Bonn Graduate School of Economics

Bonn Graduate School of Economics
Name	Bonn Graduate School of Economics
Established	2006
Parent	University of Bonn
Type	Graduate school
Director	Moritz Schularick
City	Bonn
Country	Germany
Website	https://www.bgse.uni-bonn.de/

Bonn Graduate School of Economics is a premier graduate school within the University of Bonn, dedicated to advanced training in economics and econometrics. Established with support from the Excellence Initiative of the German Federal and State Governments, it forms a core part of the university's Bonn Center for Economics. The school is renowned for its structured PhD program, rigorous academic environment, and close integration with leading research institutes like the Institute on Behavior & Inequality and the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods.

History and establishment

The school was founded in 2006 as a key component of the University of Bonn's strategy to strengthen its profile in economic research within the German university system. Its creation was significantly propelled by the first round of the federal Excellence Initiative of the German and State Governments, a competitive funding program aimed at promoting top-level research at German universities. The initiative built upon the long-standing reputation of the Bonn Center for Economics, which has been a hub for economic thought since the era of influential figures like Reinhard Selten and Wolfgang Franz. The graduate school's establishment formalized and expanded the doctoral training previously offered within the Department of Economics at the University of Bonn, creating a centralized, internationally competitive program modeled on leading North American institutions.

Academic programs and structure

The core offering is a structured PhD program in economics, typically completed in four to five years. The curriculum begins with a intensive phase of coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, preparing students for the rigorous qualifying examination required to advance to dissertation research. The program is closely integrated with the research activities of the Bonn Center for Economics and affiliated institutes. Students benefit from a dedicated study program with tracks in specialized fields such as labor economics, public economics, and behavioral economics. The academic structure emphasizes early involvement in research, supported by close supervision from faculty and participation in seminars hosted by the Institute for Applied Microeconomics.

Research focus and centers

Research is characterized by a strong quantitative and theoretical emphasis, with particular clusters of excellence in inequality, political economy, and applied econometrics. The school's activities are deeply intertwined with several major research centers. These include the Institute on Behavior & Inequality, which investigates the origins and consequences of social inequality, and the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, focusing on public goods and legal economics. Further key partners are the Institute of Labor Economics and the Center for European Integration Studies, expanding the scope into European Union policy and labor market dynamics. This ecosystem facilitates interdisciplinary projects often involving the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics and the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies.

Faculty and notable people

The faculty comprises leading scholars from the University of Bonn's economics department and its affiliated research institutes. The school's director is Moritz Schularick, a prominent researcher in financial economics and economic history. Notable faculty members have included Jürgen von Hagen, a former director and expert in monetary policy, and Thomas Dohmen, a key figure in behavioral economics. The school maintains strong academic lineages, with connections to Nobel laureate Reinhard Selten and former German Council of Economic Experts chairman Wolfgang Franz. Distinguished visiting professors and fellows from institutions like the London School of Economics and Princeton University regularly contribute to the academic environment.

Facilities and resources

The school is housed within the modern facilities of the Bonn Center for Economics on the main campus of the University of Bonn in the Rhineland region. Students and researchers have access to extensive resources, including specialized libraries such as the Library of Economics and the University and State Library Bonn. The school provides dedicated workspaces, advanced computing infrastructure for data analysis, and funding for research-related travel to conferences like those of the American Economic Association or the European Economic Association. Proximity to federal institutions like the Bundesbank and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in Bonn provides unique opportunities for policy-relevant research and networking.

Partnerships and network

The school maintains a dense network of academic and institutional partnerships. It is a founding member of the European Network for Training in Economic Research, a consortium of top European economics departments including Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Stockholm University. Within Germany, it collaborates closely with the Berlin Centre for Consumer Policies and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. These partnerships facilitate student exchanges, joint workshops, and collaborative research projects. The school's strong placement record sees its graduates securing positions at international organizations like the International Monetary Fund, central banks including the European Central Bank, and leading academic institutions worldwide.

Category:University of Bonn Category:Graduate schools in Germany Category:Economics education