ifo Industry Colloquium 2016
IHK Academy Munich, Orleansstraße 10–12, 81669 Munich
The ifo Industry Dialogue is a platform for discussing current developments from a sector-specific perspective. Experts from companies, associations, politics and research discuss current industry developments, trends and challenges in the four industry forums Industry, Trade, Construction and Services. The conference, which the ifo Institute regularly organizes in cooperation with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria, is sponsored by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Technology.
After the welcoming address by Peter Driessen, Chief Executive of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria, Clemens Fuest, President of the ifo Institute, gave a presentation on "The economic situation in Germany and Europe". The lecture was followed by the four industry forums. At the end of the event, Ludger Wößmann, Director of the ifo Centre for the Economics of Education, discussed the question "Integration through qualification: opportunities and challenges of immigration".
Program
| 09.11.2016 | |
| 9:15 a.m. | Welcome Remarks Peter Driessen Managing Director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria |
| 9:30 a.m. | The economic situation in Germany and Europe Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Clemens Fuest President of the ifo Institute |
| 11:00 a.m. | Coffee break |
| 11:30 a.m. | Forum 1 Industry Forum 2 Trade |
| 1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:00 p.m. | Forum 3 Construction Forum 4 Service Sector |
| 3:30 p.m. | Coffee break |
| 4:00 p.m. | Integration through Qualification: Opportunities and Challenges of Immigration Prof. Dr. Ludger Wößmann Director of the ifo Center for the Economics of Education |
| 5:00 p.m. | Wrap-up |
Forums
Industry Forum
In Quest of Growth?
Central questions for the industry after years of weak growth are How reliable is demand from the euro area despite unresolved structural problems? When will the major emerging markets return to a stable development? Which countries can compensate for their loss of demand? Is the influx of refugees suitable to close the gap in the supply of qualified labour expected due to the demographic development?
| Moderation and Intraduction | Dr. Hans-Günther Vieweg, ifo Institute |
| Expert contributions | Michael Ebnet,ifo Institute Michael Ebnet, ifo Institute Hubert Schöffmann, Head of the Training Department of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria |
Trade Forum
Strong Consumer Activity Facilitates Structural Change
Strong immigration as well as rising incomes and employment are again stimulating the sales trend in the consumer goods trade this year. This will help in coping with the ongoing structural change. The Internet and demographic change are changing the industry, innovations are in demand. Which product areas benefit from the strong immigration? Can local Internet forums be a suitable means of helping inner-city stationary retail to achieve a renaissance?
| Moderator | Wolfgang Fischer, CityPartnerMünchen e.V. |
| Introduction | Arno Städtler and Gülsüm Orhan, ifo Institute |
| Expert contributions | Robert WaloßekCEO Betten Rid GmbH, Munich Manuel Jahn, Head of Consulting, GfK GeoMarketing GmbH, Bruchsal |
Construction Forum
Construction Industry Back on Course for Growth?
Following stagnation in the previous year, construction investments will increase noticeably again in 2016. Demand for new residential construction will remain high - partly because of refugee immigration. By contrast, hardly any impulses are likely to come from the existing sector. Commercial construction will grow only moderately, since companies will continue to act cautiously. Public-sector construction will benefit substantially from the federal government's investment programmes.
| Moderator | Robert Scholl, Ministerialdirektor a.D., BMVBS, Berlin |
| Introduction | Ludwig Dorffmeister, ifo Institute |
| Expert contributions | Matijas Kocijan, ifo Institute DLukas Weiden, empirica ag, Berlin Han Joosten, Head of Market Research, Bouwfonds Property Development (BPD), Frankfurt a.M. |
Service Sector Forum
Jobmotor Services
The service sector is by far the largest employer in Germany. The favorable economic environment led to a noticeable increase in the number of employees. However, companies have long been confronted with a shortage of skilled workers. This is seen as a considerable burdening factor. To what extent can suitable workers for the service sector be recruited from the large reservoir of refugees and other immigrants?
| Moderator | Dr. Robert Obermeier, Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria |
| Introduction | Dr. Gernot Nerb and Przemyslaw Brandt, ifo Institute |
| Expert contributions | Petra Eisen, CEO EISEN Personal-Service, Nuremberg Emil Ebert, Head of the Package Centre of Deutsche Post, Feucht/Nuremberg Edina Brenner, Managing Director, LBS Munich |
Conference Report
ifo Branchen-Dialog 2016 (Ifo Industry Colloquium)
ifo Institut, München, 2016
ifo Schnelldienst, 2016, 69, Nr. 23, 34-51
