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The Economics of Platforms
  • Vera Demary / Christian Rusche ·
  • IW-Analyse ·
  • 13 Sep 2018

The Economics of Platforms

Digital platforms already dominate the top 10 of the world’s most valuable firms. The specific characteristics of their business model, such as quick growth and market power soon after market entry, have provoked public discourse.
Between promotion and regulation
  • Markus Demary / Vera Demary ·
  • IW News ·
  • 8 Mar 2018

FinTech Strategy of the EU: Between promotion and regulation

With its Fintech Action Plan, the European Commission intends to promote new business models in the financial sector as well as new forms of business financing. The plan also includes the so-called Initial Coin Offerings (ICO), which could benefit above all young start-ups from the technology sector. However, the Commission’s proposal is not sufficiently far-reaching.
The role of innovation in the sharing economy
  • Vera Demary ·
  • IW-Report ·
  • 8 May 2017

The role of innovation in the sharing economy

While the sharing economy is generally perceived to be very innovative, it has hardly been analyzed what defines this innovativeness. The main aspect for the sharing economy as a whole is the peer-to-peer (P2P) organization of its businesses. This allows sharing platforms to enter markets more easily, consequently increasing competition in these markets.
Down to Earth
  • Markus Demary / Vera Demary ·
  • IW-Kurzbericht ·
  • 4 Jan 2017

Blockchain: Down to Earth

The blockchain technology offers the promise to be cheaper, faster, less error-prone and safer compared to traditional financial services. Whether a market for blockchain services will emerge, depends, however, on several criteria.
  • Markus Demary / Vera Demary ·
  • IW-Kurzbericht ·
  • 4 Jan 2017

The Promise of Blockchain

Digitization affects all sectors of the economy. A new and possibly disruptive digital technology is the blockchain, a decentralized ledger, which seems to offer great promise for many financial and business applications.
  • Vera Demary / Barbara Engels ·
  • Expertise ·
  • 3 Jun 2016

Collaborative Business Models and Efficiency: Potential Efficiency Gains in the European Union

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 Impulse Paper for the European Commission argues that this appropriate and long overdue.
Dreaming of Digital Unity
  • Collaborative economy ·
  • IW News ·
  • 2 Jun 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.
  • Vera Demary / Michael Grömling / Galina Kolev / Jürgen Matthes ·
  • IW-Policy Paper ·
  • 27 Apr 2016

Prosperity in a Changing World

Structural change and economic growth
Prosperity in a changing world
27 Apr
  • Debate ·
  • Event ·
  • 27 Apr 2016

Prosperity in a changing world

Structural change and economic growth
What trumps?
  • Structural Change ·
  • IW News ·
  • 26 Apr 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.
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