René Geißler

Prof. René Geißler is a Professor of Public Administration at the Technical University of Wildau (TH Wildau). He holds a PhD in public law and local government from the University of Potsdam, where his doctoral thesis focused on municipal budget consolidation. Previously, he worked at the Bertelsmann Foundation for eight years, leading national and international fiscal policy research projects. His academic career includes roles as a research associate at the Hertie School in Berlin (2006-2012).

Research interests center on municipal finance monitoring, federal fiscal relations, property tax reform, and addressing skilled labor shortages in public administrations. Key works include analyses of Germany's fiscal equalization mechanisms and case studies on infrastructure investment programs for childcare facilities. He frequently publishes in journals like Zeitschrift für Kommunalfinanzen and Verwaltung und Management.

Recent media engagements include commentary on municipal fiscal crises for RBB Brandenburg, Der Tagesspiegel, and Die Welt. His applied research often informs policy debates through Bertelsmann Stiftung studies on topics like municipal debt management and workforce planning. Collaborative projects include co-editing Local Public Finance: An International Comparative Regulatory Perspective (Springer, 2021).

Teaching focuses on public finance fundamentals, municipal budgeting systems, and cameralistic accounting practices. Active in academic networks, he contributes to EGPA conference panels on decentralized governance and financial supervision. Current research emphasizes sustainable fiscal strategies for municipalities facing demographic and economic challenges.