Team
The people behind the ifo Institute offer the very high level of expertise and experience needed to fulfill our research and service mandate.
ifo Business Climate Index for Eastern Germany Stops Falling (December 2020)
Sentiment among companies in eastern Germany improved a little in December, bringing to an end the downward trend that began in October. The ifo Business Climate Index for the entire regional economy rose from 92.1 to 92.4 points. While survey participants’ assessments of their current situation were decidedly better, their business expectations dimmed somewhat.
German Gas Price Brake Will Be Much Cheaper than Expected
Germany’s gas price brake will cost the country much less than expected. Last winter, the German government had earmarked EUR 40.3 billion for it in the Economic Stabilization Fund. According to the latest estimate by the ifo Institute, it will actually cost only EUR 13.1 billion – one-third of the original sum.
ifo Business Survey Trade (2014b)
10.7805/ebdc-ibs-tra-2014b
ifo Dresden: Municipalities and Federal States in Germany Employing More and More People
German states and municipalities are employing more and more people. Employment in the public sector in the federal states in Germany has risen since 2008 by 12.5 percent. In the municipalities, the number of jobs rose since 2006 by 20 percent, according to a study conducted by ifo Dresden to mark Public Service Day on June 23.
European Unemployment Re-Insurance Could Absorb up to 25 Percent of Income Losses in Recessions
A European unemployment re-insurance system could absorb an average of 15-25 percent of income losses caused by rising unemployment in deep recessions, but various arrangements would need to be made in order to avoid negative incentive effects, according to new research from EconPol Europe.
Job Ads the Most Important Means of Recruitment in Germany
External job advertising is the tool of choice for German companies when searching for new employees, with 84 percent using the traditional job ad. This is a finding of the most recent Personnel Manager Survey conducted by the ifo Institute in cooperation with Randstad. Employment agencies play a key role in the search for new hires at 44 percent of the respondents, as do recruitment agencies for one-third of respondents.
Chute de l'index ifo du climat des affaires
Le moral des dirigeants des entreprises allemandes continue de s'assombrir. L'indice ifo du climat des affaires est tombé en juin de 97,9 à 97,4 points. C'est le niveau le plus bas depuis novembre 2014. Les dirigeants se montrent de plus en plus pessimistes sur l'évolution des mois à venir, mais constatent une très légère amélioration de la situation actuelle. Le fléchissement de la conjoncture allemande se confirme.
ifo President Fuest Calls for Vaccinations to Speed Up and for Much More Coronavirus Testing in Germany
The ifo President Clemens Fuest has spoken out in favor of a faster pace of vaccination and a massive expansion of coronavirus testing in Germany. “Vaccine procurement and rollout are both too slow,” he said in Munich on Wednesday. The fact that 2.3 million vaccine doses are currently stuck in storage is very regrettable, he said, adding: “Everything that needs to be done to accelerate vaccinations must be done now. We need massive government support to expand the production of vaccines. Virtually any amount the government spends will be worth it because the cost of the lockdown is so high. What’s more, primary care physicians and occupational physicians should also be permitted to perform vaccinations in the future.”
ifo Business Survey Construction (2022b)
10.7805/ebdc-ibs-con-2022b
ifo Business Climate Index Rises Despite Ukraine Crisis (February 2022)
Sentiment in the German economy has improved appreciably. The ifo Business Climate Index rose to 98.9 points in February, up from 96.0 points (seasonally adjusted) in January. Companies were more satisfied with their current business. There was a marked improvement in expectations. The German economy is betting on an end to the coronavirus crisis. However, the escalation of the crisis engulfing Ukraine remains a risk factor.
Business Climate in Germany’s Chemical Industry Improves Slightly
In February, the business climate in the German chemical industry brightened a little. The indicator rose to -15.7 points, up from -16.1 points* in January, due to better assessments of the current business situation. Expectations, however, turned somewhat more pessimistic again. “The climate in the German chemical industry is still rough, but there have also been some surprising rays of hope,” says industry expert Anna Wolf of the ifo Institute.
ifo Investment Survey Industry (2017)
10.7805/ebdc-ivs-ind-2017
ifo Report on Basic Child Allowance in Germany: Significantly Less Poverty and High Costs
A basic child allowance as envisioned by the Green Party could reduce the risk of poverty for families with children and provide significant relief for low- and middle-income earners. The reform would cost EUR 27 to 33 billion, depending on its design, and parents would work less. This is the finding of an ifo report produced on behalf of the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group in the German Bundestag. The aim is to improve the situation for families and make it easier for people to receive benefits. A basic child allowance is currently being discussed in the coalition negotiations.
ifo President Fuest: German Budget Agreement a “Step in the Right Direction”
The ifo President Clemens Fuest has praised the German government’s agreement on the 2024 budget as a “step in the right direction.” “Nevertheless, some questions remain unanswered. We should all be glad that the traffic-light coalition hasn’t taken the easy route of declaring a budget emergency but has instead cut spending, especially subsidies, and also increased environmental taxes such as the carbon price somewhat more. This maintains the incentives for protecting the climate.” The government has opted for a different form of borrowing for the planned Deutsche Bahn investments. “However, the question remains as to whether the necessary level of investment can be made in the coming years.”
Allemagne: Prévisions à la baisse de l’Institut ifo en matière d’exportations
Le moral des entreprises exportatrices de l’Allemagne s’est encore assombri. L’indice ifo des exportations dans l’industrie s’est dégradé en juillet de -0,2 à -2,7 points. Les temps d’une conjoncture favorable aux exportateurs allemands sont révolus, un retour rapide à la croissance des exportations semble pour l’instant peu probable.
ifo Business Climate Index Falls Slightly (September 2023)
Sentiment in the German economy remains bleak. The ifo Business Climate Index fell to 85.7 points in September, down from 85.8 points (seasonally adjusted) in August. Once again, companies were less satisfied with their current business situation. However, their pessimism regarding the coming months dissipated slightly. The German economy is treading water.
ifo Institute: German Defense Companies Tend to Produce for Export rather than for the Bundeswehr
German defense companies primarily serve the export market. This emerges from a recent ifo Institute study examining the relationship between arms production, arms exports, and defense expenditure in various countries. “Supplying equipment to the Bundeswehr is more of a secondary activity for the defense industry in Germany,” explains economist Johannes Blum, the author of the study.
ifo Institute: Almost One-Quarter of Companies in Germany Need Liquidity Support
Many companies in Germany have taken liquidity support to help them through the coronavirus crisis. In May and in April, this was the case for 24 percent of companies, as shown by the ifo Institute’s Business Survey. Take-up was particularly high among companies in trade and the service sector, at 30 percent each; in manufacturing it was just 17 percent, while in construction it was a mere 5 percent. “The coronavirus crisis is hitting different industries in very different ways,” says ifo researcher Stefan Sauer.
Only low economic growth expected in the euro area
Economic growth in the euro area will be weak this year. After 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2019, it will only reach 0.3 percent in the following quarters. This is predicted by the three institutes ifo from Munich, KOF from Zurich and Istat from Rome.
Economists View the Economic Policy Situation in Europe as Worse
European economic experts view the economic policy situation on the continent as worse, finds the Economic Experts Survey (EES) – a global quarterly survey conducted by the ifo Institute and the Swiss Economic Policy Institute – which this time had 1,537 participants from 133 countries. “In Europe, the economic policy situation is rated worse than in the previous quarter,” says ifo researcher Niklas Potrafke. “According to experts, governments have failed, in particular, to adequately tackle the challenges of the future with their economic policy.”