CES is an independent institute within the Faculty of Economics of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat. It brings together economists from all over the world for discussion and exchange of knowledge and ideas and promotes contacts with their Munich collegues.

CES invites visiting professors and scholars to do their research in Munich and to teach in the faculty's graduate programme. Since the institute was founded in 1991, more than 400 long term visitors came to Munich. The combined international expertise of the about 20 council members guidelines the center's visiting scholars programme.

Since its foundation, CES has substantially enlarged its own research group. Its research concentrates on Public Finance aspects of the economy, but includes many diverging fields of economics.