Thorsten Giertz

Curriculum Vitae

Doctoral Candidate, University of Cologne
Associate Member, Cologne Center for Comparative Politics (CCCP)

hi@thorstengiertz.de · ORCID: 0000-0002-7517-6954

Research interests

Individual and collective decision-making, with a focus on political institutions, electoral politics, redistribution, and inequality.

Research methods

Game-theoretic modelling; design and implementation of laboratory experiments; oTree programming; data collection and analysis using R and Python.

Doctoral studies

2022–2026

Doctoral studies, University of Cologne.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. André Kaiser, Cologne Center for Comparative Politics (CCCP).
Dissertation: Elections and the creation of inequality.

Education

2023

IMPRS BeSmart Summer School, selected participant, August 6–12, 2023.
Training in Python for Scientists, oTree experiments, data wrangling, workflow, and replicability, with Prof. Christoph Engel, Prof. Oliver Kirchkamp, and Ali Seyhun Saral.

2015–2017

Chinese language studies, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.

1999–2002

Diplom in Economics (Volkswirtschaftslehre), University of Cologne; degree broadly equivalent to a Master's degree.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Carl Christian von Weizsäcker.
Diploma thesis: The Polity Game: A game-theoretic model of democracy.

1997–1998

Study abroad, University of Amsterdam, with coursework in computational economics, experimental economics, environmental economics, and Dutch language.

1994–1997

Undergraduate studies in Economics (Volkswirtschaftslehre), University of Cologne; Vordiplom (intermediate diploma).

Professional experience

2006–2022

CEO, emeneo, Shanghai, China.

2003–2005

Senior Advisor, hartung:consult (now SNP Group), Shanghai, China; vocational training project with Tongji University Shanghai and GIZ.

2001–2003

Scientific staff, Chair of Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Leidhold, University of Cologne; ILIAS open-source e-learning project.

2001–2003

External consultant (ILIAS), Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wilfried Hesser.

1999–2001

Student assistant, Chair of Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Leidhold, University of Cologne; VIRTUS e-learning project.

Academic publications

Giertz, Thorsten (2026). Distributive consequences of plurality voting versus proportional representation. Journal of Theoretical Politics. doi:10.1177/09516298261477703.
Großer, Jens and Giertz, Thorsten (2026). Pork barrel politics, voter turnout, and inequality: An experimental study. Games and Economic Behavior, 157:464–479. doi:10.1016/j.geb.2024.02.005.

Other publications

Giertz, Thorsten (2010). Evaluating e-learning investments with cost-effectiveness analysis. Learning Solutions Magazine, March 2012.
Giertz, Thorsten (1991). “Clock.” CPC Amstrad International.

Working papers

Giertz, Thorsten and Großer, Jens (2026). Pork in the lab: Parties versus politicians. Working paper.
Giertz, Thorsten and Großer, Jens (2026). One-shot inequality and asymptotic equality in Blotto election models: A unified measurement framework. Working paper.
Giertz, Thorsten and Kaiser, André (2026). Majority illusion: Strategic fragmentation in unequal democracies. Working paper.
Giertz, Thorsten and Kaiser, André (2026). Types of democracy, emerging institutions, and inequality: An experimental analysis of Lijphart's democracy framework. Working paper.

Selected presentations

Majority Illusion: Strategic Fragmentation in Unequal Democracies, UNEQUALMAND Workshop, Sciences Po, Paris, France, 2026.
Elections and Economic Equality: A Theoretical and Experimental Analysis, Internal Seminar, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, Bonn (invited by Prof. Christoph Engel), 2023.
Enterprise e-Learning in China — 10 Years of Experience, Learntec Convention, Karlsruhe, Germany, 2012.
e-Learning supported Vocational Education Instructors Training for China at Tongji University, Germany and China — An Innovative Partnership in IT, Hasso Plattner Institute, Potsdam, Germany, 2007.
The Economics of Open Source based e-Learning Software in the Public Sector, Third International ILIAS Open Source Conference, Zurich, Switzerland, 2004.
Components of a Successful Open Source e-Learning Strategy for Public Utilities, First Distance Learning Congress, Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg, Germany, 2004.
Advantages of a Standard Open Source e-Learning Platform for Higher Education, 1st International ILIAS Conference, Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg, Germany, 2002.
An Experimental Investigation of the Polity Game, Annual Meeting of the Public Choice Society and the Economic Science Association, San Antonio, USA, 2001.

Languages

German (native); English (fluent); Dutch (advanced); Chinese (intermediate; broadly equivalent to HSK 4); French (basic).