At the heart of the event was the extraordinary breadth of von Hagen’s academic and institutional contributions. Over several decades, he successfully combined research, policy advice, and university leadership. As a scholar, he has built and maintained an extensive international network, serving as an advisor to institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Central Bank, and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. At the same time, he played a key role in shaping the University of Bonn through several leadership positions, serving as Vice-Rector for Research and Early-Career Researchers from 2009 to 2015 and as Dean of the Faculty of Law and Economics from 2018 to 2024.
In his welcoming remarks, Michael Hoch highlighted von Hagen’s longstanding connection to his alma mater. He particularly emphasized his contribution to the development of the university’s research structures, which later helped pave the way for Bonn’s success in Germany’s Excellence Strategy. The current Dean of the Faculty of Law and Economics, Martin Böse, also expressed his gratitude for von Hagen’s commitment and collegial cooperation.
The academic program reflected key themes of von Hagen’s research. Two policy panels focused on monetary policy in the digital age and on questions of European governance and geopolitics. Among the distinguished participants were Christopher Waller of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, David Altig of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Rolf Strauch of the European Stability Mechanism, and Guntram Wolff of the Université libre de Bruxelles.
In personal tributes, colleagues and former doctoral students also highlighted von Hagen’s role as an academic teacher and mentor. Many emphasized how his intellectual rigor, generosity, and international outlook have shaped the careers of an entire generation of economists.