Erik Hornung

Erik Hornung is a Professor of Economic History at the University of Cologne's Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, Department of Economics. He is a member of the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy since 2020, a Research Fellow at CESifo, a CEPR Research Affiliate, and a CAGE – Warwick Research Fellow. Hornung also serves as an Associate Editor at The Economic Journal and leads the ERC 2024 Consolidator Grant 101170388 (ENTRENCHED) project.

His research focuses on economic history and long-run development, with particular interest in institutional reforms, knowledge diffusion, and technological progress. Hornung employs microeconometric methods to analyze historical data, often drawing on rich administrative records from Prussian censuses to understand causal relationships in economic development. His work spans multiple areas including the effects of pandemics on political behavior, the role of economic societies in knowledge diffusion, and the impact of infrastructure on economic integration.

Hornung's publication record shows a consistent focus on how historical events and institutional changes shape long-term economic development. His recent work examines topics ranging from the political effects of the 1918 influenza pandemic to Roman transport networks' influence on economic integration, demonstrating his ability to connect historical analysis with contemporary economic questions. His research often combines detailed historical data with rigorous econometric methods to establish causal relationships.

• Leibniz Association Dissertation Award 2013
• ERC 2024 Consolidator Grant 101170388 (ENTRENCHED)
• CESifo Research Fellow
• CEPR Research Affiliate
• CAGE – Warwick Research Fellow

Hornung has received significant research funding including the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant to study the social mobility of the landed elite in Prussia. His work has been supported by multiple research institutions including the Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance where he previously served as Senior Research Fellow. As Academic Director of the BSc Economics program at the University of Cologne, he plays an important role in shaping economics education.

Hornung is part of the Center for Macroeconomic Research (CMR) at the University of Cologne and contributes to the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy, where he collaborates with researchers across disciplines to examine how markets and public policy interact in shaping economic outcomes.