Prof. Dr. Kai Gehring, Professor at the University of Bern and lead of our Political Economy and Sustainable Development Research Team, talks with us about his path and his work in Kenya and Peru. We discuss what draws him to real-world problems, and how careful evidence is turned into practical choices with stakeholders on the ground. 

“The Wyss Academy allows me to both analyze the world and create something that helps people directly.” That line anchors Kai Gehring’s story. He came to economics through a non-linear path and stayed for the mix of curiosity and craft, asking why systems look the way they do, then shaping options people can use. In practice, that can look different by place: in Kenya, where he and his team work with pastoralist communities, it means support that arrives before a drought peaks, so families avoid distress sales and keep opportunities open. In Peru, where he and his team work with local stakeholders, it means testing narrative tools with communities, and aligning formalization and value-chain incentives so cleaner, formal mining becomes a real option. In both places, the work meets people where choices are made—at markets, workshops, and in households. 

The interview follows how Kai’s team moves from a clear question to fair tests and adaptation with stakeholders, and what that process can change for livelihoods, governance, and biodiversity. He reflects on the discipline behind the work, and on the small moments that matter: listening first, designing with the ones most concerned, and staying open to what the evidence shows. Watch the conversation to see how political economy and behavior together help connect analysis with grounded action.