1. Home
  2. Topics
  3. Growth and Business Cycle
Content element with id 18 Content element with id 9138

Growth and Business Cycle

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.

German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

Read the article
Der ehemalige Präsident Trump hält eine Wahlkampfveranstaltung in Greensboro, North Carolina
Thomas Obst / Jürgen Matthes / Samina Sultan IW-Report No. 14 4. March 2024

What if Trump is re-elected?

A possible re-election of Donald Trump as US president in November 2024 could entail a significant upheaval for the world trading order, if he fulfills his announcements to raise tariffs, mainly in order to reduce the US trade deficit.

IW

Read the article
Luftaufnahme der Innenstadt von Jakarta, der Hauptstadt Indonesiens.
Samina Sultan / Gero Kunath / Henrik Förster/ Jürgen Matthes IW-Report No. 9 15. February 2024

Indonesia: A new Indo-Pacific partner?

Indonesia will elect a new president on 14 February. After ten successful years in office, Joko Widodo is not allowed to run for office again. He has ushered in an era of reform in the country.

IW

Read the article
Jürgen Matthes in The European Money and Finance Forum External Publication 18. January 2024

Competition from China in the EU market for Germany’s manufacturing sector

China has continuously gained market shares in the EU import market since 2000. At the same time, Germany’s share in EU imports has declined since 2005. This divergence is particularly relevant for sophisticated manufacturing products in which Germany is ...

IW

Read the article
Die Altstadt von Jerusalem
Galina Kolev-Schaefer / Thomas Obst / Thomas Puls IW-Report No. 1 2. January 2024

Effects of the Middle East conflict on the German economy

Beyond the humanitarian crisis associated with the geopolitical conflict in Israel, which affects millions of human lives, the Middle East conflict also leaves lasting marks on economic activity not only in the affected region, but also in Germany and the ...

IW

Our Experts

View profile
Michael Grömling

Prof. Dr. Michael Grömling

Head of Macroeconomic and the Business Cycle Research Unit

Tel: +49 221 4981-776
View profile
Leiter des Clusters Internationale Wirtschaftspolitik, Finanz- und Immobilienmärkte

Jürgen Matthes

Head of International Economic Policy, Financial and Real Estate Markets Research Unit

Tel: +49 221 4981-754 Jürgen Matthes
View profile
Klaus-Heiner Röhl

Dr. Klaus-Heiner Röhl

Senior Economist for SME Policy and Regional Policy

Tel: +49 30 27877-103 Klaus-Heiner Röhl
Content element with id 8793 Content element with id 9139

All news

385 results
Sort by:
Read study
Institutional consequences of EU Enlargement
IW-Report No. 15 12. March 2024

Institutional consequences of EU Enlargement

Berthold Busch / Julian Sommer / Samina Sultan

At the latest since the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and the decision to open accession talks with the country, the topic of enlargement has once again become much more important for the European Union (EU).

IW

Read study
What if Trump is  re-elected?
IW-Report No. 14 4. March 2024

What if Trump is re-elected?

Thomas Obst / Jürgen Matthes / Samina Sultan

A possible re-election of Donald Trump as US president in November 2024 could entail a significant upheaval for the world trading order, if he fulfills his announcements to raise tariffs, mainly in order to reduce the US trade deficit.

IW

Read study
A new Indo-Pacific partner?
IW-Report No. 9 15. February 2024

Indonesia: A new Indo-Pacific partner?

Samina Sultan / Gero Kunath / Henrik Förster/ Jürgen Matthes

Indonesia will elect a new president on 14 February. After ten successful years in office, Joko Widodo is not allowed to run for office again. He has ushered in an era of reform in the country.

IW

Read study
Data-based results on the effects of the German Supply Chain Act
IW-Report No. 8 8. February 2024

Due Diligence - Effect of Supply Chain regulation: Data-based results on the effects of the German Supply Chain Act

Galina Kolev-Schaefer / Adriana Neligan

After the agreement of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU in December 2023, a few formal steps remain to introduce the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

IW

Read study
External Publication
Competition from China in the EU market for Germany’s manufacturing sector
External Publication 18. January 2024

Competition from China in the EU market for Germany’s manufacturing sector

Jürgen Matthes in The European Money and Finance Forum

China has continuously gained market shares in the EU import market since 2000. At the same time, Germany’s share in EU imports has declined since 2005. This divergence is particularly relevant for sophisticated manufacturing products in which Germany is specialized.

IW

Content element with id 8880 Content element with id 9713