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Press Releases

Information for the media.

Zinserhöhung träfe Firmen hart
  • Daniel Bendel / Markus Demary / Michael Voigtländer ·
  • Press Release ·
  • 20 Sep 2017

Corporate Finance: Interest rate hikes hit companies hard

Interest rates in the euro area are currently at a low. If the European Central Bank (ECB) abandons its expansive monetary policy, many companies could face financial difficulties, according to a study by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW).

Brexit jeopardizes supply chains
  • Berthold Busch ·
  • Press Release ·
  • 24 Aug 2017

Brexit jeopardizes supply chains

A hard Brexit would hit the economy on both sides of the channel heavily, especially the extended supply chain of key German industries, the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW) shows in a study.

Arbeitnehmer sind zufrieden
  • Andrea Hammermann / Oliver Stettes ·
  • Press Release ·
  • 21 Aug 2017

Quality of work: employees are satisfied

According to a recent study of the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW), the majority of employees in the EU are satisfied with their job.

Stabil, aber mit Risiken
  • Michael Voigtländer ·
  • Press Release ·
  • 21 Aug 2017

Real estate market: Stable, but bearing risks

The German real estate market has been stable for years, a bubble is unlikely - although prices in cities are growing strongly. However, in some regions there are risks, according to the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW). Investors must therefore pay attention to local particularities.

Erster IW Financial Expert Survey
  • Markus Demary ·
  • Press Release ·
  • 19 May 2017

Launch of the IW Financial Expert Survey

The experts of banks and insurance companies expect interest rates to increase in this and the forthcoming quarter. At the same time they predict a higher oil price and a depreciation of the Euro. These are the results of the first IW Financial Expert Survey of the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW). The survey is the continuation of the former ZEW-Prognosetest of the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW).

Die Sorgen der Chefs
  • CEO Challenge 2017 ·
  • Press Release ·
  • 3 May 2017

German Bosses concerned about political uncertainty

The political uncertainty around the globe is currently seen as the greatest challenge by German companies’ CEOs. This is the result of a joint survey by IW Consult and The Conference Board. Worries about a global recession are less common among German managers than in other countries.

EU muss Stärke beweisen
  • Global uncertainties ·
  • Press Release ·
  • 23 Jan 2017

The EU has to show strength

The European Union faces major challenges and uncertainties in 2017: Donald Trump, the Brexit and economic problems in the Eurozone threaten to curb free trade and to thwart the economy in the long term.

German firms relaxed in view of upcoming Brexit
  • IW Business Survey ·
  • Press Release ·
  • 12 Jan 2017

German firms relaxed in view of upcoming Brexit

More than nine out of ten German firms do not expect strong effects from Brexit on their business activities in the near future. This is the result of a recent business survey covering 2,900 German firms conducted by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research.

Britische Eidgenossen
  • Brexit ·
  • Press Release ·
  • 13 Dec 2016

British confederates

Post-Brexit, the British still want full access to the EU Single Market - and, at the same time, retrieve sovereignty in terms of regulation and restrictions on immigration. This contradicts the principle of giving and taking: London will have to strike a balance of the two with Brussels. The Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln) has established a framework to objectify the negotiations and shows that Switzerland could be a model.

Lohnstückkosten prägen Welthandel
  • Export performance ·
  • Press Release ·
  • 18 Oct 2016

Unit labour costs shape international trade

Even Germany, as an export nation, has to compete for shares on its sales markets. The cost for businesses to manufacture goods plays a vital role in this process. An interactive graphic by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln) reveals the following: when unit labour costs increase in comparison to the competition, export performance generally declines.

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