Noah Peters

Noah’s research lies at the intersection of sociology and behavioural economics. In his doctoral thesis, Noah investigates the interplay between social mobility—a core theme in sociology—and personality traits increasingly studied in economics. Do individuals strategically adopt patience and balanced risk-taking to climb the economic ladder? How does the experience of socioeconomic success shape personality traits? These questions revolve around and reassess the influential notion that positive life outcomes depend on the ‘right’ character. By adopting a sociological perspective, Noah critically engages with popular narratives of meritocracy, that is, the idea that hard work and talent enable people to get ahead in life. Noah’s research examines how meritocracy is used to legitimate power imbalances and how individuals come to accept their position in the socioeconomic pecking order.

Interdisciplinary in nature, Noah’s research frequently turns to art, literary fiction and poetry for motivation and utilises both quantitative and qualitative methods. Noah is also interested in broader aspects of interdisciplinarity and the history of economic and social thought.

Noah holds a master's degree in Social Research Methods from the London School of Economics and an undergraduate degree in Sociology, Politics and Economics from Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen, Germany.