Felix J. Bierbrauer

Felix J. Bierbrauer is a Professor of Economics at the University of Cologne, Department of Economics, and a core member of ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy—a major Cluster of Excellence under Germany’s Excellence Strategy. His institutional affiliations span the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), CESifo Network, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (as board advisor).

His research centers on public economics, specializing in optimal taxation, political economy of fiscal policy, and mechanism design. He investigates how tax systems can achieve efficiency and redistribution under political constraints, with recent work addressing joint taxation, carbon pricing, and public goods provision under uncertainty. His theoretical frameworks consistently incorporate real-world limitations like coalition stability and informational asymmetries.

Analysis of his 2020-2025 publications reveals intensifying focus on politically feasible tax reforms and environmental policy interfaces. Over half his recent work examines taxation of couples and carbon pricing—reflecting engagement with current policy debates. Publications in Econometrica and American Economic Review demonstrate sustained theoretical rigor, while VoxEU columns and ministry advisory roles highlight policy impact.

As a full Professor within ECONtribute, he accesses substantial research infrastructure including interdisciplinary workshops, visiting scholar programs, and collaborative networks across German and European institutions. His advisory role for the Federal Ministry directly channels academic insights into national climate and economic policy formulation.