January 24, 2012:
Georgetown University and IZA sign collaboration contract
 | On January 24, 2012, Francis Vella, Professor, Chair of the Economics Department & Villani Chair in Economics, and Gerald Mara, Dean of the Graduate School & Associate Provost, Research, of Georgetown University, signed a collaboration contract with IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann on the premises of Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Vella is also a long-term Research Fellow of IZA and Co-Director of the newly founded Georgetown Center for Economics Research (GCER) together with Professor Roger Lagunoff, who was also present at the ceremony. |
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The memorandum of understanding documents the intense collaborations between both institutions over the last years in a series of activities and outlines how they have decided to continue and extend this collaboration into a number of new areas. An important purpose is to strengthen the exchange of faculty and graduate students and to foster participation in workshops and conferences. The partners will engage in research and teaching issues and colloborate on themes of policy relevance using the Georgetown Center for Economic Research (GCER) .
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January 18, 2012:
Zimmermann joins LIEPP in Paris
IZA-Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has been selected as a Member of the Strategic Advisory Board of LIEPP (Laboratoire interdisciplinaire d’évaluation des politiques publiques), Sciences Po Paris. The committee assembles distinguished national and international experts in economics, politics and sociology including next to Zimmermann Dani Rodrik of Harvard University, Tito Boeri of Bocconi University, Nobel Prize Laureate 2010 Christopher Pissarides of the London School of Economics (LSE) as well as Craig Calhoun, the next director of the LSE.
LIEPP has recently been selected as an “excellence center” (Laboratoire d’excellence) by an international scientific committee gathered by the French Research Agency (ANR). As such, it will receive 10 million euros of funding by the French government over the next ten years. LIEPP aims to be independent, non-partisan, international and multidisciplinary in order to achieve thorough and comprehensive knowledge of our environment and its institutional, social, political, legal and economic mechanisms. The institute is co-directed by Prof. Cornelia Woll and Prof. Etienne Wasmer (both Sciences Po Paris).
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January 03, 2012:
Retirement Age 67: Under Debate again in Germany
IZA - Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has supported the transition to a later retirement age of 67 in Germany which starts in 2012. In an interview with the German newspaper "Bild-Zeitung" he said: "Even a retirment age of 70 is acceptable in the medium term and will get realized all over Europe."
Zimmermann supports a retirment age at 70 since 2005 in the public to avoid benfit cuts or higher contribution rates which are otherwise unavoidable. In an interview with the German daily "Lübecker Nachrichten", Zimmermann had called for a longer working life. This proposal, which had entered the public debate under the catch phrase "Retirement at 70", had triggered a heated debate at that time. The following documents (available in German only) contain some of the arguments made with regard to this controversial topic.
- Letter to the editor in Tagesspiegel online (August 21, 2005)
- Article in Süddeutsche Zeitung (August 18, 2005)
- Interview in Bonner General-Anzeiger (August 13, 2005)
- Interview in Lübecker Nachrichten [PDF] (August 10, 2005)
In recent years the EU commission and the Bundesbank have followed the position of Zimmermann for Europe and Germany respectively. The Grant Coalition had introduced the retirment age at 67 after the Federal elections in Fall 2005. |
December 31, 2011:
IZA-Director: Full employment is possible
The news agency dapd declares on the basis of an interview with Zimmermann (in German):
IZA-Direktor hält Vollbeschäftigung in Deutschland für möglich
"Bisher ist der Arbeitsmarkt auf die demografischen Veränderungen nur schlecht vorbereitet"
Bonn (dapd). Der Direktor des Instituts zur Zukunft der Arbeit (IZA) in Bonn, Klaus Zimmermann, sieht Deutschland auf dem Weg zur "Vollbeschäftigung". Zimmermann sagte der Nachrichtenagentur dapd, die Zahl der Arbeitslosen könne ab 2015 "angesichts der jetzt massiv einsetzenden demografischen Entlastungen unter die Zwei-Millionen-Grenze rutschen". Aufgrund der Altersentwicklung werde zum Beispiel im Jahr 2012 das Arbeitskräfteangebot um rund eine Viertel Million Menschen abnehmen.
Zimmermann betonte, dieser Prozess werde "sich in den kommenden Jahren weiter forcieren". Insofern könne Deutschland "in der zweiten Hälfte dieses Jahrzehnts Vollbeschäftigung erreichen, also eine Arbeitslosenquote bei vier Prozent". Der IZA-Direktor fügte hinzu: "Ich gebe aber zu, dieses Ziel ist ehrgeizig und setzt voraus, dass Politik und Tarifparteien daran aktiv arbeiten."
Die dringlichste politische Aufgabe der kommenden Jahre sei es, "den deutschen Arbeitsmarkt demografiefest zu machen". Zimmermann kritisierte: "Bisher ist der deutsche Arbeitsmarkt auf die dramatischen demografischen Veränderungen nur schlecht vorbereitet. Ein Gesamtkonzept fehlt."
Notwendig seien unter anderem mehr Anreize, Ältere länger in Beschäftigung zu halten. Zimmermann fügte hinzu: "Wenn es gelingt, unter den 55- bis 65-Jährigen bis zum Jahre 2025 eine Beschäftigungsquote von wenigstens 70 Prozent zu erreichen, können so mehr als eine Million zusätzliche Arbeitskräfte gewonnen werden."
Ebenso sollten "die Anreize für jene verbessert werden, die auch über die Regelaltersgrenze hinaus flexibel länger arbeiten wollen". Das Festhalten an starren Rentenaltersgrenzen sei "im Blick auf die demografischen Veränderungen nicht mehr zeitgemäß".
