Photo of Kinga Barrafrem

Kinga Barrafrem

Associate Professor, Docent

My research examines everyday decision-making, with a focus on financial behavior in an era of pervasive online presence. Using experiments, eye-tracking, surveys, and micro-data, I investigate the decisions and the cognitive processes behind them.

Understanding the choices and mechanisms behind economic decision-making

Neoclassical economic models often rely on assumptions that deviate from real human behavior. My research integrates insights from behavioural economics and cognitive science to develop more accurate descriptions of real-life decision, leading to better predictions and more effective policy implications.

As a behavioral economist, I focus on understanding how individual and contextual factors influence decision-making and their impact on the emotional aspects of people’s well-being. I am passionate about bridging the gap between research and practice, and I employ a variety of research methods, including nationwide surveys, large online experiments, lab experiments, and field experiments to advance knowledge. Additionally, I collaborate with industry partners and have extensive experience working with registry micro-data, enriching my research with real-world insights and applications.

Beyond wealth: Measuring financial health and well-being

I focus on exploring various dimensions of well-being, with a particular emphasis on financial well-being. My research delves into understanding both individual and contextual factors that influence financial well-being, shedding light on how different behaviors impact overall quality of life.

The who, what, and why of information processing

My work examines the concept of information ignorance, investigating what it entails, who is most susceptible to it, and why. By understanding information ignorance, we can gain insights into how it impacts individuals’ decisions and well-being. This knowledge is crucial for informing strategies aimed at enhancing financial literacy and decision-making.

You can see a special issue at the Journal of Economic Psychology that I co-edited on this topic. Read the article here.

Decision-making in the digital era

Another aspect of my research focuses on how the rapidly evolving digital landscape shapes everyday decision‑making and well‑being. I study the foundations of digital well‑being and how people’s perceptions of the risks and benefits of AI influence their trust and use of these tools. I am also interested in how social media—and the identity concerns it triggers—affect everyday financial decisions and financial well‑being. In addition, I investigate how information engagement and ignorance interacts with adoption of AI‑based tools and explore both the positive and negative impacts of digital technologies on behavior and well‑being.

Research group

Publications

2026

Kinga Barrafrem, Gustav Tinghög (2026) The Effect of The Omnibus Pricing Directive on Consumer Purchase Intentions Journal of Consumer Policy, Vol. 49, Article 1 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2025

Lewend Mayiwar, Erkin Asutay, Gustav Tinghög, Daniel Västfjäll, Kinga Barrafrem (2025) Determinants of digital well-being AI & Society: Knowledge, Culture and Communication (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2024

Kinga Barrafrem, Mario Kienzler, Daniel Västfjäll, Gustav Tinghög (2024) The Effect of Scarcity and Information Avoidance on Debt Management Behavior Financial Counseling and Planning, Vol. 35, p. 366-380 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

Short CV

Academic background

  • 2013-2017 Linköping University, Ph.D. in Economics, Dissertation: “Social and Economic Factors in Decision Making under Uncertainty. Five Essays in Behavioral Economics.” 
  • 2010-2012 Warsaw School of Economics, M.Sc. in Quantitative Methods in Economics and Information Systems 
  • 2007-2010 Warsaw School of Economics, B.Sc. in Quantitative Methods in Economics and Information Systems

Progression of roles and functions

  • 2022-present Linköping University, Assistant Professor at the Division of Economics
  • 2024-present Linköping University, Director of Studies, Division of Economics, Department of Management and Engineeering

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