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Press Release
One out of every three workers would prefer to work from home, but only one out of every eight actually does – Germany’s proportion of home workers lags behind that of other European countries – home workers are more satisfied with their jobs – reconciling career and family is not the primary motive
In Germany, only twelve percent of all employees work primarily or even partially ...
29.02.2016
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Interview
Mr. Brenke, you’ve been conducting research on working from home in Germany. DIW Berlin produced a similar study two years ago. What distinguishes the recent study from the previous one?
The main difference is that we now have data on how many people would actually be able to work from home, given their employment conditions. We didn’t have this information last time. Of course, someone ...
29.02.2016
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Report
by Elke Holst and Anja Kirsch
In 2015, the share of women in the top decision-making bodies of the financial sector increased once again but men remain in the overwhelming majority and thus continue to call the shots. At the end of 2015, women made up just under eight percent of executive board members of the 100 largest banks in Germany. The corresponding figure for the 59 largest insurance companies ...
21.01.2016
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Press Release
Researchers analyzed more than 500 companies – some are setting a good example, while others are lagging behind – vast majority of companies have yet to meet the 30-percent quota for women on supervisory boards
A balanced representation of women and men in Germany’s corporate leadership roles is still a long way off: At the end of 2015, the proportion of women on the executive boards ...
20.01.2016
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Interview
Dr. Holst, for ten years now, DIW Berlin has been studying the representation of women on corporate boards in the financial sector and the best-performing companies in Germany. To date, it has only been possible to very gradually achieve a slight increase in the low share of women. Did that change at all in 2015?
Progress is being made but only in small steps. There is still a long and difficult ...
20.01.2016
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Press Release
DIW economists simulate various scenarios based on different assumptions – in every projected scenario, investment pays off in the longer term – successful integration will increase per capita income of Germany’s current population
The recent influx of refugees has created enormous challenges for politicians and society at large - but according to a simulation conducted by economists ...
12.11.2015
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Press Release
Persistent lack of investment among municipalities – social expenditures diminishing financial leeway – structurally weak regions threatening to fall further behind – DIW experts recommend temporarily making use of solidarity contributions to relieve municipalities of social expenditures
Investment in public infrastructure is critical for ensuring competitiveness and creating growth ...
22.10.2015
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Press Release
Binding quota could combat gender stereotypes – quality of talent pool expected to improve overall – no discrimination against men anticipated
On January 1, 2016, a fixed 30-percent gender quota for supervisory boards will come into force in Germany. This is binding for all listed companies that also have employee representation on their supervisory boards (full codetermination). In the ...
01.10.2015
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Interview
Dr. Schmitt, as of 2016, there will be a gender quota in Germany. What will this consist of?
The legislation envisages a fixed gender quota for listed companies that also have employee representation on their supervisory boards, in other words, are subject to full codetermination. These companies must meet a 30 percent gender quota on their supervisory boards. However, there are also some companies ...
01.10.2015
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Press Release
DIW study examines distribution of refugees among the member states according to population and economic power – integration of refugees into the labor market a major challengeThe European Union is currently experiencing its largest influx of asylum seekers, yet the distribution of these refugees across the member states is highly uneven. While the majority of countries take in fewer asylum seekers ...
25.09.2015
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Interview
Mr. Brenke, a large number of asylum seekers are currently making their way into Europe. Is this affecting Germany more than it is affecting other countries in Europe?
Yes, this is quite clearly the case: According to current figures, half of this summer’s asylum seekers are headed to Germany. Assuming a uniform distribution across the EU, Germany receives three times as many asylum seekers ...
24.09.2015
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Report
2014 brought many exciting economic and sociopolitical questions to the forefront of DIW Berlin’s research: How can we respond to the challenges currently facing Europe and the euro? How do we evaluate the effects of German reunification, 25 years after the wall came down? And how can we ensure equal opportunities for men and women? To learn more about these issues, as well DIW Berlin’s ...
15.09.2015
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Report
Economies and societies are currently undergoing a transformation process which is changing the face of Germany and Europe. Society, the research community, and policy-makers are all confronted with the developments of globalization, digitization, the changing roles of labor and capital, the energy transition and environmental protection, as well as social participation in economic processes.
Against ...
18.08.2015
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Press Release
Only one in eight people complain about their job – temporary workers and job-seekers in part-time employment are least satisfied – satisfaction strongly depends on personal characteristics and feelings.
The mood of the German labor market continues to be positive, so it is not at all surprising that the attitude of the German workforce is, too. A new study by DIW Berlin reveals that the ...
06.08.2015
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Interview
Mr. Brenke, you have studied job satisfaction in Germany. Which criteria do you use when making your assessments?
Job satisfaction is a difficult concept: There is no clear-cut definition, and there are also different ways of measuring it. Of course, you can inquire about individual aspects of the job — for example, the office atmosphere, satisfaction with working hours, compensation, ...
05.08.2015
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Press Release
German monetary union on July 1, 1990 was politically necessary despite painful economic consequences – Greece, similar to the GDR back in the 1980s, in urgent need of reform – the crisis of European monetary union potentially boosts integration
Precisely 25 years ago, on July 1, 1990, German monetary union came into force. On the same day, capital controls in Europe were abolished, creating ...
02.07.2015
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Interview
Professor Fratzscher, German monetary union came into force 25 years ago on July 1, 1990. On the same day, capital controls in Europe were removed, laying the foundations for a European monetary union and the euro. What lessons can Europe learn from the German monetary union?In 1990, there was considerable criticism because German monetary union was implemented so rapidly. In hindsight, I think that ...
01.07.2015
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Report
Remarks by Jason Furman, President Obama’s Chief EconomistFoto: DIW Berlin
On Monday, April 20, DIW Berlin and its president, Marcel Fratzscher, proudly hosted Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and President Obama’s Chief Economist, to discuss trade and free-trade agreements in a talk attended by about one hundred participants. The talk focused on both old and ...
21.04.2015
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Interview
The Interview with Prof. Dr. Kerstin Bernoth and Dr. Philipp König is published in DIW Economic Bulletin 13/2015. It is available for Download as pdf document.
More issues of DIW Economic Bulletin
25.03.2015
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Press Release
Although it has decreased slightly, the pay gap between women and men remains at a high level: In 2013, the gross salary of women employed full-time in leadership positions in the private sector was roughly 22 percent, or one-fifth, of the gross salary of men in such positions. In 2012, the so-called Gender Pay Gap stood at 24 percent; in 2002, it stood at 26 percent. These calculations are based on ...
20.03.2015