The IW's science area is divided into six thematic clusters and seven cooperation clusters. These reflect the main areas of research.
Research focus
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The State, Taxes, Social Security
The demographic transition, digitalisation and decarbonisation all pose major challenges for the state's welfare, spending and fiscal policies.…
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Education, Immigration and Innovation
The IW's Education, Immigration and Innovation competence area is researching how education and immigration contribute to securing skilled…
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Digitalisation and Climate Action
With the German economy undergoing a comprehensive transformation process, the Digitalisation and Climate Action Research Unit examines how…
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Vocational Education and Professionals
The researchers in the Research Unit Vocational Qualification and Skilled Workers analyse what contribution vocational education and training…
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The World of Work and Collective Bargaining Policy
With the working world constantly changing, those active in the labour market face ever new challenges that can only be successfully overcome by…
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International Economic Policy, Financial and Real Estate Markets
The researchers in the department International Economic Policy, Financial and Real Estate Markets deal with current issues of international…
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Behavioral economics and business ethics
The researchers of the Behavioral Economics and Business Ethics Research Unit make use of findings from the fields of ethics, economics and…
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Micro data and distribution
The Research Unit Microdata and Distribution bundles knowledge for microdata analysis and helps with data-related and methodological questions…
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Macroeconomics and the Business Cycle
The Macroeconomic Analysis and the Business Cycle Cluster focuses on short- to medium-term economic developments in the global economy as a…
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Professional participation and inclusion
The CC has a high level of expertise in the field of participation in working life, analyses key issues in the context and provides them for…
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IW-Panels
Companies and their employees in Germany are facing a variety of challenges: new opportunities resulting from technological progress, global…
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Big Data Analytics
The Big Data Analytics Research Unit looks at the opportunities offered by analyses of Big Data . Read more about the focus of this research…
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Democracy, Society, Market economy
The Research Unit Democracy, Society, Market Economy investigates the societal conditions of economic success. Therefore, our research agenda…
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