Marcel Thum

Professor Marcel Thum serves as Head of the ifo Dresden branch and holds the Chair of Public Finance at Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden). He has led the ifo Dresden branch since 2001 and has been a professor at TU Dresden since 2004. Prior to these positions, he worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Munich and as a Visiting Lecturer at Princeton University.

Thum's research spans multiple areas of economics with a particular focus on public finance, political economy, labor market theory, and industrial economics. His work addresses critical policy issues including climate change adaptation, minimum wage effects, pension reforms, and the economic implications of demographic change. He has made significant contributions to understanding corruption, shadow economies, and the intersection of environmental policy with economic incentives.

His recent publications demonstrate a consistent pattern of research at the intersection of economic theory and practical policy applications. Thum frequently examines how economic incentives shape political decisions, with particular attention to public goods provision, tax policy, and environmental economics. His work often combines theoretical modeling with empirical analysis to provide actionable insights for policymakers, particularly regarding demographic challenges, green finance, and international trade policy impacts.

• 2010 Standard Life Prize of the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) for 'Subprime Crisis and Board (In-)Competence: Private vs. Public Banks in Germany'
• 2005 Prize for Academic Research of the ifo Institute for 'The Economics of Repeated Extortion' (with Jay Pil Choi)

Professor Thum serves on numerous advisory boards including as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Institute for Population Research since 2022, and previously served on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Federal Ministry of Finance (2007-2022), chairing it from 2019-2022. He has led multiple research projects for government entities including the Saxon State Chancellery and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, receiving research funding from institutions including the Leibniz Association and various federal ministries.

As Head of the ifo Dresden branch, Thum leads a research team focused on regional economic development, demographic change, and public finance issues. The branch conducts regular business surveys, publishes policy-relevant research, and provides economic analysis for regional and national governments. His leadership has positioned ifo Dresden as a key institution for economic research in eastern Germany, particularly regarding the economic impacts of demographic shifts and energy policy.