Prof. Schoenmaker will chair the organisation that reports to the government with advice on government policy. The WRR prepares policy reports with reflections and recommendations on current topics, carries out investigations that point out societal issues, and issues working papers that contain background studies to support advisory projects. He succeeds Prof. Corien Prins, who steps down in January 2027 after ten years as chair of the WRR.
Dirk Schoenmaker said: “I’m looking forward to working with new colleagues at the Scientific Council where the interdisciplinary approach is an excellent base for providing evidence-based policy advice. I will stay connected to RSM and my academic role that will add to my role as WRR Chair by ensuring academic rigour and independence. At the same time, the Scientifical Council has regular contacts with governmental agencies and organises work visits throughout the country to be sufficiently practical.
“RSM’s mission emphasising responsible leadership and business engagement is fully aligned with the Council’s work contributing to long-term public goals.”
Actionable macroeconomics and environmental transitions
Prof. Schoenmaker’s research focus has been on systemic economic resilience, long-term national policy, and environmental transitions. His work bridges the gap between high-level academic theory and actionable macroeconomics so the financial sector can guide corporate behaviour toward adopting sustainable business practice, and national financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies can withstand future environmental shocks. His current research addresses ‘wellbeing economics’ and investigates how governments and institutions can structure long-term policies that foster societal health, environmental stability, and resource sustainability. His work focuses heavily on redefining corporate governance, pushing for business models and investment strategies that account for environmental and social impacts alongside financial returns.
In addition to his research, Prof. Schoenmaker has been an active adviser on national and international policy issues for several years. He has been a board member of Pensioenfonds Zorg enWelzijn (PFZW), the healthcare and welfare sector pension fund, since 2022.
He is also a is also a Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Research (CEPR) and member of the Sustainable Finance Lab. He is co-author of numerous books: Corporate Finance for Long-Term Value (Springer), Principles of Sustainable Finance (Oxford University Press) and Financial Markets and Institutions: A European perspective (Cambridge University Press) and author of Governance of International Banking: The Financial Trilemma (Oxford University Press).
He earned his PhD in economics at the London School of Economics. Before joining RSM, he was Dean of the Duisenberg School of Finance from 2009 to 2015. From 1998 to 2008, he served at the Netherlands Ministry of Finance, and in the 1990s he was an economist at the Bank of England.
Combination with science
After taking office on 1 February 2027, Dirk Schoenmaker will remain affiliated with Erasmus University as a professor for one day a week. He will also retain his role as visiting professor at the European University Institute in Florence.
