Volker Grossmann studied economics 1991-1996 at the University of Bonn and UC Berkeley. In July 2000 he obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Regensburg for his dissertation on "Inequality, Economic Growth, and Technological Change". From 2000-2005 he held a Post-Doc position at the University of Zurich. Since October 2005 he is Professor at the University at Fribourg, Switzerland, where he holds the 'Chair for Macroeconomics'.

His recent research interests include dynamic macroeconomics, the distribution of wealth, income and health, the effects and determinants of international migration, and the economics of ageing. He has published in journals such as Journal of Public Economics, Journal of Economic Theory, European Economic Review, Journal of International Economics, Journal of Development Economics, Journal of Economic Growth, Journal of Health Economics, Plos One, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, and Journal of Macroeconomics.

He joined IZA as a Research Fellow in March 2002.