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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.

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The Pros and Cons of Trade Union Membership
IW-Trends No. 1 12. March 2024

The Pros and Cons of Trade Union Membership

Helena Bach / Carolin Fulda / Sandra Vogel

The decline in collective bargaining coverage in Germany is often attributed to the reluctance of companies to join an employers' association which negotiates collective agreements.

IW

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The Regional Distribution of Graduates in Germany
IW-Trends No. 1 4. March 2024

The Regional Distribution of Graduates in Germany

Wido Geis-Thöne

Graduates in Germany are distributed very unevenly across the country. Taking the population aged between 35 and 44, who have generally already completed their higher education, in 2019 the highest proportions of university graduates were to be found in Berlin and the Munich regional planning area.

IW

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The Regional Distribution of Low-skilled Workers in Germany
IW-Trends No. 1 4. March 2024

The Regional Distribution of Low-skilled Workers in Germany

Wido Geis-Thöne

Low-skilled workers in Germany are heavily concentrated in urban areas. In 2019, the proportion of 25- to 64-year-olds who had not completed at least two years of vocational training or higher education was almost twice as high in cities with a population of over 100,000 (20.8 per cent) as in small municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants (10.7 per cent).

IW

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An Analysis of the Earnings of Employees Covered and Not Covered by Collective Agreements Based on the SOEP
IW-Trends No. 4 29. December 2023

Do Companies Bound by Collective Agreements Pay Better?

Helena Bach/Andrea Hammermann

When discussing the gradual erosion of collective bargaining coverage, reference is often made to the importance of collective agreements in securing high salaries for employees.

IW

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Expenditures and Revenues in Germany’s Statutory Health Insurance
IW-Trends No. 4 17. December 2023

Expenditures and Revenues in Germany’s Statutory Health Insurance

Jochen Pimpertz

Almost annually recurring deficits in Germany’s statutory health insurance system have led to a steady rise in the contribution rate, a percentage of earned income.

IW

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Economic and Structural Influences Drive a Trend Reversal
IW-Trends No. 4 5. December 2023

Corporate Insolvencies on the Increase

Klaus-Heiner Röhl / Gerit Vogt

After a prolonged decline, the number of corporate insolvencies has begun to rise again. The slight increase in 2022 could be interpreted as a step towards normalisation after the sharp drop experienced during the 2020/21 Covid19 pandemic.

IW

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Impacts and Options for Work Arrangements
IW-Trends No. 4 24. November 2023

Working with Long COVID: Impacts and Options for Work Arrangements

Mareike Decker / Carolin Fulda / Maisun Lange

A SARS-CoV-2 infection can have long-term health consequences, a phenomenon commonly known as Long COVID, which often affect individuals of working age.

IW

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An Empirical Study of Popular Aversion to Reforms
IW-Trends No. 4 13. November 2023

Changing Germany's Statutory Pension Insurance: An Empirical Study of Popular Aversion to Reforms

Matthias Diermeier / Ruth Maria Schüler

The demographic transition is putting the German statutory pension insurance system under enormous pressure to reform. Despite widespread concern, no reform of the adjustment mechanisms incorporated into the pension system meets with the approval of a majority of the population.

IW

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An International Comparison of Germany's Innovation Performance
IW-Trends No. 4 13. November 2023

The Transformation of the Automotive Industry: An International Comparison of Germany's Innovation Performance

Enno Kohlisch / Oliver Koppel / Thomas Puls

The automotive industry is undergoing a comprehensive technological transformation that is challenging established value chains. Making sure that domestic research helps to shape this ongoing transformation is therefore an important task for countries with a significant car industry.

IW

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Do the Employees Affected by Digitisation Change Establishments More Frequently or Do They Become Unemployed More Often?
IW-Trends No. 4 20. October 2023

Do the Employees Affected by Digitisation Change Establishments More Frequently or Do They Become Unemployed More Often?

Stefanie Seele / Oliver Stettes

Concerns that the increasing use of technology in routine occupations could lead to job losses seem to have so far proved unfounded.

IW

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