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IW News

Comments on current polical and economic events.

IW Newsletter: IW News

Europe, soon a single data market?
  • Digital Single Market ·
  • IW News ·
  • 10 January 2017

Europe, soon a single data market?

Data is the currency of the digital age. In order to take full advantage of the potential of the European data economy, the European Commission wishes to further harmonize data rights. This is overdue in order not to lose the connection to the USA completely.

Dreaming of Digital Unity
  • Collaborative economy ·
  • IW News ·
  • 2 June 2016

Dreaming of Digital Unity

Diverse regulation in the EU member states prevents online platforms such as collaborative platforms like Uber or Airbnb from scaling up. In order to create a consistent framework, the EU Commission has put forward an agenda for the collaborative economy today – without extreme restrictions of business activities. This is appropriate and long overdue.

What trumps?
  • Structural Change ·
  • IW News ·
  • 26 April 2016

Manufacturing or services: What trumps?

Structural change is pervasive and affects economies worldwide – some for the worse, many for the better. In order to reap the benefits promised by structural change, many countries have tried to strengthen their service sectors. A new study presented by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW) shows: They are playing their cards wrong.

Too late, too general
  • EU Data Protection Regulation ·
  • IW News ·
  • 16 December 2015

Too late, too general

After four years of negotiations, the EU has reached an agreement about the Data Protection Reform. It will replace a patchwork of 28 national regulations and strengthen user rights. But particularly the so-called right to data portability might eventually harm competition.

There’s no ideal way
  • Structural change ·
  • IW News ·
  • 18 November 2015

There’s no ideal way

Unlike before the global economic and financial crisis, striving for a high share in the service sector is now no longer considered the only way to prosperity. Thus, governments should refrain from steering structural change in a specific direction.

Going digital?
  • Competition Policy ·
  • IW News ·
  • 1 June 2015

Going digital?

The internet profoundly changes business models and markets. Competition policy, however, has hardly changed. The German Monopolies Commission, an expert committee advising the German government and legislature on competition policy-making, now recommends adjusting the existing regulation. The question is: Is that even doable?

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