In the Media

In his op-ed (August 12) Andrew Puzder, the US ambassador to the EU, accused the EU of double standards. He argued that criticising US tariffs on steel and aluminium derivatives while simultaneously imposing Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism charges on the same products, is hypocritical.

Long before Germany's decision to launch an aggressive military buildup in response to the Trump administration's new isolationist policy, a strong voice in Germany advocated for a relaxation or reform of the debt brake enshrined in the German constitution. A selection of prominent economic strategists, including IW Director Michael Hüther, share their thoughts on this in a symposium of views for The International Economy.

Previous studies have found substantial support across Europe for the creation of a universal basic income system. Yet as Matthias Diermeier and Judith Niehues explain, there is also widespread support for restricting the access of immigrants to state benefits. Drawing on new research, they assess how these two perspectives shape wider attitudes toward welfare.

Russia’s war against Ukraine will have consequences extending far beyond the European Union and our country’s security and defense policies. In fact, this war is the most visible and tragic proof to date that the world is in a dramatic process of change.

Small and medium-sized companies will remain exempt from new disclosure rules on the EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy starting in 2022. However corporate leaders would be well-advised to follow its implications, including SMEs, writes IW Climate Economist Finn Wendland.

Despite great approval in parliament, the Federal Constitutional Court stopped the 750 billion Euro EU Corona Reconstruction Fund for the time being due to a constitutional complaint. In a video interview for ACGUSA, IW Director Michael Hüther discusses the consequences of this decision with economist Monika Schnitzer from the University of Munich.