Chair for Social Policy and Public Economics

Maximilian Thomas joined the Chair for Social Policy and Public Economics as a research and teaching assistant in October 2021.
He holds a MSc in Political Economy from the University of Konstanz and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Witten/Herdecke.
He spent a semester abroad studying at the University of Essex.
During his master’s studies, he was supported by a scholarship from the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation for Freedom.
He also has prior experience in applied economic research, public policy, and public sector consulting.
Before joining the RUB, he was employed as student assistant at the Chair for Public Economics (Prof. Dr. Guido Schwerdt) at the University of Konstanz.

Work Experience

Since 10/2021           Ruhr-University Bochum, Research and teaching assistant (PhD thesis supervisor: Prof. Dr. Zohal Hessami)

10/2020 - 09/2021    University of Konstanz, Student assistant at the Chair for Public Economics

02/2020 - 04/2020    ifo Institute, Munich, Intern (ifo Center for Public Finance & Political Economy)

07/2016 - 07/2018    IMP3ROVE European Innovation Management Academy (Kearney), Düsseldorf, Working student

02/2016 - 03/2016    German Bundestag, Representative's Office of MP Steffen Kanitz, Berlin, Intern

Education

10/2018 - 09/2021    University of Konstanz, MSc Political Economy (Master thesis supervisor: Prof. Dr. Guido Schwerdt)

10/2019 - 12/2019    University of Essex, semester abroad, Colchester, UK

10/2013 - 09/2018    University of Witten/Herdecke, BA Philosphie, Politics and Economics, Witten

07/2012                     High school degree (Abitur), Gymnasium Christian-Ernestinum, Bayreuth

Scholarships and Awards

12/2023                      Verein für Socialpolitik: Lecture premium

09/2021                      VEUK award for excellent M.Sc. Degree at the University of Konstanz

06/2021                      Research scholarship for the master thesis (550€, Economics Department, University of Konstanz)

10/2018 - 09/2021     Scholarship, Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit

10/2019 - 12/2019     Scholarship, ERASMUS+

2016                           Talent programme (Dr. Werner-Jackstädt Foundation endowed Chair of Accounting and Control, University of Witten/Herdecke)

Publications

Hessami, Z., T. Häcker, and M. Thomas (2025). Public Administrators as Politicians in Office. International Tax and Public Finance, forthcoming. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10797-025-09882-z

Working Papers

Thomas, M. (2025). Balancing the Books, or Bending the Rules? Subnational Fiscal Rule Circumvention through State-Owned Enterprises.

Hessami, Z., Thomas, M. and Thunecke, G. (2025). Bailouts, Fiscal Austerity, and Consolidation Strategies.

Konferenzen und Workshops

2025

Doctoral Tax Seminar at the University of Mannheim, Germany

Ph.D. Econ Research Seminar at the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany

Ph.D. Econ Research Seminar at the University Cattolica Milan, Italy (scheduled)

ZEW-ifo Young Scholars Political Economy Workshop in Mannheim, Germany (scheduled)

Public Finance Seminar at the University of Leipzig, Germany (scheduled)

2024

European Public Choice Society (EPCS) Jahrestagung in Wien, Austria

ZEW Public Finance Conference in Mannheim, Germany

2nd Workshop on The Political Economy of Municipal Fiscal Policy in Bergamo, Italy

International Institute of Public Finance Annual Congress in Prag, Czech republic
 

2023

Verein für Socialpolitik Meeting 2023 in Regensburg, Germany

ZEW-ifo Young Scholars Political Economy Workshop in Mannheim, Germany

16th RGS Doctoral Conference in Economics in Bochum, Germany

European Public Choice Society (EPCS) Meeting in Hannover, Germany
 

2022

European Public Choice Society (EPCS) Meeting in Braga, Portugal

Lehre

WiSe 2024/25:     Fiscal Policy in a Federation (BSc, Seminar)

SoSe 2024:           Principles of Public Finance (BSc, Seminar)

WiSe 2023/24:     Public Choice (BSc, Seminar)

SoSe 2023:          Theory of Economic Policy (BSc, Lecture)

Wise 2022/23:     Public Choice (BSc, Seminar)

SoSe 2022:          Survey Experiments in Public Economics (BSc, Seminar)

WiSe 2021/22:    Principles of Public Finance (BSc, Seminar)