Team
The people behind the ifo Institute offer the very high level of expertise and experience needed to fulfill our research and service mandate.
Parenthood Increases Inequality Between Women And Men In Germany
Inequality in the labor market between men and women in Germany is at its greatest when there are children involved, finds an international research group. Among 30-year-olds, mothers earn on average 70 to 80% less than fathers, whereas the difference is less than 5% for childless people of the same age.
ifo Business Climate Index Rises (April 2024)
Sentiment has improved at companies in Germany. The ifo Business Climate Index rose to 89.4 points in April, up from 87.9 points1 in March. This is its third consecutive rise. Companies were more satisfied with their current business. Their expectations also brightened. The economy is stabilizing, especially thanks to service providers.
ifo Business Climate Eastern Germany Rises Further
The barometer of business sentiment for the regional economy in eastern Germany climbed to 92.8 points in May, up from 92.2 points in April. The eastern German companies surveyed provided assessments of their business situation that were somewhat better than the previous month, and they raised their business expectations slightly.
Half Of Germany’s Residential Construction Companies Are Short On Orders
Residential construction in Germany is experiencing an order shortage. More than half the companies, 55.2%, in this industry reported a lack of orders in April. In March, the figure was 56.2%. “Housebuilders are looking for signs of hope,” notes Klaus Wohlrabe, “but there’s no end to the crisis in sight.”
Uncertainty Dampens The Mood Of The Self-Employed In Germany
Uncertainty among the self-employed in Germany has increased in March. Thus, the business climate for this segment has deteriorated with the index falling to -15.6 points, down from -14.6 points in February. “Contrary to the situation in the other sectors of the economy, the self-employed are experiencing increasing doubt,” explains Katrin Demmelhuber.
Work Visa Agreements Between EU And Third Countries Could Reduce Asylum Applications
The ifo Institute proposes work visa agreements between the EU and safe third countries as a way to reduce the number of asylum applications and irregular immigration. “This would enable legal and controlled immigration,” notes ifo expert Panu Poutvaara.
Germany Only In The Middle Of The Pack
Germany’s current attractiveness as a location for homegrown companies ranks only in the middle among its European peers. When asked to rate Germany’s attractiveness as a business location, the experts there awarded it 61.3 points out of a possible 100. Austria achieved 72.4 points, while Switzerland scored 72.6 points.
German Export Expectations Fall
Sentiment in the German export industry has clouded over a little. The ifo Export Expectations fell to -2.0 points in April, down from -1.2 in March. “The export economy lacks momentum at present. While the global economy offers many good prospects for growth, these aren’t yet being reflected in additional orders”, explains ifo-expert Klaus Wohlrabe.
ifo Price Expectations Rise Slightly
The ifo price expectations rose a little to 16.2 points in May, up from 15.2 points in April. In manufacturing and wholesale in particular, slightly more companies plan to raise their prices than in the previous month. In consumer-related industries, by contrast, price expectations declined.
ifo Economic Forecast Spring 2024: German Economy Paralyzed
The ifo Institute has reduced its growth forecast for the current year to 0.2%, down from 0.7% in January and 0.9% in December. But for next year, it raised its growth estimate by 0.2 percentage points to 1.5%.
Educational Opportunities Differ Markedly Between Germany’s Federal States
The educational opportunities of children and young people in Germany differ significantly between the federal states. An unfavorable family background has the least negative impact on children in Berlin, 53.8%, and Brandenburg, 52.8%. Nationwide, the figure is 44.6%. At the lower end are Saxony with 40.1 and Bavaria with 38.1%.
Innovation in Germany and the EU - A Path of Strength?
Are we still innovative or have other countries long since left us behind? How do Germany and the EU compare internationally and what is needed for a successful innovation policy? Get to know more about these topics in the new issue of the ifo Schnelldienst 4/2024.
Polling Place Reassignments Reduce Voter Turnout
Assigning voters to new polling place led to a drop in voter turnout of 0.4 percentage points, finds the ifo Institute in a new analysis of elections in Munich. The decline in voter turnout is driven by inattentive citizens who noticed the reassignment too late to switch to mail-in voting.
Sentiment In The German Automotive Industry Improves
The business climate in Germany’s automotive industry brightened again in April, rising to -1.5 points, up from -5.3 in March. “Companies in Germany’s automotive industry rate their current business situation as slightly better, but more importantly, their outlook once again turned much less pessimistic than in March,” explains ifo-expert Anita Wölfl.
German Manufacturing Sees Threat To Its Competitiveness
The competitiveness of German manufacturing within the EU and on global markets has been deteriorating for two years. Companies have reported falling behind in terms of competitiveness within the EU since the third quarter of 2022. The situation is similar on the global markets (outside the EU).
Economists Call For Reform Of EU Research Policy
A report by a group of economists from France, Germany and Italy criticizes the EU’s innovation policy and the direction of spending on research and development in Europe and calls for changes. "The continent is caught in a mid-tech trap", warn ifo President Clemens Fuest.
ifo Business Climate Index Falls (December 2023)
Sentiment in German business has clouded over. The ifo Business Climate Index fell to 86.4 points in December, down from 87.2 points (seasonally adjusted) in November. Companies were less satisfied with their current business. They were also more skeptical about the first half of 2024. As the year draws to a close, the German economy remains weak.
Celebrate with us!
The jubilee year of ifo and CESifo is titled "75 Years of ifo – 75 Stories." Visit us now at celebrate.ifo.de, the anniversary website showcasing people, places, and times that are significant to the history of our institute in the context of our anniversary year. Explore the first batch of multimedia content now and celebrate with us!
ifo Business Climate Index rises (March 2024)
Sentiment in German companies has improved noticeably. The ifo Business Climate Index rose to 87.8 points in March, up from 85.7 points in February. In particular, companies’ expectations turned much less pessimistic. Assessments of the current business situation also improved. The German economy glimpses light on the horizon.
Business Climate in Germany’s Chemical Industry Improved
The business climate in Germany’s chemical industry improved in April, finds the latest ifo survey. The index rose to -6.0 points, up from -10.1 in March. “The chemical industry is somewhat more confident about the coming months,” notes ifo-expert Anna Wolf.