On February 12, 2025, Fritz W. Scharpf, Emeritus Director at the MPIfG, will celebrate his ninetieth birthday. One of the most renowned political scientists in Germany, Scharpf’s research on joint decision making and multi-level governance in the European Union is internationally regarded as groundbreaking. The MPIfG warmly congratulates its Emeritus Director on this special occasion.

As Germany’s first graduate program in economic sociology and political economy, the International Max Planck Research School on the Social and Political Constitution of the Economy (IMPRS-SPCE) welcomes outstanding doctoral students of political science and sociology from Germany and abroad. We are currently seeking doctoral researchers for the research clusters of Jens Beckert (Economic Sociology), Lucio Baccaro (Political Economy), and Carola Westermeier (Technology and Sovereignty). The closing date for applications is on February 28, 2025.

Understanding Political Economy unpacks what political economy is and does through an investigation of its main questions and approaches. Bob Hancké, Toon Van Overbeke and Dustin Voss offer a historical and thematic review of the evolution of political-economic thought, centred on the relation between capitalism and democracy. The book is an invaluable resource for academics and students of political science, economics, and international relations as well as decision-makers in various areas of economic policy.