-
Press Release
Gert G. Wagner passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on January 28, 2024, at the age of 71. He led the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) for many years and later served as the Chairman of the Executive Board (President) of DIW Berlin.
“DIW Berlin owes a great deal to Gert G. Wagner. For over 30 years, he made irreplaceable contributions to the development ...
30.01.2024
-
Press Release
Second survey wave of around 7,000 Ukrainians on their life situations and progress in social participation
For the second time, Ukrainians who fled because of the Russian war of aggression were interviewed about their life in Germany. Key results are: At the beginning of 2023, almost half of the respondents intend to stay in Germany in the longer term. The number of people in employment has increased ...
12.07.2023
-
Press Release
Housing costs have risen sharply since 1996, especially for renters - Two thirds of older renting households spend over 30 percent of their income on rent compared with 38 percent in 1996 – People living alone in particular are affected by high housing costs
Housing costs are rising in Germany. This is becoming a more widespread problem for individuals aged 65 and older, as their incomes are ...
03.07.2019
-
Press Release
An increased willingness to take risks, reciprocating friendliness, and a conviction that they are in control of their own lives lead to refugees gaining a foothold in Germany faster.
Refugees who are more willing to take risks, who tend to reciprocate friendliness, and who are more strongly convinced than others are that they are in control of their lives integrate into society faster. This ...
21.05.2019
-
Press Release
The top 10% of income earners in Germany earn almost as much as the middle 40% – the top 1%’s share of national income has increased from eight to 13 percent since 1995.
The share of national income belonging to the top 1% of income earners has grown significantly in Germany since the mid-1990s, while the share earned by the bottom 50% has significantly decreased. These are the main findings ...
16.01.2018
-
Press Release
Gert G. Wagner, who served as a member of the German Institute for Economic Research's executive board from 2011 to 2017, will celebrate his 65th birthday on January 5. The economist and social scientist was the head of the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) research infrastructure at DIW Berlin from 1989 to 2011 and developed it into the largest and longest-running long-term study on social and economic ...
04.01.2018
-
Press Release
The introduction of the minimum wage in Germany led to significant increases in wages –– However, around seven percent of eligible workers earn less than minimum wage, with the marginally employed and employees at small businesses being particularly affected –– When one also takes into account workers who are not eligible for a minimum wage, such as freelancers, a total of around ...
06.12.2017
-
Press Release
On January 1, 2018, Liebig will become director of the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and a member of the institute’s Executive Board
Stefan Liebig, a professor of sociology at Bielefeld University, will succeed Gert G. Wagner as a member of the German Institute for Economic Research’s Executive Board on January 1, 2018. Having reached retirement age, Wagner (64) is relinquishing his position. ...
01.12.2017
-
Press Release
People across Germany are happier today than at any other point since German reunification
According to a new analysis of data from the nationally representative, long-term Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) study, people in both West and East Germany have been happier on average since 2015 than at any other point since German reunification (Figure 1). The substantial increase in life satisfaction from 1990 ...
22.03.2017
-
Press Release
A study by DIW Berlin shows that almost half the adult population of Germany believes helping EU countries in crisis is the right course of action—around 30 percent oppose it—cuts in welfare spending in the crisis countries are also criticized
Contrary to the image often presented, many people living in Germany support German aid for EU countries in financial crisis. In the second half ...
04.10.2016
-
Press Release
Social scientists and economists at DIW Berlin and Humboldt University Berlin researched the integration of refugees who arrived in Germany between 1990 and 2010 – survey data indicate difficult starting conditions with employment and language skills compared to other migrants, but refugees were able to catch up over time
How can we help refugees to successfully integrate into Germany society ...
07.09.2016
-
Press Release
The SOEP’s Barometer of Public Opinion on Refugees in Germany examines the population’s attitudes, expectations, and fears—most respondents supported the rights of refugees to remain in the country in accordance with EU law and the 1951 Refugee Convention—but the majority are in favor of refugees returning if the situation improves in their country of origin
The majority of ...
25.05.2016
-
Press Release
Please note: this is a corrected version of the original press release.
DIW Berlin study compares proportion of middle-class individuals over time in Germany and US - share declining in both countries - average income has dropped since 2000
The middle class in both the US and Germany is on the decline: according to a study conducted by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), the ...
06.05.2016
-
Press Release
Correction to the press release from May 6, 2016
Please note: The original version of Wochenbericht 18, which compares the decline of the middle class in Germany and with that of the United States, contained a calculation error that came about while adjusting standard German reference values to the basis used by the reference study for the US. We apologize for the oversight.
We have ...
06.05.2016
-
Press Release
DIW study: in several European countries prior to 2010, between 27 and 40 percent of households received inheritances or gifts – German tax policy regarding inheritances and gifts riddled with exceptions
High-income individuals are more likely to inherit wealth than are low-income individuals; they also receive significantly larger amounts. Those from privileged social backgrounds are also able ...
03.05.2016
-
Press Release
Discrepancies primarily in party affiliation and voter turnout –attitudes toward the welfare state are converging – support for the Left Party remains marginal in the West
Twenty-five years after reunification, East and West Germans continue to show clear differences in their political preferences. This is the result of an analysis carried out by the German Institute for Economic Research ...
09.09.2015
-
Press Release
DIW researchers investigated the development of assets while taking inflation into account – Germans’ investment behavior is one of the essential factors contributing to the decline in real assets – results contradict the national accounts
The net assets of private households in Germany experienced extremely weak development between 2003 and 2013: They increased by an average of ...
19.08.2015
-
Press Release
DIW Berlin’s researchers warn: employment does not necessarily prevent poverty—11.5 million people in Germany are at risk of poverty—one in five in eastern Germany is living below the poverty risk threshold
Real disposable household incomes in Germany rose by an average of five percent from 2000 to 2012. At the same time, according to a study by the German Institute for Economic ...
19.06.2015
-
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
-
Press Release
The German tax and transfer system ensures that the net incomes of its citizens are distributed much more evenly than market income. Much of this redistribution takes place through the social security system. However, the majority of government benefits do not go to financially needy households. Tax expert Stefan Bach summarizes the key findings of a recent study conducted by the German Institute for ...
18.02.2015