Im neuen Jahr erwartet Zimmermann trotz der Unsicherheiten durch die Euro-Krise einen weiteren Rückgang der Arbeitslosenzahlen. Er halte im Jahresdurchschnitt ein Absinken der offiziell gemeldeten Zahl der Arbeitslosen auf 2,7 Millionen für möglich.
The message is referenced in dapd (in German). This was reported in Frankfurter Rundschau, Bonner Generalanzeiger, Berliner
Zeitung, Kölnische Rundschau, Frankurter Neue Presse, Münchner Merkur, Saarbrücker Zeitung, Magdeburger Volksstimme, Wirtschaftswoche, Die Welt Online, Nassauische Neue Presse and Hamburger Abendblatt. It has been the lead article on p. 1 of the January 2, 2012 issue of the Bonner Generalanzeiger. |
December 06, 2011:
World Bank and IZA sign collaboration contract
On December 2, 2011, Arup Banerji, Director for Social Protection and Labor within the World Bank's Human Development Network, signed a collaboration contract with IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann on the premises of the World Bank in Washington, DC. The memorandum of understanding documents how both institutions have been collaborating intensively over the last years in a series of activities and have decided to continue and extend this collaboration into a number of new areas.
Important knowledge gaps and weak capacity have limited the identification and implementation of effective labor market policy reforms in developing and transition countries. Against this background, the World Bank and IZA had launched a joint research area on Employment and Development in 2006. At the heart of this partnership is the development of operationally-oriented research and policy advice on labor market issues. The World Bank and IZA share a common mission in promoting rigorous research and evidence-based policy analysis to support countries with the design and implementation of labor policies to create and provide access to jobs.
Therefore, the core of the collaboration in the near future will be the joint development of the World Bank Jobs Knowledge Platform and the IZA World of Labor project. At the same time, IZA and the World Bank will continue its many successful joint conferences and workshops and its research activities dealing with the pressing issues of developing, emerging and transition countries. The next joint IZA/World Bank "Employment and Development" conference is scheduled to take place in Delhi, India, in November 2012. IZA research teams also support the forthcoming World Development Report on Jobs. |
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December 05, 2011:
Zimmermann supports German initiative to attract skilled workers from Southern Europe
IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann supports the initiative by Germany's Economics Minister Philipp Rösler to recruit high-skilled workers from southern European countries that are facing high rates of unemployment. "Both Europe and Germany could benefit from this plan," Zimmermann told the German business daily Handelsblatt. Since the introduction of the euro took away the instrument of exchange rate flexibility, it was clear that labor mobility would be needed as a channel of adjustment for regional disparities. "The eurozone states not only failed to meet the deficit targets, they also failed to stimulate mobility between the national labor markets," said Zimmermann. He had already argued previously that Germany neglected a great opportunity by closing its borders to labor migration from eastern European countries during the first years after EU enlargement.
Zimmermann added: "Traditionally, mobility remains low in Europe. It should not take government intervention to get jobless skilled workers from southern Europe to come to Germany at least temporarily. The common market and existing ethnic networks should do the trick. But the reluctance even among high-skilled workers to move within the EU shows that much remains to be done in terms of European integration."
Read the article in Handelsblatt Online (in German). |
November 28, 2011:
Study finds no 'welfare migration' within EU
According to a comprehensive study of 19 European countries over a period from 1993 to 2008, national differences in unemployment benefits have no impact on migration flows within the European Union. Contrary to widespread prejudice, benefit generosity overall does not influence the individual decision to migrate. For non-EU immigrants only a small, statistically insignificant effect was found. "It is a popular myth that scores of immigrants come to take advantage of the welfare state," said IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann. "While such cases exist, they are rather due to ill-designed immigration policies than to generous public benefits."
Read the complete study: IZA DP No. 6075
media coverage
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November 04, 2011:
2011 G20 Summit in Cannes: IZA researchers propose global debt brake
In time for the G20 summit in Cannes on November 3-4, IZA experts put forward a proposal for a global consolidation strategy of public finances. In the IZA Policy Paper entitled "A challenge for the G20: Globally stipulated debt brakes and transnational independent fiscal supervisory councils," Mathias Dolls, Andreas Peichl and Klaus F. Zimmermann recommend that political leaders of the G20 countries implement a global debt brake to push the process of consolidation of public finances and make it binding. The debt brakes should be fixed in national constitutions and enforced by transnational independent fiscal supervisory councils. The researchers point out that the debt brake is an important instrument for a long-lasting solution of the sovereign debt crisis.
A number of international media in the G20 countries have published op-eds on the topic by IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann [view coverage].
See also:
- IZA Press Release (Oct. 31, 2011)
- IZA Policy Paper No. 33 (full text of the study) |
October 26, 2011:
Zimmermann: German labor market ill-prepared for demographic challenge
According to IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann, the federal government's "Demography Report" shows that the German labor market is ill-prepared to meet the demographic challenges of the next decades. He proposed five policy priorities:
1. More incentives to retain older workers
2. Better coordination of labor market and education policies
3. Expansion and improvement of childcare capacities
4. Demand-oriented immigration policy based on points system
5. Better re-integration of the long-term unemployed
Read more (in German):
- IZA press release (Oct. 26, 2011)
- Demography Report of the Federal Government |
October 14, 2011:
Protests against financial markets
In the German media, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann analyzed the international protests against the banking industry. He suggests taking these movement seriously and reminds the G20 to finally put into practice the reforms and regulations agreed since 2008. He said (in German):
"Die Proteste zeigen, dass das Unbehagen über Auswüchse auf den Finanzmärkten inzwischen die Mitte der Gesellschaft erreicht hat. Die Politik muss dies ernst nehmen, auch wenn ich die Fundamentalkritik an unserem Wirtschafts- und Finanzsystem nicht zu teilen vermag. Aber die Proteste sind ein dringender Aufruf zum Handeln. Im November 2008 haben die G 20 - Staaten feierlich erklärt, 'alle Finanzmärkte, Finanzprodukte und Finanzmarktteilnehmer einer Regulierung oder angemessenen Überwachung' zu unterwerfen. Doch dies blieb bis heute überall auf der Welt Stückwerk. Ich hatte seinerzeit wiederholt eine Rekapitalisierung der Banken notfalls durch zeitweise staatliche Beteiligung gefordert. Auch diese Forderung verhallte ungehört. Ich gehöre nicht zu denen, die 'die Märkte' oder 'die Finanzwirtschaft' pauschal für alle Probleme der globalen Ökonomie verantwortlich machen. Aber wenn die Politik versagt, verbindliche Regeln zu setzen oder nötige Rahmenbedingungen zu schaffen, dann darf es niemand wundern, wenn der Ruf nach einer 'Bändigung des Raubtierkapitalismus' wieder aufkommt und schriller und populistischer wird. Und das Vertrauen in 'die Märkte' sinkt. Es ist deshalb dringend wünschenswert, dass der G 20- Gipfel Anfang November noch einmal einen ernsthaften Anlauf nimmt, das auf den Weg zu bringen, was 2008 versprochen wurde."
