The focus of the research area is the monitoring and forecasting of economic development in Saxony and in the new federal states as a whole. The basis for the economic forecasts is the national accounts of countries that have a variety of official and non-official statistics. In addition, the results of a regional evaluation of the Ifo Business Survey are involved. The forecast is oriented on the GDP; the forecast models are constantly being refined and optimized.
In this research area the observation and analysis of the competitiveness of eastern German industry is the focus. The Ifo Institute annually reports about activities in innovations of German industry. The data of the Ifo Innovation Survey will be differentiated for western and eastern Germany and Saxony. In addition, the researchers are studying the determinants of structural changes in the new federal states. Furthermore, they will analyse the management of system change and developments in employment. In addition, the objective for initiating improvements in firms’ investments in eastern locations will be identified. The research will take into account global scenarios, the consumption of resources and technological competition, but also Saxony-specific scenarios, such as demographic change. The results will include policy recommendations.
The focus of the research area is the labour market and social policy in Saxony and the new federal states as a whole. Particular attention is given to the problem of unemployment and the effectiveness of labour market policy measures. In particular, the research will examine the institutional framework of the labour market and social policies with the aim of identifying action that can be taken. It is important to know that eastern Germany is particularly affected by the problems of an aging society. The results of the theoretical and empirical analysis will be policy recommendations. Comparisons between the structures of eastern Germany and western Germany/ other European countries will help to assess the situation in Saxony and the new federal states.
The integration of eastern Germany into the international division of labour is the focus of this research area. Due to geographic proximity importance is assigned to the relationships with the countries of Eastern and Central Europe. This proximity has led to economic and political interdependence both with regard to the free movement of workers and with regard to various external effects. Another aspect of the research is demographic change. The old EU member countries are aware of the demographic challenges they face. However, population projections of the United Nations and the national statistical office estimate that the new EU member states will be even more challenged by demographic trends. Therefore, the research will examine these impacts and the consequences of emigration and immigration for the (eastern) German labour market.
This area deals with the economic and financial policies of the public finances in the new federal states. The focus of analysis is on specific eastern German problems, such as demographic change and the convergence process with western Germany. The specific economic structures in the new federal states are converging with those in the west. At the same time, with the changes in population structure, new challenges for the design of fiscal policies are emerging. The declining subsidies from the federal government and the European Union (Solidarity Pact II, as well as EU structural funds) are limiting the scope of the public authorities. Consequently the demands on efficiently administered support increase. The research aims at making new discoveries and providing economic-policy recommendations.
These areas are supplement by the provision of various service functions, such as:
About Ifo Branch Dresden (Tasks, Publications, Co-operation Agreements)
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