Georg Fertig

Georg Fertig is Professor of Economic and Social History at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Faculty of Philosophy I, Institute of History. He serves as Principal Faculty for the IMPRS ANARCHIE research school (2012-2021). His academic background combines history and classical Greek literature studies from institutions in West Berlin, Konstanz, and Bochum.

• Office: Room 1.62.0, Emil-Abderhalden-Straße 26-27, 06108 Halle (Saale)
• Phone: +49 (0) 345 55 24 273
• Office hours: Tuesday 10-12 a.m.

Fertig's research interests span economic and social history with a focus on migration patterns, land markets, demographic systems, and poor law from the 17th to 19th centuries. His geographical focus includes southwest Germany, Pennsylvania, the Eichsfeld, Westphalia, and Saxony. He draws intellectual inspiration from three distinct traditions: the Münster empirical tradition of economic history, the Vienna school of social and economic history, and the Paris school of rural integrated social, economic and legal history.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on historical demography, rural history, and genealogical research methods. The articles reveal a consistent interest in life course analysis, family strategies, property systems, and market participation in 19th century rural Westphalia. His work increasingly incorporates interdisciplinary approaches, connecting historical research with demographic methods and digital humanities.

Fertig has received recognition through various academic roles including Chairman of the Historical Demography Working Group and First chairman of the Association for Computer Genealogy. He serves as Cooperating Editor of the journal Historical Social Research/Historische Sozialforschung.

His academic career shows steady progression from doctoral studies under Willi Paul Adams at the John F. Kennedy Institute for American Studies in Berlin, through habilitation in Münster under Ulrich Pfister, to his current professorship in Halle since 2009. He has held visiting positions including at the Center de Recherches Historiques in Paris (2006).