About ifo

Research at ifo combines academic excellence with economic policy relevance. Five fields of action form the basis for this bridge building: research, policy advice, information and services, participation in public debates, and development of junior economists. In all these areas we aim to achieve excellence. Our five fields of action are closely interlinked: research is the basis for policy advice. And we can participate in public debates on the basis of newly gained knowledge.

Young economists make a significant contribution to achieving excellent research results. The development of junior economists is particularly important to us. The ifo Institute’s activities in the area of information and services in turn ensure that our findings reach the various stakeholder groups: through events, media work, or publications.

We analyze the role of government action with the aim of sustainably maintaining economic prosperity and social cohesion.

We believe that government action must be taken in four key areas. These are based on the functions of the state as formulated by Richard Musgrave in his finance research.

Government action should:
1.    Ensure that resources are used where they bring the most benefit.
2.    Promote the stability and sustainability of economic development.
3.    Guarantee social security.
4.    Provide as many people as possible with access to education so that they can take advantage of the opportunities offered to them in an open society.

Our research topics are closely linked to the concept of the social market economy. As a regulatory framework, it simultaneously achieves economic efficiency, stability, and social balance. It has proven its worth over the past decades – not only in Germany, but also in large parts of Europe. We think through the concept of the social market economy and adapt it to ensure its continued success under changed economic and political conditions.

We set the highest standards for our scientific work, are transparent about our supporters, and take responsibility for the results of our research. We are guided by the Leibniz Code for Good Research Practice, which – in implementing the relevant regulations of the German Research Foundation (DFG) – describes the area of scientific integrity in full and updates the existing standards in a binding manner. In addition, we follow the Guidelines for Good Scientific Practice in the Leibniz Association, which set out a code of practice and the sanctions available within the central investigation process.

The guideline for good scientific practice in the Leibniz Association provides for an independent, decentralized ombudsperson to whom ifo employees and, if necessary, third parties can turn in matters of good scientific practice and in matters of suspected scientific misconduct. The scientists of the ifo Institute elected Prof. Dr. Joachim Winter (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich) as ombudsperson for a term of five years.

The ifo Institute has a quality management system certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001.

We want our equality policy to play a part in achieving society’s goal of giving men and women the same opportunities for individual self-actualization. That is why we systematically pursue three objectives:

• We are working to ensure that women and men receive the same opportunities to combine their personal life, family, and career in a balanced manner.
• We are ensuring that suitable yardsticks are created for both women and men with regard to equality in the evaluation of their performance and the resulting career opportunities.
• We are identifying mechanisms of possible discrimination and systematically dismantling them.

The legal bases for equality at the ifo Institute include the following:

• The Implementation Agreement on the Equality of Men and Women in Joint Funding Activities for Research concluded by Germany’s federal and state governments pursuant to Art. 91b of the German constitution
• The German Research Foundation’s (DFG’s) Research-Oriented Standards on Gender Equality and the Leibniz Association’s framework recommendations.

The Institute’s Equality Plan is updated every two years under the direction of the Executive Board and published here.

The Executive Board runs the Institute’s business and is responsible for strategic planning and research management. Its members are appointed by the Administrative Council, and contract renewal is allowed. The chairperson of the Executive Board is the president, who is appointed jointly by the ifo Institute and the University of Munich.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Clemens Fuest has been President of the ifo Institute since April 2016. Dr. Stephanie Dittmer has been a member of the Executive Board since September 2017.

ifo Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys

ifo Center for Public Finance and Political Economy

ifo Center for Labor and Demographic Economics

ifo Center for the Economics of Education

ifo Center for Industrial Organization and New Technologies

ifo Center for Energy, Climate, and Resources

ifo Center for International Economics

ifo Center for Migration and Development Economics

ifo Center for Social Market Economy and Institutional Economics

Research Group Taxation and Fiscal Policy

LMU-ifo Economics & Business Data Center

ifo Dresden

Communications

Human Resources

Finance and Controlling

Centralized Services

Information Technology

Executive Department

Library

The General Meeting approves the annual accounts and the report of the Executive Board. It also elects the members of the Board of Trustees. The annual general meeting takes place in June at which the annual report is presented to the members.

The Administrative Council of the ifo Institute has a supervisory and advisory role vis-à-vis the Executive Board. The Administrative Council consists of the chairperson of the Board of Trustees, professors from the economic and business faculties of the LMU, representatives from both the Federal and Bavarian governments, the chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Council and up to five other members chosen by the General Meeting. The term of office of elected Administrative Council members commences on 1 July of their year of election and lasts for three years. The Administrative Council Chairperson is Nina Hugendubel.

Members of the ifo Administrative Council

Nina Hugendubel (chairwoman) 
Geschäftsführende Gesellschafterin der H. Hugendubel GmbH & Co. KG

Dr. Christine Bortenlänger (vice chairwoman) 

Prof. Dr. Ralf Elsas
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Fakultät für Betriebswirtschaft

Prof. Dr. Andreas Haufler 
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Volkswirtschaftliche Fakultät

Dr. Annette Niederfranke 
Staatssekretärin a.D.