His position is summarized in the Handelsblatt online article (August 14, 2011 - in German).
Read more:
D. Schäfer; K. F. Zimmermann: Finanzmärkte nach dem Flächenbrand (Financial Markets: the Aftermath of the Crisis). Gabler Verlag. Wiesbaden 2010, and (same authors): Bad bank(s) and the Recapitalisation of the Banking Sector, Intereconomics, 4, July/August 2009, 215-225. |
October 10, 2011:
Nowcasting the business cycle: IZA presents the Toll Index
In a recent paper forthcoming in the Journal of Forecasting, Nikos Askitas, Head of IZA's International Data Service Center (IDSC), and IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann have introduced the Toll Index as an early indicator for the German business cycle. It is based on German highway MAUT system data, where traffic data on the road transportation of goods are recorded. Owing to the system's innovative technology, the data have some very attractive properties such as a short publication lags and insignificant revisions. The Toll Index has been discussed in the Financial Times and in Tim Harford's blog. It is also featured in an upcoming edition of Marketplace Europe on CNN International.
Regular updates of the toll index data are available from the IDSC homepage and will be published on a monthly basis in Wirtschaftswoche, Germany’s leading business weekly.
Read more:
- IZA DP No. 5522: "Nowcasting Business Cycles Using Toll Data"
- IZA PP No. 31: "The Toll Index: Innovation-based Economic Telemetry"
- Article in Wirtschaftswoche (Oct. 10, 2011): "New Economics: Maut als Maßstab" |
October 03, 2011:
Zimmermann advises Chinese government
IZA-Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has been selected as a Member of the Advisory Committee of the China Institute of Income Distribution Studies at Beijing Normal University. The Committee assembles distinguished national and international experts in the field of income distribution and poverty studies. Professor Zhao Renwei, Honorary Fellow of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is Chairman of the Committee. The Institute concentrates on studying labor market issues in China and provides policy recommendations to the Chinese government. The institute is directed by Prof. Song Xiao Wu and Prof. Li Shi(both Beijing Normal University). |
September 23, 2011:
Zimmermann supports proposal for a European finance ministry
The proposal by former ECB chief economist Jürgen Stark (view FAZ article) to establish an independent institution to monitor the Euro countries' fiscal policies as a step towards a European finance ministry are in line with the recommendations made by IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann in mid-August (view his FTD op-ed).
[read more in German] |
September 12, 2011:
IZA advises European Commission on migration policies towards EaP countries
With IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann as the consortium leader, IZA joins forces with CASE Warsaw, Central European University and London School of Economics to advise the European Commission on the costs and benefits of, and the available policy options for, labor mobility between the EU and the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine). The study aims to provide both the EU Commission and the EaP countries with an expert analysis of the current patterns of labor migration, their relationships with labor market characteristics as well as the potential for increased flows between the EaP countries and the EU. The study will aim to propose a series of specific and detailed recommendations that could improve (i) the labor migration management of the EU and of its Member States when seeking human capital complementarities with EaP Partner Countries, (ii) the overall EU economic strategy towards EaP countries, as well as (iii) the labor and labor migration policies of EaP countries. The project (Costs and Benefits of Labour Mobility between the EU and the Eastern Partnership Partner Countries - EuropeAid/130215/C/SER/Multi) started in September 2011 and is to be completed by February 2013. |
August 08, 2011:
Zimmermann:
According to IZA Director Zimmermann, the U.S. and Europe must implement major structural policy changes to avoid sending their financial markets into turmoil again.
Read his Handelsblatt online op-ed (August 8, 2011 - in German). |
July 30, 2011:
US Debt Deadlock
IZA Director and Professor of Economics of Bonn University Klaus F. Zimmermann is a regular observer of the US economic policy. He comments on the American fiscal policy and the dept crisis and states (in German):
"Aus der Sachlage heraus ist eine Abstufung der Bonität der Vereinigten Staaten unvermeidlich. Das hatte ich im Übrigen bereits im vergangenen Jahr prognostiziert. Denn die Voraussetzungen für eine langfristige Sanierung des amerikanischen Haushaltes sind nicht erkennbar. Die Aufschub versprechende Formalie einer Erhöhung der Verschuldungsgrenzen löst das Problem überhaupt nicht. Letztlich werden die Rating-Agenturen die Top-Bonität der USA auch nach einem solchen Schritt in Zweifel ziehen, wenn diese nachhaltigen fiskalischen Verbesserungen nicht in Sicht sind.
