Susanne Thorwarth

Dr. Susanne Thorwarth serves as a Research Fellow at ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, collaborating with the 'Economics of Innovation and Industrial Dynamics' research unit, and holds the position of Managing Director at Düsseldorf Competition Economics (DCE), a specialized consultancy for competition and regulatory policy.

Her academic foundation includes economics studies at the University of Heidelberg and University of Mannheim, concentrating on development economics, econometrics, and applied economics. She earned her PhD in Applied Economics from KU Leuven in March 2011, with doctoral research examining productivity effects of research, development, and design activities.

Dr. Thorwarth's scholarly focus spans Industrial Organization, Competition Policy, and Innovation Economics, with sector-specific expertise in retail/consumer goods, automotive/mobility, and digital economy. Her methodological approach integrates advanced Applied Econometrics and Market Power Analysis to address complex competition challenges including cartel damage quantification and abuse of dominance assessments.

Her professional distinctions include:

• Consistent ranking among Germany’s most highly recommended competition economists by JUVE
• Recognition as a leading expert in competition economics by JUVE in 2023

With over 15 years of experience, she provides litigation support as court-appointed expert in high-profile cases including the Trucks Cartel (Germany/Austria), Race Track VLN vs. Nürburgring, and Payment Cards disputes. Her consulting methodology emphasizes data-driven, legally defensible solutions for both claimant and defendant perspectives.

She directs DCE's operations while maintaining active research collaboration with ZEW, bridging academic rigor with real-world competition policy applications through her specialized boutique firm.