Since 2006, the ranking has evaluated the research performance of economics faculties in German-speaking countries. It is based on the academic publications of economists in scientific journals. The Swiss Institute for Business Cycle Research at the ETH Zurich and DICE (University of Düsseldorf) analyse more than 1800 academic journals for the assessment on behalf of the WirtschaftsWoche, which helps to determine the final ranking of departments and institutes.
The ranking is published every two years, in odd-numbered years.

The WiSo Faculty was ranked 7th in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) in 2023, putting it in fourth place among German universities.

"Current Research Achievements (in the last five years)":

Prof. Dr Christopher Roth (7th place), Prof. Dr Matthias Sutter (27th place) Prof. Dr Patrick Schmitz (88th place) and Prof. Dr. Axel Ockenfels (92nd place)

"Lifetime Achievement (overall research performance)":

Prof. Dr Matthias Sutter (36th place) Prof. Dr Patrick Schmitz (44th place), Prof. Dr Axel Ockenfels (95th place), Prof. Dr Jörg Breitung (162nd place) and Prof. Dr. Felix Bierbrauer (204th place)

"Researchers under 40 (overall research performance)":

Prof. Dr Christopher Roth (5th place), Prof. Dr Dominik Wied (20th place), Prof. Dr Christoph Schottmüller (25th place) and Prof. Anna Bindler, Ph.D. (67th place)

Prof. Dr Christopher Roth is the best young economist under 40 in German-speaking countries working in Germany. Furthermore, four researchers of the University of Cologne are currently listed in the U-40 ranking, more than at any other German university.