Companies are an important pillar of our economy because they create jobs, prosperity and growth. It is the task of politics to support companies in adapting to a changing environment - for example, to promote research and development.
About the topic
The structure of the German and international economy is constantly changing. Companies are challenged to adapt to new realities brought about by digitization, for example. But they are also driving innovation and thus actively shaping change. Politics can support companies in this task by setting the framework conditions favorably. This includes, for example, adjusting the rules for competition, reducing bureaucracy and always maintaining a balance between established companies, such as traditional SMEs, and startups that enrich Germany as a business location with new business models.
Jan Büchel / Hans-Peter Klös IW-Report No. 42 24. August 2022
Metaverse: Hype or "next big thing"?
Not only since the Facebook group renamed itself Meta in October 2021 has the topic of metaverse gained substantial importance. Experiences due to the corona pandemic have also spurred digital applications to a great extent.
Klaus-Heiner Röhl / Hubertus Bardt / Barbara Engels IW-Policy Paper No. 4 15. August 2022
A new era for the Defense Economy?
The Russian attack on Ukraine has brought the question of the German Armed Forces’ operational capability back into focus. National defence, which seemed to play only a minor role with the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the ...
Klaus-Heiner Röhl / Hubertus Bardt / Barbara Engels IW
Do Family Businesses Shape Political Voting Behaviour in Germany?
In recent years family businesses have become an object of research in their own right. Indeed, it has been shown that, far from developing less dynamically than other firms, as once assumed, family businesses actually outperform their peers.
Not only since the Facebook group renamed itself Meta in October 2021 has the topic of metaverse gained substantial importance. Experiences due to the corona pandemic have also spurred digital applications to a great extent.
Klaus-Heiner Röhl / Hubertus Bardt / Barbara Engels
The Russian attack on Ukraine has brought the question of the German Armed Forces’ operational capability back into focus. National defence, which seemed to play only a minor role with the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union in 1991, now has gained a high political priority again.
Klaus-Heiner Röhl / Hubertus Bardt / Barbara Engels IW
Do Family Businesses Shape Political Voting Behaviour in Germany?
Björn Kauder
In recent years family businesses have become an object of research in their own right. Indeed, it has been shown that, far from developing less dynamically than other firms, as once assumed, family businesses actually outperform their peers.
Pharmaceuticals in Transition: The Need for Skilled Labour in an Era of Digital Transformation
Jasmina Kirchhoff / Lydia Malin / Simon Schumacher
The shortage of skilled workers is increasingly confronting companies in Germany with major challenges. In view of the demographic and transformational tasks, there is a considerable danger that this situation will exacerbate.
Jasmina Kirchhoff / Lydia Malin / Simon Schumacher IW
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German Economic Institute (IW) 
