Monika Schnitzer


Monika Schnitzer is a German economist and chair of comparative economic research at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. She was the president of the Verein für Socialpolitik from 2015 to 2016 and is the chairwoman of the German Council of Economic Experts since 2022.

Education

Schnitzer graduated with a diploma in economics from the University of Cologne in 1986. She went on to further study at the University of Bonn and received her doctorate in 1991. She was granted a habilitation at the same university in 1995.

Career

The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich appointed Schnitzer to her current position in 1996.
In addition to her academic work, Schnitzer advised the German Federal Ministry for [Economic Affairs and Energy|Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy] and the European Commission from 2011 to 2020. From 2011 to 2019, she served as deputy chair of the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation. She is a fellow of the European Economic Association.
In 2025, the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz appointed Schnitzer as member of an expert commission to advise Federal [Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Minister of Finance] Lars Klingbeil on reforming Germany's German [balanced budget amendment|rules on public debt], co-chaired by Stephan Weil, Eckhardt Rehberg and Stephan Müller.

Research and position

Schnitzer's research is mainly in Industrial economics and external trade. Some of her positions following ordoliberalistic views of economy, society and idea of man.

Other activities

Non-profit organizations

Schnitzer is married to fellow economist Klaus M. Schmidt. The couple has three daughters.