Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung
In 1989, Donges moved on to the University of Cologne. Three years later he became a member of the German Council of Economic Experts, and eventually served as the council's chairman from 2000–2002. A proponent of ordoliberal economic policy, Donges was also a member of the Initiative Neue Soziale Marktwirtschaft.