Natürlich ist der Schaden für die USA durch die gegenseitige Blockade im Haushaltsstreit schon jetzt sehr groß. Jede weitere Verunsicherung der Märkte bedroht überdies die Rolle des US-Dollars als globale Leitwährung. Sollten jetzt die Rating-Agenturen die Top-Bonität der USA tatsächlich aus formalen Gründen abstufen, würde dies die schwächelnde amerikanische Konjunktur und die insgesamt labile weltwirtschaftliche Lage wegen der höheren Verschuldungskosten und dem geschwächten US-Dollar in ernsthafte Turbulenzen bringen. Wegen der schlechten Alternativen, die europäische Lage ist ja auch nach der letzten Einigung nicht entspannt, könnten die sensiblen Finanzmärkte wieder einmal irrational agieren.
Natürlich folgt das gegenwärtige Schuldendrama in Washington simplen Mechanismen des politischen Machtkampfs. Die Präsidentschaftswahlen im kommenden Jahr werfen ihre breiten Schatten. Aber ohne solche Dramen gibt es in der Politik auch keine starken Veränderungen. Entscheidend ist doch hier, ob die gefundenen Lösungen strategisch oder doch nur taktisch sind. Eine simple Erhöhung der Schuldengrenze wäre doch nur das Signal, dass man die Lage nicht ernst nimmt und kein Lösungskonzept hat. Insofern ist der bis zur letzten Minute zelebrierte Schuldenstreit, solange es um nachhaltige Einsparungen geht, schon einmal ein gutes Zeichen. Die Einigung auf erste Schritte einer Fiskalpolitik, die die Erfordernisse von Haushaltssanierung und Wachstum der Volkswirtschaft im Auge hat, ist Pflicht.
Daraus können wir nur lernen, dass der nächste Gipfel der G 8 nur ein zentrales Thema haben darf: Wie bekommen die Industriestaaten das Problem der staatlichen Überschuldung nachhaltig in den Griff. Hierzu brauchen wir langfristig verlässliche Verabredungen. Es ist fünf vor 12. Bekanntlich hatten die USA schon beim Gipfel in Deauville Ende Mai einen klaren und glaubwürdigen Rahmen zur mittelfristigen Haushaltskonsolidierung versprochen. Das jetzige Drama ist doch nur die Folge davon, dass dieses Versprechen nicht eingehalten wurde.
An diesem Thema müssen aber alle Länder arbeiten - die Euro-Zone läßt grüßen. Andernfalls droht das Schuldenproblem zur größten weltwirtschaftlichen Belastung des 21. Jahrhunderts zu werden.
Insofern sind die Vorgänge in den USA auch eine Warnung: Die laxe Politik des "Deficit Spending" über automatische Stabilisatoren hinaus muss für immer vorbei sein."
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July 29, 2011:
Zimmermann: Germany must become more attractive for high-skilled migrants
In May 2011, Germany opened its borders to labor migrants from the EU accession countries in Eastern Europe. IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann had warned in various interviews and commentaries [view press coverage] that this step was taken too late to attract high-skilled migrants. Three months after freedom of movement was granted, the figures published by the Federal Employment Agency support this view. Only 24,000 additional workers have been registered, many of them legalized immigrants who were already in the country. "As expected, few people from Eastern Europe have chosen to come to Germany. This is mainly because Germany failed to sent the right signals all along that immigrants are welcome and much needed in the German labor market," said Zimmermann. [read more in German] |
July 18, 2011:
High-skilled recruitment of labor in Europe
In view of skilled labor shortages in Germany, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) plans to recruit qualified workers in those European Union member countries that face excess supply due to the economic crisis. This initiative is highly controversial.
IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann supports this new strategy, arguing that it is in line with the idea of the common market and would help to provide the flexible labor market that Europe needs. The German "Handelsblatt" and top news agency dpa reported about Zimmermann's views. [read more in German] Other media on this: "finanzen100" |
May 18, 2011:
Zimmermann joins other top economists in call on G8 leaders to support Tunisia
In view of the G8 summit in Deauville (France) on May 26-27, a group of renowned international economists have called on the G8 members to provide substantial economic support for Tunisia in order not to jeopardize the democratic transition in the entire region. The list of signatories includes Elyès Jouini, (Université Paris-Dauphine), Richard Portes (London Business School and CEPR), Nouriel Roubini (New York University), Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz (Columbia University) and IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann.
Failure of the Tunisian democratic transition due to a deteriorating economy "would be a victory for all dictatorships in the region. At the international level, this would lead to an export of extremism and a continued flow of refugees out of the region." The economists propose an action plan including immediate food and energy subsidies as well as long-term investment in infrastructure and the financial system [read full text of the call] .
The call was published in major newspapers around the world, including New York Times/International Herald Tribune (USA), Le Monde (France), Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland), Der Standard (Austria), La Repubblica (Italy), and Financial Times Deutschland (Germany). |
May 01, 2011:
EU Enlargement - No Mass Emigration from Eastern Europe
The accession period of EU-Enlargement ends on May 1, 2011. In a series of lectures, press-interviews and op-eds,
IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has suggested that there will be no mass-emigration from Eastern Europe. To the contrary, he points at various research that suggests that free mobility from the beginning would have been more beneficial for the European labor markets, in particular the German one.
