We are delighted to announce that the Standing Committee on Political Economy has officially been established within the German Economic Association, the Verein für Socialpolitik (VfS), following approval by the association’s Executive Council on 14 September 2025. The initiative was led by Professor Maik T. Schneider (University of Graz) and Professor Anja Prummer (Freie Universität Berlin).
The committee brings together a group of 51 excellent researchers in Political Economy, including 52% full professors and 26% associate professors. Among these professors are Christoph Kuzmics and Christian Klamler from the Economics Department at the University of Graz.
Many members have published in international top journals, and the 29% share of women exceeds that of many other standing committees. The committee also has a strong international orientation, with a significant number of members based at universities outside the German-speaking countries.
Political Economy explores the complex interactions between economic processes and political institutions, actors, and collective structures. The goal of the Standing Committee on Political Economy is to represent and promote this vibrant and growing field of research in German-speaking academia. The committee’s goals include:
- Developing and discussing new research topics in the field of Political Economy.
- Promoting scientific exchange and continuing education for members on emerging aspects of the discipline.
- Supporting and mentoring early-career researchers, thereby contributing to their professional development.
- Encouraging excellence and innovation in teaching, as well as outreach and public engagement on political-economic issues.
Beyond these objectives, the committee seeks to strengthen cooperation across disciplinary boundaries between economics and political science, fostering synergies that will advance understanding of key societal challenges.
The first meeting of the Standing Committee on Political Economy will take place in Berlin on 26–27 March 2026. Further information about the committee and its members is available on the official website.