Matthias Heinz

Matthias Heinz serves as Professor for Strategy at the University of Cologne, Germany, a position held since October 2018. Previously, he was Junior-Professor (Assistant Professor) for Personnel Economics at the same institution from 2014 to 2018.

His educational background includes:

• Diploma (equivalent to Master) in Business Administration from Goethe-University Frankfurt (2004-2008)
• Dissertation (summa cum laude) in Management and Microeconomics at Goethe-University Frankfurt (2008-2014) titled "Empirical Studies in Personnel and Media Economics"
• Research stay at KU Leuven's VIVES department under Prof. Jozef Konings (2011-2012)

Professor Heinz's research centers on Personnel Economics and Labor Economics, with deep expertise in downsizing dynamics, causal effects of HR practices (particularly team incentives), and gender differences in competitiveness. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of corporate environments, examining how organizational decisions impact productivity, morale, and equity. The research demonstrates rigorous methodological approaches including field experiments and natural experiments.

His publication record from 2014-2017 in premier journals like the American Economic Review and Economic Journal reveals three dominant thematic threads: (1) quantification of hidden costs in workforce reductions, (2) behavioral analysis of incentive structures in retail and corporate settings, and (3) exploration of gender-based competitive disparities affecting wage outcomes. These works consistently employ real-world business data to establish causal relationships in personnel economics.

He maintains active affiliation with the Experimental Economics Group at the University of Cologne, utilizing experimental methodologies to investigate economic behavior. His professional trajectory includes Siemens internships in Beijing, UK, and Germany during his academic training, providing practical corporate insights that inform his research.