The crisis in local government finances takes centre stage in the Open BTU series

Anyone interested is invited to attend the lecture ‘The Crisis in Local Government Finances: How Can Towns and Municipalities Regain Their Capacity to Act?’ in the Central Lecture Theatre Building on the BTU’s main campus in Cottbus, Audimax 1. Admission is free. No registration is required.

About the lecture

The importance of the finances of towns and districts is often underestimated in political debate. In fact, however, the local authority level is responsible for a large proportion of public investment in Germany, meaning that the state of local government finances has a direct impact on overall economic development. In recent years, local government finances have come under structural pressure. It is not only individual local authorities in structurally weak regions that are running deficits; towns and municipalities are chronically underfunded almost everywhere. How can local authorities in Germany regain their financial capacity to act? The lecture will examine reform options for Germany, as well as successful models in neighbouring countries such as Switzerland.

Moderator: Dr Victor Zakar, BTU, Chair of General business administration, in particular planning, innovation and start-ups, Project Manager of the Founders' Service

Date: Wednesday, 18 November 2026, 5.30 pm to 7 pm
Venue: Audimax 1 on the BTU main campus, Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 3, 03046 Cottbus

About the speaker 

Jan Schnellenbach studied Economic Sciences at the University of Wuppertal and subsequently obtained his PhD in 2003 with a thesis on fiscal federalism at the University of St Gallen. Following a stint at the University of Marburg, he was awarded his habilitation at the University of Heidelberg in 2009. This was followed by temporary appointments as chair holder in Hamburg, Heidelberg and Marburg, as well as a role as Managing Director of the Walter Eucken Institute in Freiburg, until he moved to the BTU in 2014 to take up the Chair of Economics, especially Microeconomics. Prof. Dr oec. habil. Jan Schnellenbach’s key research areas are public finance, regional structural change, federalism and behavioural economics

About the Open BTU lecture series 

From 14 October 2026 to 27 January 2027, the public lecture series ‘Open BTU’ will offer insights into fascinating fields of knowledge. During the winter semester, the following topics will be explored from various perspectives:

• Energy and mobility research for a sustainable future
• The financial system and the euro – from local authorities to central banks
• Researching with society – co-creative projects at the BTU 

Through this educational format, which is open to all interested parties, the University’s Centre for Continuing Education supports lifelong learning and promotes the transfer of knowledge and ideas within the region by addressing socially relevant issues. In doing so, BTU collaborates with other universities and institutions. After each lecture, there is an opportunity for questions and discussion with the speakers. Anyone interested is warmly invited to take part in the wide-ranging programme of events.

Find out more about the Open BTU public lecture series:

https://www.b-tu.de/weiterbildung/offene-hochschule/open-btu