Team
The people behind the ifo Institute offer the very high level of expertise and experience needed to fulfill our research and service mandate.
European Cooperation Can Reduce Costs Of Climate Action By Billions by 2050
Joint energy and climate action policy in the EU could save European countries EUR 248 billion between 2024 and 2050, with Germany alone saving EUR 66 billion. “Joint climate action is always better than national climate action,” explains ifo-expert Mathias Mier.
EU Accession Country Workers Fill German Labor Market Gaps
Exactly 20 years after accession to the EU, approximately 820,000 workers from these ten countries are now employed in Germany. That accounts for 2.4% of the German workforce. “Contrary to the fears of many, this has not led to German workers being pushed out of the labor market,” notes Joachim Ragnitz, Managing Director of ifo Dresden.
Lack Of Orders Slows Down The German Economy
The order shortage in Germany has worsened and is an obstacle to the economy. In April, 39.5% of manufacturing companies reported a lack of orders, up from 36.9% in January. In the service sector, the proportion rose from 32.1% to 32.4%. “The lack of orders is hampering economic development in Germany,” explains Klaus Wohlrabe.
ifo Employment Barometer Rises
Companies in Germany are again looking to hire more staff. The ifo Employment Barometer rose to 96.3 points in March, up from 94.9 points in February. “Companies are currently more willing to hire because they are better able to assess the economic conditions,” explains Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo.
Business Climate in the German Chemical Industry Brightens
The business climate in Germany’s chemical industry improved in March, with the index rising to -10.5 points, up from minus 15.5 points in February. Especially business expectations improved sharply to -2.9 points, up from minus 14.9 points in February.
Economic Researchers Advocate Greater Energy Cooperation in Europe
Economic researchers from various countries have called on the EU to view the energy crisis following the Russian attack on Ukraine as a wake-up call and to strive for better cooperation in Europe, as they state in a new paper for the EconPol Europe research network.
Business Climate Eastern Germany Rises a Second Time in a Row
The ifo Business Climate Index Eastern Germany rose considerably in April from 90.2 in March to 92.3 points. The eastern German companies surveyed provided assessments of their business situation that were somewhat better than the previous month, and they raised their business expectations substantially.
Parenthood Increases Inequality Between Women And Men In Germany
Inequality in the labor market between men and women in Germany is at its greatest when there are children involved, finds an international research group. Among 30-year-olds, mothers earn on average 70 to 80% less than fathers, whereas the difference is less than 5% for childless people of the same age.
ifo Schnelldienst 5/2024 Is Out: Europe 2024
On June 9th, EU citizens will elect a new European Parliament. Shortly thereafter, a new EU Commission will also commence. In the new issue of the ifo Schnelldienst, "Europe 2024 - Setting the Course for Sustainable and Successful Economic Development", authors discuss topics for a new EU agenda.
ifo Business Climate Index Rises (April 2024)
Sentiment has improved at companies in Germany. The ifo Business Climate Index rose to 89.4 points in April, up from 87.9 points1 in March. This is its third consecutive rise. Companies were more satisfied with their current business. Their expectations also brightened. The economy is stabilizing, especially thanks to service providers.
Eastern Germany Hit Harder By The Skills Shortage
Companies in eastern Germany are more affected by the shortage of skilled workers than in the rest of the country, as new results from the ifo Business Survey show. 42.1% of companies in eastern Germany stated that their business was affected by a lack of skilled personnel. The figure for Germany as a whole was 36.3%.
Uncertainty Dampens The Mood Of The Self-Employed In Germany
Uncertainty among the self-employed in Germany has increased in March. Thus, the business climate for this segment has deteriorated with the index falling to -15.6 points, down from -14.6 points in February. “Contrary to the situation in the other sectors of the economy, the self-employed are experiencing increasing doubt,” explains Katrin Demmelhuber.
Working from Home Reduces Office Space Requirements in Germany
Working from home reduces the need for office space in Germany. This is the result of a new study conducted by the ifo Institute together with real estate consultancy Colliers for seven major German cities. “By 2030, it’s likely that the need for office space will have decreased by 12%", estimates ifo-researcher Simon Krause.
Germany Only In The Middle Of The Pack
Germany’s current attractiveness as a location for homegrown companies ranks only in the middle among its European peers. When asked to rate Germany’s attractiveness as a business location, the experts there awarded it 61.3 points out of a possible 100. Austria achieved 72.4 points, while Switzerland scored 72.6 points.
Business Climate Of The Self-Employed In Germany Improved
The business climate for solo self-employed and microenterprises in Germany improved somewhat in April, climbing to -13.8 points after -15.6 in March. Dissatisfaction with current business has decreased slightly, as has skepticism regarding expectations for the next six months. The signal coming from service providers is particularly positive.
German Export Expectations Fall
Sentiment in the German export industry has clouded over a little. The ifo Export Expectations fell to -2.0 points in April, down from -1.2 in March. “The export economy lacks momentum at present. While the global economy offers many good prospects for growth, these aren’t yet being reflected in additional orders”, explains ifo-expert Klaus Wohlrabe.
Joint Economic Forecast Spring Report 2024: German Economy Ailing
The five leading economic research institutes believe that the German economy is in trouble. In their spring report, they have revised their forecast for the current year significantly downward and now only expect economic output to grow by 0.1%.
Innovation in Germany and the EU - A Path of Strength?
Are we still innovative or have other countries long since left us behind? How do Germany and the EU compare internationally and what is needed for a successful innovation policy? Get to know more about these topics in the new issue of the ifo Schnelldienst 4/2024.
Sentiment In The German Automotive Industry Improves
The business climate in Germany’s automotive industry brightened again in April, rising to -1.5 points, up from -5.3 in March. “Companies in Germany’s automotive industry rate their current business situation as slightly better, but more importantly, their outlook once again turned much less pessimistic than in March,” explains ifo-expert Anita Wölfl.
Germany’s Shortage of Skilled Workers Eases Slightly
The shortage of skilled workers among companies in Germany has eased somewhat. According to a recent survey, 36.3% of firms are currently suffering from a shortage of qualified workers, down from 38.7% in October 2023. A year ago, it was 43.6%. “The weakening economy is reducing demand for skilled workers in the short term,” explains Klaus Wohlrabe.