Prof. Dr. Nadine Riedel
Universität Münster

Dr. Thomas Schnell
Geschäftsführer, Dr. Schnell GmbH & Co KGaA

Dr. Ludger Schuknecht 
Vice President, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in China

Dr. Benjamin Weigert
Leiter der Abteilung I, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie

Thomas Westphal
Director General Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN), Council of the European Union

Dr. Markus Wittmann
Ministerialdirektor, Amtsleitung des Bayerischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie

The Board of Trustees consists of individuals from academic institutions, business, trade unions and public administration. It supports the Executive Board in discharging its duties. The term of office of members of the board of trustees commences on 1 July of their year of election and lasts for three years. The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees is Nina Hugendubel.

Members of the Board of Trustees

Nina Hugendubel (Vorsitzende)
Geschäftsführende Gesellschafterin der H. Hugendubel GmbH & Co. KG

Dr. Christine Bortenlänger (Stv. Vorsitzende)

Prof. Dr. Dr. Ann-Kristin Achleitner
TU München

Engelbert Beyer, Ministerialrat 
Leiter der Abteilung Innovationspolitische Querschnittsfragen, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

Prof. Monika Bütler
Universität St. Gallen

Dr. Elisabeth Denison
DEIAS Investment & Advisory Solutions

Albert Füracker 
Bayerischer Staatsminister der Finanzen und für Heimat

Stefan Genth
Hauptgeschäftsführer des Handelsverbands Deutschland - HDE e.V.

Tanja Gönner
Hauptgeschäftsführerin des Bundesverbands der Deutschen Industrie

Dr. Manfred Gößl 
Hauptgeschäftsführer der IHK für München und Oberbayern

Dr. Thomas Gößl
Präsident des Bayerischen Landesamtes für Statistik

Alexander Gunkel 
Mitglied der Hauptgeschäftsführung der BDA, Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände

Claudia Heinzel 
Omegaconsulting GmbH

Ursula Heller
Bayerischer Rundfunk    

Sabine Herold
Geschäftsführende Gesellschafterin, DELO Industrie Klebstoffe GmbH & Co KGaA

Marion Höllinger
Sprecherin der Geschäftsführung, UniCredit Bank GmbH

Prof. Dr. Thomas F. Hofmann 
Präsident der Technischen Universität München

Valerie Holsboer 

Prof. Dr. Bernd Huber
Präsident Emeritus der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Manuela Kasper-Claridge
Chefredakteurin, Deutsche Welle

Dominique Köppen
Deutscher Städtetag

Gerd Kremer

Bernhard Krüsken
Generalsekretär des Deutschen Bauernverbandes

Dr. Christian Lieberknecht
Mitglied der Geschäftsführung, Bundesverband deutscher Wohnungs- und Immobilienunternehmen e.V.

Markus Lötzsch
Hauptgeschäftsführer der IHK Nürnberg

Dr. Marc Lucassen 
Hauptgeschäftsführer der IHK Augsburg und Schwaben

Johannes Peter Martin 
Managing Partner, Procedere-Consulting

Dr. Volker Meyer-Guckel
Generalsekretär und Mitglied der Geschäftsführung, Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft

Dr. Jürgen Michels
Leiter Volkswirtschaft und Research der Bayern LB

Prof. Dr. Armin Nassehi
Institut für Soziologie, LMU München

Prof. Dr Angelika Niebler, MdEP
Vorsitzende der CSU-Gruppe im Europäischen Parlament

Dr. Annette Niederfranke 
Staatssekretärin a.D.

Kai Ostermann 
stellvertretender Vorstandsvorsitzender Deutsche Leasing AG

Felix Pakleppa 
Hauptgeschäftsführer des Zentralverbands des Deutschen Baugewerbes

Franz Xaver Peteranderl
Präsident der Handwerkskammer für München und Oberbayern

Christian Piwarz
Sächs. Staatsminister der Finanzen

Dr. Klaus-Peter Potthast
Leiter der Abteilung 2, Wirtschaftspolitik, im Bayerischen Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie

Wolfgang Reichel
Sprecher des Vorstands, Lebensversicherung von 1871 a.G.

Dr. Wolf Heinrich Reuter
Staatssekretär a.D., Bundesministerium der Finanzen

Dr. Johann Schachtner

Dr. Thomas Schnell
Geschäftsführer, Dr. Schnell GmbH & Co KGaA

Prof. Dr. Monika Schnitzer
LMU München, Fakultät VWL

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schön
Direktor, MPI Max-Planck-Institut für Steuerrecht und Öffentliche Finanzen

Dr. Ludger Schuknecht
Vice President, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in China

Prof. Dagmar Schuller
Geschäftsführerin audEERING GmbH

Dr. Bernhard Schwab
Vorstandsvorsitzender, LfA Förderbank Bayern

Holger Schwannecke 
Generalsekretär des Zentralverbands des Deutschen Handwerks

Dr. Günther Thallinger
Mitglied des Vorstands, Allianz SE

Dr. Hans-Josef Thesling
Präsident des Bundesfinanzhofs

Prof. Dr. Anja Tuschke
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Institut für Strategische Unternehmensführung