For a report of a German news agency see "dapd". For an intensive overview of the positions of Zimmermann and IZA in various national and international media see:"IZA EU-Enlargement". |
April 25, 2011:
Climate Policy is a Priority
IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has questioned a disorganized energy and nuclear policy. Climate policy needs to remain the priority. For more information (in German):"zeitong.de" The complete interview of IZA's director with the news agency dapd: "dapd" |
February 21, 2011:
The 'Economist' reports on IZA study about trends in economic research
In a recent story about the growing clout of the European economics profession, the Economist cites an IZA Discussion Paper by Ana Rute Cardoso, Paulo Guimaraes and Klaus F. Zimmermann. According to the IZA study, economists with a primary affiliation to North American institutions (mostly in the United States) accounted for 66% of published economic research in 1991; Europeans produced just 24%. By 2006, 40% of all articles were by European-affiliated economists, while the North American share had fallen to 45%. This finding is attributed in part to the Bologna process, which European leaders initiated in 1999 to promote uniform academic standards and to encourage English-language teaching and publication.
Read more:
- Economist arcticle ("The economics profession: New world order")
- IZA DP No. 4785 ("Trends in Economic Research: An International Perspective") |
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February 21, 2011:
Zimmermann at Bundestag hearing: Expert opinion on skilled labor shortage
On February 21, 2011, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann was invited by the German Bundestag, on the initiative of the Green Party, to deliver an expert opinion on skilled labor shortage. In a written statement, Zimmermann calls on German policymakers to establish a points system to encourage and regulate the immigration of high-skilled workers.
[Complete statement in German] |
February 14, 2011:
Zimmermann appointed to EALE Executive Committee
IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann and Research Director Marco Caliendo have been appointed as co-opted members of the Executive Committee of the European Association of Labour Economists (EALE) for a period of three years, starting September 2011. They will play a key role in the organization of the EALE 2012 annual conference, which will be hosted by IZA in Bonn. "We are convinced that IZA is able to offer all the local organizational support to make the conference a great success," said EALE Secretary Thomas Dohmen (ROA, Maastricht University).
[About EALE] |
October 28, 2010:
Zimmermann speaks in Boston, Bratislava and Budapest
On the invitation of the Center for German and European Studies at Brandeis University and co-sponsored by the Rosenberg Institute of Global Finance and the International Studies Program, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann visited Brandeis University (Boston, USA) on October 20, 2010. He discussed the topic "German Austerity vs. US Stimulus" in a public debate with Catherine L. Mann, Rosenberg Professor of Global Finance, Director of the Rosenberg Institute and Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, DC (see picture on the right).
On October 21 and 22, 2010, Zimmermann spoke at events in Bratislava and Budapest on "Ethnic Diversity in the European Labor Markets", drawing on the findings of a recent IZA project for the European Commission. In Bratislava he provided a keynote lecture to an international conference co-organized by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and IZA. The talk in Budapest was part of a lecture series at the Central European University. During his visit to Slovakia, Zimmermann also met with representatives of the Slovak government to provide advice for economic reforms, and spoke to various national newspapers and TV channels. |
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September 30, 2010:
Zimmermann elected as member of Academia Europaea
In September 2010, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann was elected to become a member of the Academia Europaea (The Academy of Europe). The Academy's members are scientists and scholars who collectively aim to promote learning, education and research. Founded in 1988, the non-governmental association now has over 2000 members, among them 38 Nobel laureates and other leading experts from the physical sciences and technology, biological sciences and medicine, mathematics, the letters and humanities, social and cognitive sciences, economics, and the law. Zimmermann is the first German economist since 1991 to be invited into the Academy's economics section.
[more about the Academia Europaea] |
September 24, 2010:
Farewell to Werner A. Müller (Springer-Verlag) - Reception at IZA
On the occasion of the retirement of Werner A. Müller, Executive Vice President Business/Economics & Statistics at Springer, IZA held a reception on September 24, 2010. Müller has collaborated with IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann and IZA in 16 book projects and helped to establish the Journal of Population Economics, which was founded by Zimmermann in collaboration with Springer and the European Society for Population Economics (ESPE). Now in its twenty-fourth volume, the Journal of Population Economics has steadily moved up the ranks to be widely recognized as the leading journal in the field, which is also reflected in the increasing number of submissions and published papers at the Journal. Müller has played an invaluable role in these developments.
Werner Müller joined Springer in July 1981. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1988 and became the Executive Vice President for Business/Economics and Statistics in September 2007. "Werner Müller has been a friend and reliable publisher to me for nearly 30 years. We are grateful for this productive relationship and wish him all the best for the future," said Zimmermann. |
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September 07, 2010:
Zimmermann calls for new direction in German family policy
In light of the fact that both fertility rates and female labor force participation remain disproportionately low in Germany, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has called on policymakers to create a more favorable environment for combining family and work. Among the most important aspects is the expansion of childcare facilities, which could be financed by abolishing the tax splitting option for married couples. More than 25 years ago, Zimmermann had already analyzed this issue in a book on family economics and a policy-related article in the Wirtschaftsdienst journal. As founding editor of the Journal of Population Economics, he has since then stimulated further research in this field. Decision makers in politics, society and business must now "get their act together in time before demographic change starts to irrevocably dictate the agenda from 2015 on," said Zimmermann.
Against this background, it is a positive sign that the Verein für Socialpolitik (German Economic Association) has made "Economics of the Family" the theme of their 2010 annual meeting. An IZA information booth at the meeting provided a selection of publications on the topic.
Read also:
- op-ed by Klaus F. Zimmermann in IZA Compact (p. 16): "Fertility and Female Work"
- more information in German |
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July 26, 2010:
IZA Director calls for fundamental changes in German immigration policy
In view of the skilled labor shortage in Germany, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has urged policymakers to ease the current restrictions on labor immigration. An export nation like Germany "cannot survive in the globalized world" without opening its labor market to qualified foreign workers, said Zimmermann in an interview with the news agency "ddp". At the same time he proposed the establishment of a "Federal Ministry for Immigration and Integration" to ensure a consistent policy with regard to all economic, social and educational aspects surrounding this issue.
