Frédéric Koessler is Professor at the Department of Economics and Decision Sciences at HEC Paris and CNRS researcher in economic theory at GREGHEC. He studies how people persuade, communicate, and influence decisions when information is strategically disclosed. He uses game theory to understand what makes communication credible - especially when interests diverge or when speakers can't commit to what they say.
His work sheds light on concrete dilemmas: What should a company reveal about a new product? How can disclosure rules be designed to resist manipulation? And when and how can longer conversations and progressive compromises lead to better decisions?
He also explores how limited understanding and cognitive shortcuts affect strategic interactions - why people simplify, overlook, or misinterpret what others say. Some of his models include communication in networks or through mediators, and are tested in laboratory experiments.
Frédéric’s research clarifies how strategic communication works in settings like expert-policy exchanges, organizational decision-making, or market interactions involving persuasion, mediation, and selective information.
He is a CNRS Research Director at HEC Paris. He was awarded the CNRS Bronze Medal and frequently organizes international conferences. His work has been published in Journal of Political Economy, Econometrica, Review of Economic Studies, and leading journals in economic theory and industrial organization. Part of his research is published in The Conversation.
Economics & Finance
Strategy & Leadership