Dr. Ruth Maria Schüler

The demographic transition is putting the German statutory pension insurance system under enormous pressure to reform. Despite widespread concern, no reform of the adjustment mechanisms incorporated into the pension system meets with the approval of a majority of the population.

Matthias Diermeier / Ruth Maria Schüler IW

People in Germany have a relatively accurate knowledge of the main details of the German pension system.

Ruth Maria Schüler IW

For the statutory pension scheme to be financed sustainably on its current pay-as-you-go basis, as many people as possible need to stay at work until the standard retirement age.

Ruth Schüler IW

The Global Tax Expenditures Database (https://GTED.net/) collects national reports on tax expenditures for 101 countries for the period from 1990 to the present. Based on these data, the development of tax expenditures in the 38 OECD countries between 1999 and today is examined.

Beznoska, Martin / Christian von Haldenwang / Ruth Maria Schüler in IDOS (Hrsg.) Discussion Paper IW

Buffalo (New York) and Dortmund (North Rhine Westphalia) as well as Akron (Ohio) and Chemnitz (Saxony) are twin cities that share the history of deindustrialization. At the same time, they experienced rapid population growth and a globalization shock in the middle and end (East Germany) of the twentieth century. The structural change in the Rust Belt was accompanied by economic upheavals, which is still reflected in today’s reluctance for electoral participation. In this respect, social security and regional policy have had a stabilizing effect in Germany.

Ruth Maria Schüler / Matthias Diermeier IW

The Global Tax Expenditures Database (https://gted.net/) collects national reports on tax expenditures for 101 countries for the period from 1990 to the present.

Martin Beznoska / Christian von Haldenwang / Ruth Maria Schüler IW

The level of statutory pensions for future generations is set to decline systematically. If future retirees are to maintain their standard of living, they will therefore need to supplement their statutory benefits with private and occupational pensions – a change already initiated with the pension reforms of the early 2000s.

Ruth Maria Schüler IW

How Germans inform themselves about political events: Personal conversation and use of traditional media come first.

Ruth Maria Schüler / Judith Niehues / Matthias Diermeier IW

The demographic transition is confronting Germany with a growing shortage of skilled workers. In a simple, static labor market model, wages in occupations where the demand for labor is high should rise at an above-average rate to restore market equilibrium.

Alexander Burstedde / Ruth Maria Schüler IW

The COVID-19 measures of the federal and state governments have at times massively affected public life in Germany. The ban on contact has temporarily restricted the freedom to pursue a profession, the freedom of trade, compulsory education and religious freedom.

Armin Mertens / Ruth Maria Schüler IW