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.
Companies and Markets

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.
German Economic Institute (IW)

Why Do Companies Invest in Germany?
The growth of Germany’s capital stock is slowing, as current investment increasingly fails to keep pacewith steadily rising disposals. In particular, private investment – which accounts for well over fourfifths of total gross fixed capital formation – has been alarmingly low in recent years.
Hubertus Bardt / Michael Grömling / Thomas Schleiermacher / Susanne Seyda IW

Making transformation risks measurable
The decarbonization of German industry requires fundamental transformations of production processes.
Lukas Fußhöller / Malte Küper IW

The Role of the Private Sector in Germany's Overall Defence Strategy
The present study analyses the role of the private sector in Germany's national civil and military defence strategy in the light of the deteriorating security situation in Europe.
Hubertus Bardt / Simon Gerards Iglesias / Alexander Radunz / Klaus-Heiner Röhl IW

35 Years of Reunification: What Has Been Achieved in Eastern Germany and Where Are the Biggest Economic Issues?
Over the past 35 years, significant progress has been made in the economic reconstruction in the federal states in Eastern Germany.
Klaus-Heiner Röhl IW
Our Experts

Barbara Engels
Senior Economist for Sustainable Digitalisation and AI
Tel: +49 221 4981-703 Mail: engels
Prof. Dr. Michael Grömling
Head of Macroeconomic and the Business Cycle Research Group
Tel: +49 221 4981-776 Mail: groemling
Dr. Klaus-Heiner Röhl
Senior Economist for SME Policy and Regional Policy
Tel: +49 30 27877-103 Mail: roehl
Prof. Dr. Michael Voigtländer
Head of International Economic Policy, Financial and Real Estate Markets Research Unit
Tel: +49 221 4981-741 Mail: voigtlaenderAll news
Critical Choices: How Malaysia and Germany can Navigate Shifting Energy Geostrategy
Malaysia and Germany, as constructive and reliable participants in globally interdependent energy (as well as trade and financial) markets, face an increasingly hostile, volatile, and uncertain environment surrounding energy choices.
Fiscal Effects of Having Children
The fiscal effects of children are relevant to various areas of policymaking.
Expert Workshop on the Industrial Accelerator Act
The German Economic Institute (IW) and Frontier Economics are pleased to invite you to a rapporteur & stakeholder workshop on the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) in Brussels.
Universal entitlement, unequal provision: childcare in segregated German cities
One mechanism driving persistent inequalities in childcare provision, despite rising investments and a substantial expansion of childcare facilities, may consist in the locational choices of providers, who eschew poorer neighbourhoods.
A Comparison of Public Revenues Across the Federal States
To ensure equivalent living conditions, the federal government influences the revenues of the states and municipalities. Under the fiscal equalization system, financially weak states receive surpluses in the distribution of sales tax revenues, while financially strong states must accept shortfalls.
German Foreign Investment and the debate over Germany as a business location
Geopolitical pressure and the debate over Germany’s competitiveness make it necessary to develop a more precise understanding of German foreign direct investment. This report provides a comprehensive empirical analysis and also examines the implications for Germany as a business location.
The Honesty-Attitude-Behavior Gap: A Cross-Country Comparison
Honesty reduces transaction costs and is therefore a prerequisite for effective economic cooperation.
Online-Veranstaltungsreihe „Von Brüssel nach Berlin”: Regionalentwicklung und Industriepolitik
Wir laden Sie herzlich zu einer weiteren Online-Veranstaltung unserer Veranstaltungsreihe „Von Brüssel nach Berlin“ ein. Mit ihr wollen wir in loser Folge Themen aus der europäischen in die deutsche Hauptstadt tragen.
Complementary Capabilities for Circular Practices: Firm-Level Evidence in Germany on the Role of Digitalization and Innovation
The transition to a circular economy (CE) requires firms to reconfigure business models, processes and capabilities.
Making Apprenticeships a Success: From Marketing to Hiring
In-company vocational training is a key factor in securing skilled labour. The first step in investing in future employees is to approach and recruit new apprentices. For many companies, filling the apprenticeship positions they offer is a challenge.
Your search returned an incorrect status. You may have selected too many filters. You can jump back to your previous selection to adjust your search.
Subscribe to our newsletters to receive updates on the latest IW publications.
Sign up here to stay informed.



