ifo Podcast “Economy for All”
What moves the economy? The ifo Institute podcast focuses on the most important developments in economic research and economic policy. Every month, we talk to our experts about current events in business, science, and politics and provide background information on the ifo Institute’s latest research findings.
All Podcasts
ifo Podcast: Parliamentary Work: The Influence of Outside Earnings and Good Looks
MPs outside earnings are seen as a possible reason why they do not concentrate fully on their parliamentary work. Do they engage less or differently than MPs without additional income? And what role do good looks of politicians play in their parliamentary activities?
ifo Podcast: On an Equal Footing? New Facts on Gender Equality in Germany
How large are the gender gaps in Germany ? How do other countries perform? What are the causes and what measures can reduce inequality? What role do family, children, gender roles and income preferences play? Elena Herold and Anne Steuernagel discuss these questions in a new podcast episode of "Economy for All."
ifo Podcast: Inflation – Cure or Curse for the Economy?
Germany's inflation peaked in October 2022, surpassing 10% for the first time in decades. In our podcast, we discuss the credibility of central banks, effective measures to protect citizens from inflation, and the long-term consequences of rising prices. Our guest is Timo Wollmershäuser, ifo's expert in monetary policy.
ifo Podcast: New Home, New Hope – Ukrainian Refugees in Germany
Dr. Tetyana Panchenko
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has driven many people from their homes - over 7 million in total. Germany has taken in the most after Poland. What are the plans, hopes and expectations of Ukrainian refugees in Germany? What are the consequences and opportunities for the German economy and society?
ifo Podcast: Social Market Economy under Pressure
Climate change, increasing inequality between rich and poor, and geopolitical conflicts – we are living in uncertain times. A modern social market economy must face up to these crises. The new Ludwig Erhard ifo Center for Social Market Economy and Institutional Economics in Fürth, Germany, is researching what reforms are needed to achieve this.
ifo Podcast: The ifo Business Climate – A Look behind the Scenes
With its business surveys, the ifo Institute asks thousands of companies every month about various aspects relevant to the business cycle. What questions are asked and why is the indicator so important for business cycle research?
ifo Podcast: Pension Increase 2022 – Excessive Burden for Younger Generation?
Pensions will be increased more than they have been for a long time in the summer of 2022 – as a result of wage increases in 2021. What role do the sustainability factor and the catch-up factor play in this? What are the long-term challenges facing the pay-as-you-go system – and how could they be tackled now?
ifo Podcast: Equality at a Snail’s Pace - How Can Germany Get into the Fast Lane?
Britta Rude
Equal work, equal pay? No. According to the Federal Statistical Office, women earn on average 18% less than men. Why is the gender gap even significantly larger and where do we need to make further improvements in Germany in terms of gender equality?
ifo Podcast: Electricity Generation from Renewable Energies – What Challenges Germany Still Has to Overcome
How is the energy transition changing the pricing of electricity? What role does gas-fired power play in this transition? What might the electricity markets of the future look like? Can the German model of energy transition succeed at all?
ifo Podcast: Reform of International Corporate Taxation
More than 140 countries have agreed on a common path for a reform of international corporate taxation. Who will be the winners and who will be the losers in the end? Will the reform succeed in distributing the tax burden more fairly? Will tax havens dry up?
ifo Podcast: How Global Supply Chains Can Become More Resilient?
Global supply chains consist of production sites distributed around the world. Is this complex set-up an additional risk in times of crisis? What must policymakers and companies do to make international supply chains more crisis-proof in the future?
ifo Podcast: Where is Germany in Terms of Digitization?
Dead spots in rural regions, a lack of technical equipment in schools, health offices that communicate by fax device: The shortcomings of digitization in Germany have long been known, and the pandemic has ruthlessly exposed them. But how does Germany compare internationally? What needs to be done to catch up with the global leaders?
ifo Podcast: "Green Monetary Policy"
Pursuing climate policy goals is not actually one of the tasks of central banks. Whether they should nevertheless do so is currently the subject of controversial debate. What do we mean by “green monetary policy”? What role can central banks play? What effect do these measures have on the real economy?
ifo Podcast: Public Finances after Corona
After many years without new debt, the Corona crisis has caused debt levels to rise sharply again. This new debt and rising consumer prices are fueling concerns about growing inflation. Are these concerns justified? How can the national debt be brought back to a reasonable level? Are tax increases necessary?
ifo Podcast: Education on Lockdown – The Corona Record of Schools
Dr. Katharina Werner
Covid-19 has made deficits in schools clearly visible: Too less digital equipment, too less digital competence, and too less flexibility in terms of how learning content is taught. How did schoolchildren cope during the pandemic? Did homeschooling work during the lockdown?
ifo Podcast: Home Office in Times of Pandemic
Millions of employees have been working from home for more than a year. Digitization has received an enormous boost in this way. However, the potential is far from exhausted. In January 2021, the German government introduced a home office obligation for companies in order to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. Will the home office become the new normal even beyond the pandemic?
ifo Podcast: From Basic Security to Basic Income - What Reforms are Needed?
Mansour Aalam, Stiftung Grundeinkommen
The basic security system in Germany is in need of reform. Are minimal reforms enough, or is a complete break with the system necessary?
ifo Podcast: How Are Economic Forecasts Made?
How do economic forecasts come about? How has the coronavirus pandemic affected business cycle research at ifo? And what tools has the ifo Institute developed to respond to the new challenges posed by the pandemic?
