Honorary Members

The Verein für Socialpolitik has appointed Friedrich Breyer, Regina T. Riphahn, and Hans-Werner Sinn as honorary members in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the association. Each of them has played a significant role in shaping the Verein für Socialpolitik over many years and in different capacities.

Friedrich Breyer has served as Treasurer of the Verein für Socialpolitik since 2019, assuming particular responsibility for the association’s financial stability and ability to act across four terms of the Executive Board. With great care, foresight, and reliability, he has supported the work of the Board and made an important contribution to securing the association’s institutional foundations for the long term. His extensive experience, personal commitment, and strong ties to the Verein für Socialpolitik have shaped its development over many years.

Regina T. Riphahn played a key role in shaping the strategic and substantive direction of the Verein für Socialpolitik during her tenure as Chair in 2023 and 2024. Improving access to research data remains a particular focus of her work beyond her term as Chair. Through the Commission on Research Data, which she initiated and continues to lead, she provides important impetus for the further development of the institutional and legal framework for research data access. In doing so, she makes a significant contribution to improving research conditions and strengthening the international competitiveness of empirical economic research in Germany.

Hans-Werner Sinn, who served as Chair of the Verein für Socialpolitik from 1997 to 2000, played a decisive role in opening up, modernizing, and internationalizing the association. During his tenure, important reforms were initiated, including measures to support early-career researchers and the reform of the association’s academic journals. These initiatives strengthened the international visibility of German-speaking economics and played an important part in the Verein für Socialpolitik’s development into a modern academic association with a strong international orientation.

By appointing Friedrich Breyer, Regina T. Riphahn, and Hans-Werner Sinn as honorary members, the Verein für Socialpolitik expresses its gratitude for their longstanding commitment and their outstanding contributions to the association and to the economics profession.