Read the complete interview (in German). |
November 05, 2009:
Financial Times op-ed by Klaus F. Zimmermann on the economic situation in east Germany
Twenty years after the Berlin Wall came down, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann analyzes the economic development of east Germany in an op-ed piece for the Financial Times: "The most interesting – and overlooked – insight of east Germany's transformation is that its difficulty in catching up with the west ultimately proves to be not so much a reflection of its communist past than of its rural, low-density population structure. Simply put, economic value increases with population density. The more companies swap ideas and the closer they co-operate, the better it is for productivity – and incomes. [...] This analysis suggests the real distinction is not so much between 'east' and 'west' as between low-density and high-density regions, no matter where they are in Germany."
In order to move forward, east Germany must develop a more sharply defined regional comparative advantage, argued Zimmermann. The American South could serve as an example of an under-achieving region that has recently experienced boom times and has become a destination of choice for foreign companies: "If it can happen there, it can happen in the former East Germany, too."
Read the complete article: "Why east Germany is slow to change" (Financial Times, November 5, 2009) |
August 17, 2009:
Zimmermann criticizes "cash for clunkers" program in Der Spiegel feature
In a recent issue of "Der Spiegel" magazine, IZA Direktor Klaus F. Zimmermann comments extensively on the economic effects of the Abwrackprämie (simimlar to the U.S. "cash for clunkers" program), the future of the automotive industry, and the consequences of the global economic crisis.
Countering the arguments by Max Otte (University of Worms), who was in favor of the program, Zimmermann said: "The global automotive industry has had an overcapacity problem for years now. But the current debate on rescue programs ignores the question of the industry's long-term sustainability. It is all about the promise to keep as many jobs as possible, courtesy of the German tax-payer. What is worse, the program slows down the reduction of overcapacity and the development of new products. [...] Some may label it 'eco premium', but there is really nothing environmentally friendly about this program." |
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June 25, 2009:
Zimmermann pioneers Googlemetrics model for unemployment forecasting
In times of crisis, there is a particularly strong demand for early and reliable forecasts of economic and labor market trends. For lack of up-to-date primary data, and due to rapid structural changes, traditional forecasting techniques have reached their limits in terms of providing a complete description of reality. Substantial legislative interventions, such as Germany's expansion of short-time work, create additional problems for the established forecasting models.
A recent study by IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann and Nikos Askitas (Head of the IDSC of IZA) presents an innovative approach to short-term forecasts of unemployment using data on Google search words, which allows them to predict unemployment trends as early as one month before the official figures are released by the Federal Employment Agency. As the first practical applications of the model show, the predictions are remarkably accurate: The trend reversal of the past months was predicted fairly well. According to the model, unemployment figures in Germany will continue to drop in June.
"Although the internet is a vast source of instantly accessible data, which responds quickly to changes in economic and political conditions, it has been widely neglected by science. Using these data for unemployment forecasts is a promising approach, given that more than 86 percent of all job-seekers leave some kind of trace on the internet as they search for jobs online. Of course, our forecasting technique based on Google data cannot replace traditional models that analyze causal relationships. But it provides fast and reliable information that can serve as an early warning system for policymakers," said Zimmermann.
Read the complete text of the study (in German):
IZA Standpunkte Nr. 13: "Prognosen aus dem Internet: Weitere Erholung am Arbeitsmarkt erwartet"
The scientific foundations of this article were laid in a paper by the same authors published in Applied Economics Quarterly:
IZA Discussion Paper No. 4201: "Google Econometrics and Unemployment Forecasting" (contains a link to the published version) |
June 24, 2009:
Five years of EU enlargement: Zimmermann criticizes Germany's closed-door policy
According to recent studies compiled by IZA, Germany is among the losers of EU eastern enlargement. A forthcoming book on the labor market effects of the new east-west migration analyzes the consequences for the old EU members as well as the accession countries. In sum, the positive effects clearly dominate. Western countries that have allowed free mobility at an early stage, such as Sweden, Ireland and the United Kingdom, have benefited the most. Since the beginning of 2009, Germany has tried to catch up in the competition for qualified workers by enacting the "Arbeitsmigrationssteuerungsgesetz" (law to control labor migration), which removes some of the barrier for high-skilled migrants.
"But as long as we still create the impression that we do not want free mobility, we should not be surprised that the best and brightest choose other countries over Germany," said IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann. "This is a short-sighted policy, particularly during the current crisis, because over the medium term the demand for skilled labor can only be met with immigration. And highly qualified workers will not appear over night. They move to countries that have built up a reputation as immigration countries. This is why Germany must send out a strong signal that qualified foreign workers, especially university graduates, are highly welcome as immigrants in Germany."Martin Kahanec/Klaus F. Zimmermann (eds.), EU Labor Markets after Post-Enlargement Migration, Berlin et al. 2009, ISBN 978-3-642-02241-8.
More information in German language:
- IZA Standpunkte No. 14 (Ulf Rinne/Klaus F. Zimmermann, Fünf Jahre EU-Ostererweiterung: Schlechte Noten für deutsche Abschottungspolitik)
- IZA Press Statement (June 24, 2009) |
April 20, 2009:
NRW 2025: Future Commission presents report - Zimmermann chaired working group on economic and labor market policy
On April 20, 2009, the Commission on the Future of North-Rhine Westphalia, installed by state premier Jürgen Rüttgers, presented its final report including a wide range of policy recommendations. The report is based to a large extent on a paper prepared by the working group on economic and labor market policy, chaired by IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann. Other members of the working group include Bodo Hombach (WAZ Media Group), Friedrich Merz (MP, CDU) and Wolfgang Streeck (Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne). The paper recommends a stronger focus on education and training, and a systematic expansion of the region's potential in higher education and energy innovation. In addition, the improvement of family-related services is considered to be of strategic importance. The recommendations of the working group and the commission are particularly relevant in light of the current economic crisis.
