A fierce dispute has erupted among prominent economists over the invitation of Stefan Homburg to the Hayek Society's conference at the end of May in Münster. The retired professor is known for controversial theses questioning man-made climate change and equating COVID measures with Nazi Germany. The event will also award the Hayek Medal to Veronika Grimm.
Berlin. A heated debate has broken out among several prominent economists over the Hayek Society's invitation to Stefan Homburg for its „Hayek Days“ conference at the end of May in Münster. Homburg, former director of the Institute for Public Finance at Leibniz University Hannover and now retired, has repeatedly drawn attention in recent years with provocative theses. He questions man-made climate change and compared measures during the COVID pandemic to conditions in the German Reich of 1933. In response, moderator Collien Fernandes, who recently went public with her case of sexualized violence in virtual space, called Homburg a „Flittchen“ on social media, as reported. At the conference, Homburg is set to discuss „Interventionist state at its end?“ alongside Jan Schnellenbach, an economist at Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg. The event will also feature economic advisor Veronika Grimm, who teaches at Nuremberg Technical University and is to receive the Hayek Medal. Hans-Werner Sinn, former president of the ifo Institute, is expected to speak as well. The dispute over Homburg's participation is intensifying and also involves Veronika Grimm, though specific positions of those involved remain undisclosed.
