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Alexander Simon Mayer

Alexander Simon Mayer

Econometrics

Let’s talk about you: what is your background, what do you teach, and what are your research interests?
I am an economist by training teaching econometrics at Ca’ Foscari. My research evolves mainly around econometric theory.

What are you most passionate about in your field of research? 
I am particularly interested in exploring previously unknown statistical properties of existing econometric tools and developing new tools that help us to better understand economic phenomena. 

Tell us about your academic path.
For whatever reason, my academic path has so far been closely linked to the beautiful river Rhine. I completed my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in economics at the University of Cologne and the University of Bonn, respectively. For my PhD, I moved further upriver to WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management in Vallender, only to move back downriver to Cologne, where it all began, for a postdoc.

Have you always known that this was going to be your path?
No, not at all! Before I discovered my interest in statistics and econometrics, I studied Polish for a year. But in the end, I was more intrigued by the statistics classes of my friends.

What has given you the greatest satisfaction in your career?
During my PhD, I managed to illustrate a trinomial distribution using the children’s toy “Duplo”. I get quite excited when I can incorporate neat visualizations of the subject matter or interesting historical facts about the evolution of econometric thought in my lectures.