IW-Policy Paper

The IW policy papers are published on current events and initiate political debates. They focus on the analysis and political classification of current decision papers and address a specialist audience with a close relationship to economic policy. They are published exclusively online.

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Hans-Peter Klös ·
IW-Policy Paper Nr. 14 ·
28 May 2020

After the Corona Shock: Digitisation Potential for Germany

As a result of the temporary corona lockdown, Germany is experiencing the greatest slump in economic activity in its history. The crisis has meanwhile also reached the labor market: short-time work announcements were made for over ten million employees in April.

Eight theses on a system debate that is budding at an inopportune moment

Jochen Pimpertz ·
IW-Policy Paper Nr. 12 ·
26 May 2020

More government in the health care system?

Among the current challenges of the pandemic, the German health care system has so far proven to be comparatively robust. While the infection rate in Germany is so far slightly lower than in other large European economies, the relatively low mortality rate stands out positively.

Hubertus Bardt / Michael Hüther / Christoph M. Schmidt / Torsten Schmidt ·
IW-Policy Paper Nr. 11 ·
22 May 2020

Growth to improve the economic situation affected by the Corona-crisis

North Rhine-Westphalia is, just like all of Germany, massively affected by the Corona-crisis. While the infection rate is dropping noticeably though, the economy is in the deepest recession in the country’s history.

Michael Hüther / Hubertus Bardt ·
IW-Policy Paper Nr. 10 ·
5 May 2020

From the opening of the lockdown to new economic perspectives

The lockdown measures from 16 and 23rd March respectively to fight the corona epidemic the have widely affected the German economy. First signals for easing the measures were given after the Easter period.

Aljoscha Nau ·
IW-Policy Paper Nr. 9 ·
29 April 2020

World Trade in 2020: The show must go on!

Rules-based trade is under attack and the WTO is at risk of marginalization. The COVID-19 pandemic and its detrimental effects on public health, global supply- and value chains and industrial production, have brought back national export restrictions and stopped the free flow of goods and people.

Hubertus Bardt / Sandra Parthie ·
IW-Policy Paper Nr. 8 ·
24 April 2020

European Rescue and Recovery Programmes against the Corona Crisis

The current crisis is different from the situation 2008/2009, but again it is a tremendous challenge for the economies across Europe. The Corona-crisis is hitting the economies symmetrically, though with differences in magnitude levels, while the 2009 crisis was primarily a crisis of the banking industry and the manufacturing sector.

Hubertus Bardt / Michael Hüther ·
IW-Policy Paper Nr. 7 ·
4 April 2020

An economic policy exit strategy from the corona lockdown

The fight against the corona epidemic has led to an insulation of the social and economic life and will have considerable economic consequences. Important areas of the industry and service sectors were shutdown partly or fully.

Hubertus Bardt / Sebastian Dullien / Michael Hüther / Katja Rietzler ·
IW-Policy Paper Nr. 6 ·
21 March 2020

For a sound fiscal policy: Enabling public investment

Public investment has been badly neglected in Germany over the past two decades, with the result that the public capital stock no longer meets the standards of a modern economy and is inadequate for the challenges that will be posed by demographic change and Germany’s international decarbonisation commitments.

[Translate to Englisch:] Die Kandidaten der Demokraten Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden und Bernie Sanders.

Hubertus Bardt ·
IW-Policy Paper Nr. 2 ·
13 February 2020

The US Democrats before the elections

The USA is at the beginning of an election year. The elections on November 3, 2020 will have a formative influence on the transatlantic relationship and on global cooperation structures in a wide range of topics.

Competencies of the EU, the German Federal Government and the Laender

Klaus-Heiner Röhl ·
IW-Policy Paper Nr. 1 ·
6 January 2020

Reduction of Bureaucracy and Better Regulation

This Policy Paper analyses the relevant institutions and administrative measures for curbing bureaucracy in the European Union, for the German federal administration and at German Laender level.