A prospering economy raises the standard of living of the population, creates jobs and fills the state coffers, from which tasks such as education, environmental protection and social security are financed.
About the topic
Over the past 60 years, the social market economy has enabled the citizens of the Federal Republic to increase their nominal income fivefold on average. Even though prosperity has grown considerably over the long term, economic setbacks have had to be endured time and again, because economic growth does not proceed uniformly, but in waves. The yardsticks for economic development include consumption, public and private investment and gross domestic product. A positive economic trend with high growth rates and increasing employment is followed by a downturn with low growth and fewer people in work.
The Institute of the German Economy monitors the current economic situation in Germany and economic developments in other countries using various instruments and regularly publishes economic forecasts. In this way, the IW helps to improve the basis for decision-making in politics and business.
Jürgen Matthes / Samina Sultan IW-Kurzbericht No. 91 6. December 2023
Reforming the WTO’s subsidy rules
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.
Jürgen Matthes / Michael Grömling / Markus Demary / Björn Kauder / Berthold Busch / Gero Kunath / Thomas Obst External Publication 25. October 2023
Why Price Stability Matters
As of March 2023, overall infation is declining in Europe. However, core infation levels continue to remain well above the 2% mandate of the European Central Bank (ECB). In fact, the current bout of infation should continue to weaken as and when supply-chain ...
Jürgen Matthes / Michael Grömling / Markus Demary / Björn Kauder / Berthold Busch / Gero Kunath / Thomas Obst IW
Michael Grömling / Michelle Koenen / Gero Kunath / Thomas Obst / Sandra Parthie in Intereconomics External Publication 17. October 2023
Deindustrialisation – A European Assessment
The war in Ukraine has exacerbated pre-existing production problems in manufacturing networks originating from the coronavirus pandemic. Material shortages are compounded by uncertainties about sufficient energy supplies.
Michael Grömling / Michelle Koenen / Gero Kunath / Thomas Obst / Sandra Parthie in Intereconomics IW
Thomas Obst / Samina Sultan IW-Report No. 51 13. October 2023
Poland before the election – Economic model in transition
On 15 October 2023, the Polish people will elect a new government. The outcome of this election and the further economic development of the country is also relevant for Europe and in particular for the immediate neighbouring countries, such as Germany.
Runder Tisch:
„Unternehmen in der Bürokratiefalle?”
Der Bürokratieabbau ist zurück auf der politischen Agenda. In ihrer "State of the European Union"-Rede, erklärte ihn Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen jüngst zur Chefsache. Entlastungen für den Mittelstand waren bereits Thema ihrer Rede im letzten Jahr. Sogar von Moratorien war in der politischen Diskussion zwischenzeitlich die Rede. Passiert ist seither wenig.
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.
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.
Compendium 5.4:
CO2 Regulation of Road Transport in Europe
Thomas Puls
With the Compendium CO2 Regulation in Europe, the IW has been providing the interested public with a comprehensive collection of data on the development of CO2 emissions from passenger car traffic in the European Union, as well as on the applicable regulatory framework, since 2015.
The harmonization of corporate taxation at an international level has been on the political agenda for many years. Both the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission have presented reform projects in this regard, which are now awaiting political implementation.
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German Economic Institute (IW) 
