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Economic Inequality as a Driver of Populism?
  • Michael Hüther / Matthias Diermeier in Analyse & Kritik ·
  • External Publications ·
  • 2 December 2019

Perception and Reality: Economic Inequality as a Driver of Populism?

Can the rise of populism be explained by the growing chasm between rich and poor? With regard to Germany, such a causal relationship must be rejected.
IW-Direktor Michael Hüther
  • Michael Hüther ·
  • Audio ·
  • 20 November 2019

Exhausted Globalization

Ilaria Maselli, senior economist for Europe at The Conference Board, talks with Michael Hüther about his latest book „Exhausted Globalization”: Between the Transatlantic Orientation and the Chinese Way". The book is a thorough reflection about the downturn globalization is going through. It investigates the reasons why globalization is losing energy and appeal, and sketches possible ways to make it more inclusive.
Make investments possible!
  • Hubertus Bardt / Sebastian Dullien / Michael Hüther / Katja Rietzler ·
  • IW-Policy Paper No. 10 ·
  • 18 November 2019

For a sound fiscal policy: Make investments possible!

Germany faces enormous challenges in modernizing its capital stock. After neglecting public investment over the last two decades, it is now necessary to update the infrastructure and gradually reduce the investment backlog.
Investment Fund for Germany
  • Michael Hüther / Galina Kolev ·
  • IW-Policy Paper No. 10 ·
  • 18 November 2019

Investment Fund for Germany

Germany is in need of investment. This applies to both private and public investment, since it serves as intermediate input for entrepreneurial activity and efficient coordination of microeconomic transactions.
2019: The year for a fresh start in Europe?!
  • Michael Hüther ·
  • IW-Policy Paper No. 4 ·
  • 25 June 2019

2019: The year for a fresh start in Europe?!

The good news is that Europe will not be dominated by populist parties. For big tent parties, i.e. the conservative EPP and the social democratic PES, however, results still aren’t rosy – they are looking at heavy losses, including the loss of their joint majority.
The German debt brake needs a reform
  • Michael Hüther und Jens Südekum auf VOX ·
  • Contribution ·
  • 7 May 2019

The German debt brake needs a reform

Borne by a broad political majority, the debt brake was introduced into the German constitution in 2009. At that time Germany was under the acute shock of the financial crisis. The massive stimulus packages needed to support the economy had pushed the debt ratio up from 63% to 81% of GDP in just a few years. The purpose of the debt brake was to reverse this trend.
In 2009, the Federal Government under Chancellor Angela Merkel and Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück decided to curb debt by amending the Basic Law.
  • Michael Hüther ·
  • IW-Policy Paper No. 3 ·
  • 26 March 2019

10 years of debt brake - a concept with a future?

The introduction of the German debt brake 10 years ago was justified from a historical perspective. Compared to the early 1960s, the debt ratio had more than quadrupled from 20 to 80 percent despite consolidation efforts. In addition, due to government bonds yields well above the GDP growth rate, it was assumed that public borrowing would result in an intergenerational redistribution at the expense of future generations.
IW-Direktor Michael Hüther
  • Michael Hüther in The Zeitgeist ·
  • Audio ·
  • 8 March 2019

Competing Visions for a New Era of Globalization

In this episode of The Zeitgeist, Michael Hüther, Director of the German Economic Institute, joined AICGS President Jeff Rathke and Senior Fellow Peter Rashish to talk about what Hüther calls the end of the second era of globalization and the challenges of shaping the third era of globalization, creating a European and an international framework that is politically sustainable and economically effective.
It’s about Europe’s future now
  • Michael Hüther for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung ·
  • Contribution ·
  • 11 February 2019

It’s about Europe’s future now

The Brexit drama seems to find no end. The divorce contract as well as the text outlining a perspective on how to organise the future relationship both got rejected by the House of Commons. A positive, constructively-minded majority there is not discernible.
German chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May.
  • Michael Hüther / Matthias Diermeier / Markos Jung / Andrew Bassilakis in Intereconomics ·
  • External Publications ·
  • 9 October 2018

If Nothing is Achieved: Who Pays for the Brexit?

The United Kingdom will depart from the European Union in March 2019. Numerous open questions remain about details and conditions especially with regard to post-Brexit EU-UK trade relations. In case of a negotiation failure, a "hard Brexit" could cause considerably high costs on both sides of the Channel. In the short run, companies will be charged more than 15 billion euro as tariffs. In the long run, UK-EU trade could be reduced up to 50 percent.
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