Felix Bierbrauer

Prof. Dr. Felix Bierbrauer is a leading scholar in public economics and economic theory at the University of Cologne, holding the Chair for Public Economics and conducting research at the Center for Macroeconomic Research. He is affiliated with the WiSo Faculty (Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences) and serves as a Research Affiliate at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods. His work focuses on optimal taxation, public goods provision, political economy, and mechanism design.

• Education: Diploma in Economics (2002), University of Mannheim; Doctoral studies at the Center for Doctoral Studies in Economics (2002-2006), University of Mannheim
• Key roles: Spokesperson for Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute (2018-2020), Board of Academic Advisors at Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (since 2018)
• Research collaborations: Active in interdisciplinary networks like the Reinhard Selten Institute and C-SEB (Center for Social and Economic Behavior)

His recent publications span tax policy (American Economic Review, 2022), political feasibility of reforms (American Economic Review, 2021), public goods under uncertainty (Journal of Economic Theory, 2020), and mechanism design (Journal of Public Economics, 2017). He also contributes to policy debates through working papers and media publications.

Scientific Recognition:

• Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) Fellow (since 2019)
• Member of the Executive Board, Reinhard Selten Institute (2017-2020)

Bierbrauer's work bridges theoretical rigor with policy relevance, particularly in understanding how taxation and public goods provision interact with political constraints and social preferences. His research has implications for addressing inequality, financial market stability, and evidence-based policy design through the ECONtribute Cluster of Excellence.