Theses
We supervise Bachelor and Master theses in fields of our research and teaching actitivities. Currently, we are especially interested in the following areas:
- The political economy of religion
- Vertical fiscal relations in developing economies: Does the wisdom from Western developed countries apply analogously?
- Decentralization in developing countries
- EU Regional Policies: How effective are they?
- Infrastructure as an input: Theory, evidence, political economy
- Location choice of firms: What is the role of local governments?
- How does trade liberalization affect the regional distribution of economic activities within countries?
- Expert commissions for budgetary policies: Theory and empirical evidence
- Yardstick competition: What can we learn from experimental economics
- Social media and elections: unravelling the mechanisms
- E-democracy and direct democracy: a comparison
- Participatory budgets: How do they work, what are their effects?
- Digital transformation in the public sector: Where is digital dividend?
When writing the thesis with us, students are expected to take a distinctly economic approach to their topic. This requires them to make use of and present theoretical models and/or econometric studies in a sophisticated way.
To prepare for the thesis in public economics, students are advised to have taken more than one course related (e.g., Public Economics, European Economics or Intermediate Public Economics) and at least one seminar offered by the Public Economics Unit. Students who do not fulfil these criteria are strongly advised to consider other units to supervise their thesis.
For details on the evaluation criteria and formal requirements with regard to Bachelor and Master theses, please refer to the guidelines. Please take a look at them before you approach me to see me and ask us to be your supervisor.
For most topics, the thesis can be written in English or German. The topics are suited for both bachelor and master theses.
The Public Economics Unit does not have any deadlines for registering or starting a thesis. Students can approach us and start their thesis at any time.