"Many of our proposals are also valid for larger reform efforts on the federal level," explained Zimmermann. "Sustainable structural reforms and investment in education and training are better suited to fight this crisis than gigantic economic stimulus packages."
The study of the working group is downloadable in German as a contribution to the "IZA Standpunkte" series: [download PDF, 4MB]
The complete report of the "Future Commission" has been published on the NRW website. |
December 18, 2008:
Zimmermann: Economic crisis is an opportunity to boost education and training
In view of the current economic crisis, IZA proposes the distribution of training vouchers to all workers aged 45 and over. At the same time, IZA calls on service providers in the education sector to form public-private partnerships in order to offer adequate and attractive programs for everyone. "In contrast to financially risky economic stimulus packages, the positive effects of investment in education and training will last into the future", said IZA Director Zimmermann. See also the IZA press statement (in German). |
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November 14, 2008:
Zimmermann will serve third term as President of DIW Berlin
The Board of Trustees of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) has appointed IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann for a third term as President of DIW Berlin. Chairman of the Board of Trustees Holger Hatje underscored Zimmermann's achievements in "pushing the institute forward." The Scientific Advisory Board also acknowledged the great scientific progress of DIW Berlin since Zimmermann took office in 2000. IZA and DIW Berlin have cooperated closely for many years. Both institutes also share a privileged relationship with DIW DC in Washington. |
November 05, 2008:
Zimmermann comments on U.S. presidential elections
Restoring the credibility of the global economic system is the key to overcoming the current financial crisis. "Throughout the election campaign President Barack Obama has shown economic competence and trustworthiness. He can contribute greatly to restoring trust in our market economy," said IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann during Election Night in Washington.
However, the new President will face almost insurmountable challenges, Zimmermann added. The tough realities of the financial crisis and its budgetary impact will stand in the way of Obama's goal to create a fairer society. But since, unlike his predecessor, Obama is known to seek the advice of high-qualified academic experts, Zimmermann expects the new President to be open to unorthodox proposals and initiatives. Obama's leadership style is marked by cooperation and pragmatism, said Zimmermann. Yet this will also require Europe, particularly Germany, to assume a greater role in international security cooperation.
The October issue of DIW-Wochenbericht features a joint article by Amelie F. Constant (DIW DC and IZA) and Klaus F. Zimmermann on the major challenges for the next U.S. President [read the complete text] |
October 09, 2008:
Leading economists call for swift and coordinated response to global financial crisis
On October 2, 2008, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann joined a group of leading European and US economists in signing a declaration urging European governments to adopt a Europe-wide financial market regulation.
Excerpt from the declaration: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. Trust among financial institutions is disappearing; fear may spread. Last week's US experience showed that saving one bank at a time won't work. A systemic response is needed and in Europe than means an EU-led initiative to recapitalise the banking sector. Unless Europe's leaders immediately unite to address this crisis head on before it spirals out of control, they may find themselves fighting over how best to salvage the aftermath." [[read the complete text]
On October 9, the group of experts also provided concrete proposals to the G7/8 finance ministers:
Rescuing Our Jobs And Savings: What G7/8 Leaders Can Do To Solve The Global Credit Crisis |
October 06, 2008:
Zimmermann presents IZA research report: Unemployment in Germany falls below 3 million
In October 2008, unemployment figures in Germany are expected to drop below 3 million for the first time since 1992. This is the finding of an IZA research report prepared for the Initiative Neue Soziale Marktwirtschaft. According to IZA calculations, West German unemployment will fall below 2 million. With East German figures under 1 million, overall unemployment in Germany could go back to a level of 2.87 million later during the month. "This is great news for the German labor market. As the reforms of the past years finally bear fruit, our policymakers are well-advised to stay on course in order to bring down unemployment even further," said IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann during the presentation of the study in Berlin.
Read the complete text (in German): IZA Research Report No. 20 |
September 25, 2008:
Zimmermann in favor of "Bluecard" and freedom of movement
Commenting on the EU interior ministers' meeting on migration issues on September 25, 2008, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann welcomed the Bluecard initiative to attract high-qualified workers from non-EU countries as "an important step toward a common European immigration policy." In view of the skilled labor shortages caused by demographic change in many EU-15 countries, Zimmermann also called on policymakers to implement complete freedom of movement for workers from the accession states. "If we fail to meet this strong demand for qualified workers, we waste a great chance to stimulate employment and economic growth. Germany in particular should abandon its restrictions on immigration from Eastern Europe. Unless we start actively attracting the 'best and brightest' from this region, we will forever lose them to other countries. Implementing any of these steps to reduce immigration obstacles will require more political courage than we have seen so far," said Zimmermann. |
September 12, 2008:
IZA Director appointed to WEF Global Agenda Council on Migration
IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann, who is also President of DIW Berlin, has been appointed as a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Migration. This council, consisting of a small group of the most knowledgeable and relevant personalities in this field, is integrated into the Network of Global Agenda Councils of the World Economic Forum addressing all the crucial challenges of humankind to ensure that interlinkages among global issues are fully explored. The Network of Global Agenda Councils has a major impact on shaping the global agenda by monitoring and prioritizing global challenges, by elaborating solutions and by being available in crisis management situations. It will also act as an advisory board to the World Economic Forum and other interested parties, such as governments and international organizations. |
August 21, 2008:
Zimmermann applauds integration report of NRW state government
In August 2008 the state government of North-Rhine Westphalia published its first report on the integration of immigrants. IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann referred to the report as "an excellent documentation of the strengths and weaknesses of integration policy in this state." According to Zimmermann, the report is "a clear signal that we need an immigration policy based on economic aspects in order to reduce unemployment among immigrants and overcome the shortage of skilled labor." He welcomed the NRW report as providing a detailed account of the labor market outcomes among various migrant groups, with a differentiation between naturalized and non-naturalized immigrants.
