ifo Institute

Shaping the Economic Debate

News - 07.01.2021

ifo Business Climate Index for Eastern Germany Stops Falling (December 2020)

Sentiment among companies in eastern Germany improved a little in December, bringing to an end the downward trend that began in October.

Hat Auswirkungen auf die Wirtschaft: Das Coronavirus

News - 07.01.2021

Coronavirus Increases Mortality for the Elderly in Germany

Germany has been unable to prevent an increase in mortality in the 60–79 and 80-and-over age groups during the coronavirus pandemic, according to mortality figures examined by the ifo Institute.

News - 05.01.2021

Situation in the Automotive Industry Worse

Business has deteriorated for German automakers and their suppliers. In December 2020, their assessment of their current situation fell to -5.4 points; it had stood at +5.0 points in November. This is a finding from the ifo Institute’s latest Business Survey.

News - 04.01.2021

December Sees Marginal Decline in Short-Time Work in Germany

Short-time work in Germany fell slightly in December. According to ifo estimates, at year-end 1.95 million people were affected com-pared with 1.98 million in the previous month.

News - 23.12.2020

ifo Employment Barometer Down

German companies are becoming more cautious on the labor market. The ifo Employment Barometer fell to 95.5 points in December after measuring 96.7 points in November. The hard lockdown is making companies more reluctant to hire new people.

How is the coronavirus crisis affecting people and the economy? What economic policy measures make sense in this context?

News

Facts — 24.11.2020

ifo Business Climate Index Falls (November 2020)

Sentiment among German managers has deteriorated. The ifo Business Climate Index fell from 92.5 points (seasonally adjusted) in October to 90.7 points in November. The drop was due above all to companies’ considerably more pessimistic expectations. Their assessments of the current situation were also a little worse. Business uncertainty has risen. The second wave of coronavirus has interrupted Germany’s economic recovery.

Survey Results

Publication — 04.01.2021

Has the Reduction in Value-Added Tax Stimulated Consumption?

We investigate whether the reduction in VAT has induced citizens to make larger purchases, as was the German government’s goal. According to our results, this goal was not achieved as hoped. Only 2 percent of respondents who made major purchases in the period from July to October 2020 would have refrained from making these purchases without the reduction in VAT. Only 12 percent of those still planning to make purchases by the end of the year would forgo them without the reduction in VAT.

Overview Publications

Event — 06.01.2021 11:10 - 12:40

Corruption and Trade: A General Equilibrium Approach

Dresden

Lunchtime Seminar TU Dresden

David Bauer

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Economic Growth and Sustainability

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Equal Opportunities and Integration

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Digitalization of the Economy

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Public Sector Functions and Taxation

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