Research Projects

Big Data in Macroeconomic Analysis: Texts as data source for the economic analysis - Potentials and possible applications

The aim of this project is to use innovative approaches and heterogeneous data sources to advance research on forecasting economic development, predicting turning points and determining economic cycles. The first work package provides a comprehensive overview in the field of automated text analysis, the use of media data in the economic forecast and the methods of forecast evaluation, as well as...

Biochar in Agriculture – Perspectives for Germany and Malaysia

Within this interdisciplinary research project, the environmental and economic potential of biochar use in agriculture is analysed. Conducting field and pot experiments in Brandenburg (Germany) and Selangor (Malaysia), DIW's project partners investigate the environmental and yield effects of biochar. Based on these results, the research at DIW focuses on the greenhouse-gas-mitigation potential of...

Bonn Intervention Panel (BIP)

The Bonn Intervention Panel (BIP) investigates the development of personality and preferences of children starting at the primary school age until age 25 and beyond. Main focus of our study is the impact of early childhood environment. In particular, we experimentally vary the childhood environment in our sample by giving a randomly chosen subgroup of the sample the opportunity to take part in a...

Carbon Control Post 2020 in Energy Intensive Industries

The objective of this research is to provide objective, evidence-based analysis and explanation of the past and current effectiveness of the EU ETS for Energy Intensive Industries (EII). In doing so, we identify potential areas of improvement for the EU ETS and complementing policy instruments. The insights gained enable us to evaluate possible options to improve efficacy of policy to foster...

Carbon emission mitigation by Consumption-based Accounting and Policy (CARBON CAP)

Traditional climate policy targets primarily production-side measures. This project complements this focus by analyzing both conventional and innovative demand-side policies. The project makes an effort to quantify the mitigation potential of these measures under various scenarios, assess the political feasibility as well as their impacts from a macroeconomic perspective. It derives...

Carbon Pricing for Low Carbon Investment

The project reviewed the impact of EU ETS on investment decisions based on two large-scale surveys among stakeholder, quantitative analysis of EUETS, assessments of legal and accounting practices, quantitative analysis of the EU ETS framework and several stakeholder workshops. The project shows that to drive low-carbon investment, policy frameworks must capture companies' attention, provide...

CATRIN (Cost Allocation of Transport Infrastructure Cost)

CATRIN is a research project to support the european transport policy, specifically to assist in the implementation of transport pricing. CATRIN will increase the probability that new progressive pricing principles can be implemented which facilitate a move towards sustainable transport. CATRIN is both intermodal and interdisciplinary, emphasize the need of new member states, understands that...

Climate change and fruit vegetation in Germany (KliO)

The vulnerability of economic sectors to climate change depends on both the expected regional climate change and the sectors' ability to adapt. In Germany, 80 % of the total area of land is used by the agriculture and forestry sectors and they belong to the most climate- sensitive branches. Climate change will have a significant impact on this sector. In comparison to crop production, where...

Climate dividends and public support for carbon pricing

With the increasing urgency to address climate change, understanding public sentiment is crucial for designing effective and socially acceptable environmental policies. Despite the existence of effective tools for the green transition, a significant obstacle for policymakers lies in the lack of public support, hindering their ability to utilize these tools effectively. One tool that has been...

CoalExit

In the framework of its research focus on the future of coal, DIW Berlin is a cooperation partner of the research group "CoalExit" at Europa-Universität Flensburg (previously at TU Berlin). "CoalExit" is a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research group which brings together scholars from Europa-Universität Flensburg, TU Berlin, HU Berlin, and DIW Berlin. Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert and...

Collection of key qualitative and quantitative information on the European Commission's merger decisions

The main purpose of the project is to put together a comprehensive database including qualitative and quantitative information from past merger cases, which would enable DG Competition to produce statistical reports which could serve as an input to DG Competition's decision making practice in relation to EU merger control, both for operational and for policy purposes.

Comparing Augmented Wealth in the US and Germany

Influential economists argue that the recent rise in inequality in many societies is the most important problem we are facing today (OECD 2011, Ostry et al. 2014, Stiglitz 2012, Acemoglu and Robinsion 2012). This is for economic, societal, as well as political reasons. High inequality may harm the economy because credit rationing prevents the poor from investing in education and weakens...

Comparing German States Regarding the Promotion of Renewable Energy and Best Practices – Indicators and Ranking

This project aims at developing an indicator system for a ranking of German States with regard to Renewable Energy. Input and output indicators representing the use of Renewable Energy as well as technological progress and structural change have to be quantified and aggregated to composite indicators.

Comprehensive, Whole-of-Government Strategies on Coal Transition in Major Coal Using Countries

In the project Coal Transitions leading research institutes in six major coal-using countries evaluate current policies and develop economicallyfeasible and socially just pathways to transition from thermal coal before 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement. Next to the Climate Policy department and the department of Energy, Transportation and Environment of the DIW Berlin (Germany), these are...

Convergence in European Climate Policy and Governance - Lessons from Germany and Poland

The project is conducted under the banner of the 2013 Dahrendorf Symposium, Working Group 2 "Governance and Policy Aspects of Climate Change".In the uncertain post-Kyoto climate policy arrangement, the role of the EU as a driving force of climate change mitigation efforts seems to be gaining importance. But the common EU climate and energy policy, even though defined on a European level, is driven...

COST WATCH - Changing behaviour towards a more sustainable transport system

The COST/WATCH action is a Network of Excellency project with the aim to reverse the process of growing transport demand by changing travellers, shippers and carriers behaviour. The DIW is part of Working Group 1"Freight Transport and Energy Consumption", Working Group 2 "Panel Data Analysis" and Working Group 3 "Overview of national Transport Surveys"In cooperation with INRETSINRETS and further...

Creating expectations

If the present behavior of forward-looking economic agents is driven by their expectations about the future, can governments influence the economy by creating expectations? We study this question in the context of one of the most consequential macroeconomic success stories of the 20th century that has, to date, defied the explanations advanced within the literature: the recovery of the German...

Cross-border Mergers versus Branching: The Role of Information Sharing in Banking

Cross-national Research on the Intergenerational Transmission of Advantage

Using representative microdata from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), we work on three research projects that cover the whole process of the intergenerational transmission of resources and abilities across the life course, focusing on a variety of outcome measures.Project 1: Intergenerational transmission of parental resources and social status (Olaf Groh-Samberg, Henning Lohmann,...

Decarbonisation of energy

Determining a robust mix of energy carriers for a carbon-neutral EU Decarbonising the European energy system requires a fundamental transformation in the way societies provide, transport and consume energy. Disagreement exists over how this system should look in 2050. In this project, we prepared an overview report on the decarbonisation options for coal, natural gas, and hydrogen in Europe. The...