German Economic Institute

The German Economic Institute (IW) is a private economic research institute in Germany, which is a advocate of a liberal economic and social order. We work to improve understanding of how business and society function and interact.

October 27, 2020

GTIPA Perspectives: Nations' Trade Policy Priorities for the Year Ahead

This report provides Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance (GTIPA) members' perspectives on their nations' three most-significant trade priorities for the year ahead. This document aims to deliver a succinct snapshot of what to expect in the coming year regarding trade policy priorities for these countries.

October 27, 2020

GTIPA Perspectives: The Importance of E-commerce, Digital Trade, and Maintaining the WTO E-commerce Customs Duty Moratorium

This report shows Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance members' perspectives on e-commerce and digital trade in light of negotiations on new rules World Trade Organization (WTO) member nations are deliberating regarding the moratorium on cross-border electronic transmissions customs duties (i.e., duties on digital products). This volume aims to demonstrate how GTIPA member countries - including Argentina, Colombia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, and the United States - benefit from and support e-commerce and digital trade, and how keeping tariffs off the Internet drives domestic and transnational growth, fosters global integration, sparks innovation, narrows the digital divide, and creates employment opportunities.

October 13, 2020

Open data and data sharing

Data is an important business resource. It forms the basis for various digital technologies such as artificial intelligence or smart services. However, access to data is unequally distributed in the market. Hence, some business ideas fail due to a lack of data sources.

September 22, 2020

Cooperation of Start-ups and SMEs in Germany

The cooperation between established SMEs and innovative start-ups offers considerable opportunities for the respective companies and the German economy. New business models can be adopted, and innovative products can be jointly developed.

September 18, 2020

For a More Robust Approach Towards China in European Trade and Investment Policy

China’s overall concessions in the CAI have so far fallen short of the EU's expectations. Apparently, Beijing will not move sufficiently on the issue of competitive distortions without more negotiation pressure.

September 15, 2020

Potential For Professional Recognition In The Immigration Of Skilled Workers

Germany as a business location relies on international qualified professionals in the long term. Since March 2020, the Skilled Immigration Act has also made it possible for professionally qualified people from third countries to immigrate to Germany for the purpose of work. A requirement for this is that the foreign vocational qualification has been recognized in Germany.

September 10, 2020

Steps towards a new balance and fair competition

For the European Union, China is both an important trading partner and, with its very different political system and industrial policy, a new competitor. From a European perspective, the main cause for concern is how China’s state capitalism has created distortions in the economic competition which are increasingly affecting world markets.

September 8, 2020

Industrial policy in Germany

Although the manufacturing industry forms the principal economic basis for the country’s prosperity and employment, the industrial policy does not have a good reputation in Germany. This is because the term is usually used to mean selective state intervention in individual markets and sectors, or on behalf of individual companies, rather than the creation of a general regulatory framework in which industry can flourish.

August 21, 2020

Does the corona crisis lead to a banking crisis?

The economic policy debate on the Covid-19 pandemic has so far focused on the real economy. There the lockdown had been direct and shocking; the stationary retail was largely cut off, hotels and restaurants were closed, national and international supply chains were disrupted, and some areas of the economy - such as the automotive industry - had temporarily completely shut down production. Banks and other financial intermediaries - e.g.

August 18, 2020

Professional Qualification and Digitization

The current economic difficulties for numerous companies are likely to further intensify the structural trend of digitization. Especially in times of crisis, companies will decide on their use of the technical possibilities.

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