Dr. Peter-Alexander Wacker
Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats der Wacker Chemie AG

Dr. Ursula Weidenfeld
Freie Journalistin

Jakob von Weizsäcker
Minister der Finanzen und für Wissenschaft, Saarland

Thomas Westphal
Director General Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN), Council of the European Union

Dr. Otto Wiesheu
Staatsminister a.D., Ehrenpräsident Wirtschaftsbeirat der Union

Dr. Hilmar Zettler
Mitglied der Geschäftsleitung des Bundesverbands Deutscher Banken

The Scientific Advisory Council consists of internationally respected, independent academics and experts. It was established to provide independent, external quality control and to advise the Executive Board and the Administrative Council in the long-term planning of research and development as well as on future appointments of Executive Board members. The Scientific Advisory Council advises both the ifo Institute and CESifo. Scientific Advisory Council members are elected for four years and can be re-elected for one term only.

The chairmen of the Scientific Advisory Council to date were: Prof. Dr. A. Abigail Payne, University of Melbourne, Australia (2021-2025), Prof. Dr. Anthony J. Venables CBE, University of Oxford, UK (2016-2021), Prof. Robin Boadway Ph.D., Queen’s University London, Canada (2013 – 2016), Prof. Robert Haveman Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA (2008 – 2013), Prof. Assaf Razin Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Israel, and Cornell University, USA (2005 – 2008) and Prof. David Bradford Ph.D. (2000 – 2005).

Prof. Kimberley Scharf, Ph.D. (Chairwoman from Nov. 2025)
University of Nottingham, UK

Prof. Dr. Nadine Riedel (Vice Chairwoman)
University of Münster, Germany

Prof. Ran Abramitzky
Stanford University, USA

Prof. Ruben Enikolopov, Ph.D.
Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

Prof. Simon Jäger, Ph.D.
Princeton University, USA

Prof. Beata Smarzynska Javorcik, Ph.D.
University of Oxford, UK

Prof. Dr. Sarah Lein                                                   
University of Basel, Switzerland

Prof. Dr. Matti Liski
Aalto University, Finland

Prof. Sandra McNally, Ph.D.
University of Surrey, UK

Prof. Ralph Ossa, Ph.D.                                                                       
University of Zurich, Switzerland

Prof. Tommaso Valletti, Ph.D.
Imperial College London, UK

Prof. Dr. Andrea Weber
Central European University, Austria

The ifo Institute has established a User Advisory Council to strengthen contacts with the target audiences of its services. These include academics and researchers, governmental institutions, the business world, and national and international media. The User Advisory Council’s task is to advise the ifo Institute on the development and evaluation of its services. This includes expanding its range of services, as well as the content-related presentation and quality of the Institute’s services. The Chairperson of the User Advisory Council is Prof. Rolf Tschernig, University of Regensburg.

Prof. Dr. Rolf Tschernig (Chairperson) 
Universität Regensburg, Lehrstuhl für Ökonometrie, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät

Dr. Johannes Gernandt 
Chief Economist of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA)

Dr. Manuel Kallweit 
Leiter der Abteilung Märkte, Analysen, Rohstoffe, Statistik, Verband der Automobilindustrie e.V. (VDA)

Manuela Kasper-Claridge 
Chefredakteurin, Deutsche Welle

MDirig. Dr. Klaus-Peter Potthast
Leiter der Abteilung Wirtschaftspolitik, Koordination und Industrie, Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie

Prof. Dr. Jan-Egbert Sturm 
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, KOF Institut

Dr. Ursula Weidenfeld
freie Journalistin

Dr. Jochen Wiegmann
Referatsleiter Wirtschaftspolitische Positionen, Regionalausschüsse in der Wirtschaftsregion München, IHK für München und Oberbayern

Ombudsperson of good scientific practice: Prof. Dr. Joachim Winter

Data Protection Officer: Legaltech GmbH

Equal Opportunity Officer: Dr. Dorothea Pohlmann

Inclusion Representative: Jana Lippelt

Membership of the ifo Institute – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich is available to individuals and organisations in Germany and around the world. The Ifo Institute is a registered society according to German law (eingetragener Verein – e.V.) and is governed according to its By-laws. The ifo Institute is entered in the register of associations in Munich under the number 4419 and is recognized as a non-profit organisation. As part of their membership, members regularly receive the following publications, invitations to events and discounts on selected products.

Members set their own membership fees. The minimum annual membership fee is currently EUR 400; plus value added tax for the subscriptions share (currently EUR 4.20 for a membership fee of EUR 400). Because ifo is a non-profit organisation, the membership fee is tax deductible in Germany.

Read more about our honorary members and contact persons for questions about membership.

The ifo Institute has the legal form of a registered association whose sole and direct purpose is non-profit research in economics and social sciences. The legal basis of the ifo Institute is its bylaws, which were adopted at the General Meeting on June 29, 2011.