1. Home
  2. Studies
Content element with id 6645 Content element with id 9149

Studies

Scientific Publications of the Cologne Institute for Economic Research: IW-Trends, IW policy papers, IW-Analysen, IW-Studien, IW-Reports, IW-Kurzberichte and Expertises. Read more about our Approach to Research.

61 results
Sort by:
Read study
A new opportunity to tackle the global distortions of China’s state capitalism
IW-Kurzbericht No. 91 6. December 2023

Reforming the WTO’s subsidy rules

Jürgen Matthes / Samina Sultan

The African Group proposes to reform the WTO’s subsidy rules for industrial goods. Even if this demand for more policy space entails some problems, the EU should view this as an opportunity.

IW

Read study
How companies use ChatGPT
IW-Kurzbericht No. 32 13. May 2023

How companies use ChatGPT

Jan Büchel / Armin Mertens

ChatGPT is currently very popular. The AI can answer questions in seconds, summarize entire texts or create programming code. On the one hand, there are many advantages for the economy and society, on the other hand, experts warn of dangers and call for regulation. It is therefore interesting to see whether and for what purposes companies are already using ChatGPT.

IW

Read study
Lindner's ideas have merit
IW-Kurzbericht No. 29 25. April 2023

Reform of EU-fiscal rules: Lindner's ideas have merit

Jürgen Matthes / Samina Sultan

The German government's proposal to introduce a fixed limit on government spending growth for highly indebted member states in the course of the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact makes sense. Given the macroeconomic environment, such a minimum requirement does not appear overambitious. This would ensure a steady reduction in the government deficit and debt level.

IW

Read study
The Rise and Fall of Industrial Cities on Both Sides of the Atlantic
IW-Kurzbericht No. 16 2. March 2023

The Rise and Fall of Industrial Cities on Both Sides of the Atlantic

Ruth Maria Schüler / Matthias Diermeier

Buffalo (New York) and Dortmund (North Rhine Westphalia) as well as Akron (Ohio) and Chemnitz (Saxony) are twin cities that share the history of deindustrialization. At the same time, they experienced rapid population growth and a globalization shock in the middle and end (East Germany) of the twentieth century. The structural change in the Rust Belt was accompanied by economic upheavals, which is still reflected in today’s reluctance for electoral participation. In this respect, social security and regional policy have had a stabilizing effect in Germany.

IW

Read study
Most companies are not data economy ready
IW-Kurzbericht No. 96 8. December 2022

Most companies are not data economy ready

Jan Büchel / Barbara Engels

Data is the central resource of the digital transformation. It underlies all digital processes, transactions and interactions. The use of this data is key to innovation and sustainable growth (BMWK, 2022). Currently, however, many companies in Germany do not meet the requirements to be able to use data efficiently. This is shown by a survey of 1,051 companies from industry and industry-related service providers.

IW

Read study
Migration prevents decline in patent activity
IW-Kurzbericht No. 88 25. October 2022

Innovation and diversity: Migration prevents decline in patent activity

Maike Haag / Enno Kohlisch / Oliver Koppel

Migration makes an indispensable contribution to Germany's innovative strength: a record 12.2 percent of all patent applications developed in this country are entirely attributable to inventors with foreign roots. Many German companies already show considerable diversity in this respect.

IW

Read study
An instrument with pitfalls
IW-Kurzbericht No. 85 20. October 2022

Single Market Emergency Instrument: An instrument with pitfalls

Samina Sultan / Christian Rusche / Berthold Busch / Hubertus Bardt

In reaction to recent disruptions concerning the Single Market, the European Commission proposed an Emergency Instrument to maintain the proper functioning of the Single Market and ensure the supply and distribution of goods and services. It provides for far-reaching measures. The dirigiste interventions in the market it allows, are to be critically questioned, while better coordination and exchange of information between the member states could be an added value of the SMEI.

IW

Read study
How the Russian cyber warfare threatens European businesses
IW-Kurzbericht No. 15 4. March 2022

How the Russian cyber warfare threatens European businesses

Vera Demary

The Russian attack on Ukraine took place long before the current ground, sea, and air attack: It started online. The conflict is also a cyber war with extensive cyberattacks. This can severely impact European businesses.

IW

Read study
China's digital policy: a threat to European business models
IW-Kurzbericht No. 73 1. October 2021

China's digital policy: a threat to European business models

Vera Demary / Jürgen Matthes

China is making great strides in regulating digitization. Some aspects are similar to European approaches, but Chinese laws on data security and protection go much further. This may result in a threat to European business models.

IW

Read study
Cost-benefit considerations of lockdowns – what are we missing?
IW-Kurzbericht No. 33 29. May 2021

Cost-benefit considerations of lockdowns – what are we missing?

Thomas Obst / Dan Schläger

A cross-country comparison shows similar behavioural adaptations of individuals despite different degrees of stringency of the respective lockdown in place. In Germany, during the first lockdown in spring 2020 mobility fell by 45 percent, while in Sweden it also decreased by 27 percent during the same period. A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis is crucial to better evaluate the efficacy of lockdowns and implied trade-offs.

IW

Content element with id 9151

Understanding Science

  • The scientific work of the German Economic Institute is independent and solution-oriented, internationally networked and socially relevant, methodologically open and interdisciplinary. We address the scientific discourse of experts, the general public as well as opinion leaders in politics, business and society. We want to be an audible voice in the economic policy discourse in Germany.
     
  • Our work is innovative and confronts the scientific discourse: On the basis of scientifically recognized standards, we apply new methods, use new data sets, discuss new arguments and provide solution-oriented answers to current questions in economic analysis and economic policy. Our statements are theoretically founded and, where it is methodologically and empirically possible, evidence-based. We ensure that both the data basis and the methodological approaches are comprehensible. Modern methods of empirical economic and social research are as much a part of our tools as in-depth analyses of the institutional and political-economic conditions of economic developments.
     
  • We do not exclude any theoretical and methodological approach, because diversity and competition promote progress in the sciences. The decisive factor is not a traditional paradigm, but whether and how a scientific approach leads further in the search for decision-guiding and action-relevant knowledge. Our research is not limited to economics, but is connectable to the debates and insights of other disciplines, such as ethics, history, education, political science, psychology, law, and sociology.
     
  • Our research is aware of its normative conditionality. Every science of human social action requires a normative clarification of the concept of man. Freedom and (co-)responsibility are the central values for us. We see the human being as a being capable of freedom and responsibility, who in this sense is enabled and called upon to competent decisions and actions. In our view, open, liberal and democratic societies require a liberal and competitive economic order that counts personal responsibility and shared responsibility among its constitutive elements.
Content element with id 8880 Content element with id 9713