Ort: Zugspitze


21.11.2019
Identifying and Teaching High-growth Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Entrepreneurship Academies for University Students in Uganda
IGL Winter Research Meeting
Ort: Amsterdam, Niederlande


24.10.2019
Matching with Endogenous Preferences
LMU Brown Bag Seminar, Research Seminar
Ort: München


02.10.2019
Time Pressure and Regret in Sequential Search
MGSE Kolloquium 2019
Ort: München


07.09.2019
Time Pressure and Regret in Sequential Search
European ESA Meeting, Conference
Ort: Dijon, Frankreich


28.05.2019
Time Pressure and Regret in Sequential Search
Competition and Innovation Summer School, Summer School
Ort: Ulcinj, Montenegro


16.05.2019
Responsibility and Delegation
LMU Brown Bag Seminar, Research Seminar
Ort: München

Projekte