Stefan Leins is Professor of Social Anthropology with a focus on economic anthropology. He conducts research on commodity trading, supply chains, financial markets and the social role of economic expertise. His book Stories of Capitalism: Inside the Role of Financial Analysts was published by the University of Chicago Press in 2018. He is currently working on a book about transnational commodity trading networks.
Stefan Leins studied social anthropology, economic and social history and Arabic language and literature at the University of Zurich. He then completed his doctorate at the University of Zurich, was a visiting researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science and taught anthropology at the Universities of Liechtenstein, Lucerne, NTNU Trondheim and Zurich. From 2019 to 2024, Stefan Leins was an assistant professor of social anthropology at the University of Konstanz.
Stefan Leins is an expert on cultural practices in financial markets and commodity trading. His research has been profiled several times in German-language newspapers (e.g. NZZ, Republik, Süddeutsche Zeitung, TAZ, WOZ) and he has been a guest in various podcasts and video formats (e.g. Public Eye, SRF Eco, UNRISD).
Stefan Leins is currently supervising the doctoral students Violetta Kane and Felicia Afriyie. He is open to further supervision within the scope of his research focus.
