ifo Media Center
The ifo Institute invites you to participate in the discussion of interesting economic topics via the Internet. In our ifo Media Center a whole series of remarkable events are available and can be viewed in full length. We also record selected speeches and presentations given by employees or at events and make them available in our Media Center.
ifo Business Climate Saxony Continues Upward Trend (September 2020)
The ifo Business Climate Index Saxony rose marginally in September from 93.8 points to 95.0 points. The survey participants’ assessments of their current situation improved considerably compared with the previous month, and business expectations for the coming six months brightened a little.
Eurozone Economic Outlook: Eurozone GDP starts to recover (September 2020)
In the second quarter, global economic activity declined sharply due to COVID-19 pandemic containment measures. International merchandise trade decreased in volume by historic 12.5%, despite a rebound in June (+7.6%).
ifo Business Climate Eastern Germany: Upward Trend Unbroken (September 2020)
Sentiment among eastern German companies continued to improve in September. The ifo Business Climate Index for the entire regional economy in eastern Germany rose from 94.5 points to 95.8 points. Both the assessments of the current situation and the business expectations of the eastern German companies surveyed increased, even if they are not yet back up to pre-crisis levels.
ifo Employment Barometer Continues to Rise (September 2020)
More and more German companies are planning to hire new recruits. The ifo Employment Barometer climbed to 96.3 points in September after measuring 95.4 points in August. The economy is recovering and this development is increasingly reflected in employment.
ifo Export Expectations Much Improved (September 2020)
A seed of optimism has sprouted among German exporters. In September, the ifo Export Expectations in manufacturing rose from 5.5 points to 10.4 points. This is its highest value since October 2018. The upswing in industrial production in many important buyer countries is benefiting Germany’s export industry.
ifo Business Climate Index Rises (September 2020)
Sentiment among German managers has further improved: the ifo Business Climate Index climbed to 93.4 points in September, after 92.5 points in August. The companies once again assessed their current situation as better than in the previous month. They also expect their business to recover further. The German economy is stabilizing despite rising infection numbers.
ifo Economic Forecast Autumn 2020: German Economy Still on Course for Recovery
In Germany, economic output is expected to be 5.2 percent lower on average for the year than in 2019. Given the assumed pace of recovery, GDP will not reach its pre-crisis level until the fourth quarter of 2021. The average annual growth rate in the coming year will then be 5.1 percent.
ifo Business Climate Saxony Rises Further (August 2020)
The ifo Business Climate Index for Saxony rose palpably in August from 91.1 points to 93.3 points. The survey participants’ assessments of their current situation were noticeably better, while their expectations improved tangibly. However, the business climate is still significantly lower than it was before the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis in March of this year.
ifo Education Survey 2020: Germans support more uniformity and comparability in the education system
How does the German population think about federalism in education? Which governmental level should be responsible for education policy? And what measures for standardization and better comparability in the education system do Germans support? The ifo Education Survey 2020 examines these and other questions.
ifo Business Climate Eastern Germany: The Upward Trend Continues (August 2020)
Sentiment among eastern German companies continued to improve in August. The ifo Business Climate Index for the entire regional economy in eastern Germany climbed from 92.4 points to 94.6 points. This increase was mainly driven by the current business situation in August. At the same time, the companies surveyed raised their business expectations somewhat compared to the previous month. The picture was mixed across different sectors.
ifo Employment Barometer Climbs Again (August 2020)
German companies are scaling back their layoff plans. The ifo Employment Barometer climbed to 95.4 points in August after measuring 93.2 points in July. A turnaround is imminent on the German labor market: after layoffs in recent months, the first signals for new hires have now appeared.
ifo Export Expectations Decline Slightly (August 2020)
German exporters have become somewhat more cautious. In August, the ifo Export Expectations in manufacturing decreased from 7.5 points to 5.1 points. The German export industry is doing relatively well in view of the difficult economic situation in many buyer countries.
ifo Business Climate Index Rises Again (August 2020)
Sentiment among German business leaders is continuing to improve. The ifo Business Climate Index rose from 90.4 points (seasonally adjusted) in July to 92.6 points in August. Companies assessed their current business situation markedly more positively than last month. Their expectations were also slightly more optimistic. The German economy is on the road to recovery.
Working from Home and Digitalization in Light of the Coronavirus (2nd Quarter 2020)
Covid-19 has the world firmly in its grasp. In the second quarter of 2020, on behalf of Randstad Germany, the ifo Institute surveyed just under 800 German HR managers to find out what effect the virus is having on companies and their work processes.
ifo Business Climate Saxony Improves Once Again (July 2020)
The ifo Business Climate Index for Saxony saw a sharp rise in June from 81.8 to 88.3 points. It seems that the decline of the past few months is over. Sentiment brightened mainly thanks to the major improvement in business expectations. However, the survey participants’ assessments of their current situation fell slightly compared to the previous month.
ifo Business Climate Eastern Germany: Economy on the Upswing (July 2020)
The eastern German economy continued to recover in July 2020. The ifo Business Climate Index for the entire regional economy in eastern Germany climbed from 88.8 points to 92.5 points. Survey participants’ assessments of the current situation and their business expectations both rose strongly compared to the previous month.
ifo Employment Barometer Rises (July 2020)
German companies are planning to lay off less staff. The ifo Employment Barometer climbed to 93.2 points in July after measuring 92.3 points in June. But the labor market is not out of the woods yet. Layoffs are still planned in many places, especially in industry. However, pessimism has declined noticeably in the last two months.
ifo Export Expectations Rise (July 2020)
Cautious optimism is spreading among German exporters. The ifo Export Expectations for manufacturing rose in July from minus 2.2 points to plus 6.9 points. German exports are benefiting from the economic recovery in many countries.
ifo Business Climate Index Climbs Higher (July 2020)
Sentiment among German companies has improved further. The ifo Business Climate Index rose from 86.3 points (seasonally adjusted) in June to 90.5 points in July. This is the third rise in a row. Companies were notably more satisfied with their current business situation. They are also carefully optimistic about the coming months. The German economy is recovering step by step.
Do We Need State Intervention in the Meat Market?
The coronavirus pandemic has drawn attention to abuses in the meat industry. An intensive debate is going on in politics and society concerning animal welfare, worker protection, and the meat industry’s impact on the climate and the environment. State intervention is either vehemently demanded or categorically rejected, depending on the point of view. This explains why the 30th ifo and FAZ Economists Panel is focused on the meat industry. A total of 123 economists took part in the survey.
