Research-based expert opinions commissioned by our clientshttps://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/© 2010-2026 Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW)Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW) RSS Generatoren-ENFri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0200Innovation and competitiveness drive productivity, economic growth, and welfare growth. https://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/studies/axel-pluennecke-transatlantic-subnational-innovation-competitiveness-index-30.html?utm_source=rssFri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0200More and more companies in Europe are using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. In 2025, one in five companies in the EU with 10 employees or more used at least one major AI technology, up from 8% in 2023 (Eurostat, 2026a).https://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/studies/jan-buechel-ai-skills-demand-in-the-eu.html?utm_source=rssTue, 08 Sep 2026 15:05:00 +0200The EU Minimum Wage Directive recommends that EU Member States achieve a collective bargaining coverage of 80 per cent to ensure adequate minimum wages. https://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/studies/hagen-lesch-lennart-eckle-sandra-vogel-european-minimum-wage-directive-and-strengthening-collective-bargaining-coverage.html?utm_source=rssTue, 25 Aug 2026 09:16:00 +0200The EU aims to be competitive in the field of AI in comparison to the US and China as its main global competitors. https://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/studies/jan-buechel-in-brief-4-ai-competitiveness-structural-challenges-of-the-eu.html?utm_source=rssTue, 21 Apr 2026 11:54:00 +0200With the Compendium CO2 Regulation in Europe, the IW has been providing the interested public with a comprehensive collection of data on the development of CO2 emissions from passenger car traffic in the European Union, as well as on the applicable regulatory framework, since 2015.https://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/studies/thomas-puls-co2-regulation-of-road-transport-in-europe.html?utm_source=rssMon, 23 Feb 2026 15:12:47 +0100The climate protection targets of the EU and Germany require profound transformation across all economic sectors – including aviation, which is considered difficult to decarbonise. https://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/studies/malte-kueper-thilo-schaefer-cornelius-baehr-henry-goecke-marco-trenz-a-comparative-assessment-from-the-perspective-of-european-aviation.html?utm_source=rssTue, 23 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0200The topic of care hardly played a role in the German election campaign. Yet there is an urgent need for reform. This is because demographic change is already having an impact in the new legislative period. https://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/studies/jochen-pimpertz-ruth-maria-schueler-the-german-care-industry-caught-between-rising-care-requirements-and-increasing-labour-shortages.html?utm_source=rssFri, 04 Apr 2025 08:00:00 +0200The Digitalisation Index 2024 shows that the German economy has become around 14 percent more digital in the last five years. However, despite this progress, key challenges remain: The East has not been able to escape its role as the digitalisation bottom performer in the past five years. https://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/studies/barbara-engels-jan-buechel-marc-scheufen-digitalisation-of-the-economy-in-germany.html?utm_source=rssThu, 16 Jan 2025 12:20:00 +0100As a result of demographic trends, around a quarter of all employees in the mechanical engineering sector are expected to retire in the next ten years. This corresponds to more than 296,000 people. https://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/studies/andrea-hammermann-jochen-pimpertz-oliver-stettes-employment-shortly-before-and-after-retirement.html?utm_source=rssMon, 11 Nov 2024 08:09:00 +0100Electronic devices are essential in daily life, but their widespread use has led to environmental challenges. Circular business models—such as second-hand sales and rental services —are key to mitigating these effects by extending the useful life of a product or intensifying the usage. https://preview.iwkoeln.de/en/studies/adriana-neligan-lennart-bolwin-market-report-of-circular-business-models-in-the-electronics-market-in-germany.html?utm_source=rssTue, 08 Oct 2024 08:00:00 +0200