[Download NRW Integration Report] (in German) |
April 17, 2008:
IZA Director Zimmermann re-elected as head of ARGE institutes
Klaus F. Zimmermann, CEO and Director of IZA and President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), was re-elected for another three years as Director of the Executive Board of the Association of German Economic Research Institutes (ARGE) on April 17, 2008. Among the other board members are IZA Policy Fellows Thomas Straubhaar (HWWI) and Johann Eekhoff (University of Cologne), as well as Ulrich Blum (IWH), Wolfgang Franz (ZEW), and Hans-Werner Sinn (ifo). Established in 1949, ARGE is the umbrella organization of 30 German economic research institutes. "Given the multitude of economic challenges ahead, it is important that the institutes keep pushing for sustainable economic policies. ARGE provides an excellent platform for this purpose," said Zimmermannn after his re-election. |
April 08, 2008:
Zimmermann appointed to the "Commission on the Future of NRW"
In May 2008, the "Commission on the Future of NRW" will take up its task to advise the state government of North-Rhine Westphalia on education, economic and labor market policy with a particular focus on questions of solidarity in an aging society. Established by the state's prime minister Jürgen Rüttgers, the independent commission will prepare a report on "NRW 2025 – Innovation, Employment, Quality of Life" with recommendations to achieve these goals. The state government intends to incorporate this advice in next year's agenda and discuss the issues at an annual Europe-wide congress on the living conditions of future generations. Among the 23 members of the commission representing various areas of society, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann will coordinate the activities in the areas of economy and labor.
For further information see the NRW press release (in German). |
March 13, 2008:
German economists call on policymakers to prevent minimum wage law
In a joint declaration published in the German business daily Handelsblatt (March 13, 2008), the leaders of Germany's top economic research institutes - including IZA CEO and Director Klaus F. Zimmermann - strongly advised policymakers against the introduction of a legal minimum wage across industries. The implementation of recent plans by the Federal Ministry of Labor would erode the collective bargaining process and undermine the foundation of Germany's successful market economy principle, warned the economists. Apart from its negative employment effects, the planned minimum wage would be unsuitable as a redistributive instrument and therefore inefficient from a social policy perspective.
The complete text of the declaration is available in Germany language only. |
March 12, 2008:
Zimmermann and Süssmuth discuss IZA study on the integration of ethnic minorities in Europe
On March 12, IZA CEO and Director Klaus F. Zimmermann and IZA Senior Research Associates Martin Kahanec and Amelie Constant (also DIW DC and Georgetown University) presented a recent IZA study on the shortcomings in the social and economic integration of ethnic minorities in the EU. Based on this extended EU-wide survey, a "High Level Group", commissioned by the European Commission, has published a comprehensive report containing policy recommendations for European and national integration policies. During this Berlin Lunchtime Meeting, Rita Süssmuth (President, High Level Group) presented the group's report and discussed the topic of better social and labor market integration of ethnic minorities with the IZA experts.
Further reading:
- IZA Press Statement (in German)
- IZA Study on the Social and Labour Market Integration of Ethnic Minorities
- Report of the High Level Group: "An Urgent Call for Better Inclusion" |
February 11, 2008:
Zimmermann is Senior Editor of Applied Economics Quarterly
As of January 2008, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has been Senior Editor of Applied Economics Quarterly, an international journal publishing empirical research with relevance for economic policy. The journal's goal is to contribute to current policy debates and enhance economic policy-making by providing a forum for innovative and rigorous empirical research. While the journal is global in scope, it has a strong focus on European policy issues. |
February 05, 2008:
Zimmermann appointed to scientific advisory council of NRW
IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has been appointed to the scientific advisory council of the State of North-Rhine Westphalia. Composed of experts and practitioners from various disciplines, the council's task is to analyze the future development of Germany's most populous federal state. |
January 28, 2008:
Zimmermann gave invited speech at London School of Economics
As part of the German Symposium 2008 of the London School of Economics and Political Science on January 28, 2008, Professor Zimmermann gave a speech on "Reform Policy in Germany". |
November 08, 2007:
More immigration from Central and Eastern Europe
According to a recent study by IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann and Karl Brenke (DIW Berlin), immigration from the new EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe to Germany has seen a strong increase over the past two years. This comes despite the fact that Germany - unlike most other EU members - still limits freedom of movement for workers from these countries. Net immigration has risen from 9,000 working-age individuals in 2003 to 32,000 in 2005 and 56,000 in 2006. Polish immigrants account for about 80 percent of this balance.
Many migrants have chosen self-employment to circumvent the barriers to labor mobility, while high-skilled workers have mostly moved to other destination countries. Nonetheless, the fact that the inflow of labor migrants has yielded positive labor market effects is an indication that Germany would be ill-advised to forgo the economic benefits of full labor mobility and the implementation of a demand-oriented immigration policy based on quotas and an effective selection system.
The study is available in German language as "Wochenbericht Nr. 44/2007" from DIW Berlin. |
May 16, 2007:
Zimmermann presented top-level speeches in Cyprus and London
Following an invitation by the Cyprus Economic Society, the University of Cyprus and the Bank of Cyprus, Prof. Dr. Klaus F. Zimmermann, IZA Director and President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), presented a national public lecture, the 2007 Cyprus Economic Society Annual Lecture in Economics, with the topic "Migrant Ethnic Identity and Its Impact on Economic Behavior" (see IZA DP No. 3056 for a revised draft) at the Bank of Cyprus, Nicosia on April 13, 2007.
During the LoWER (European Low-Wage Employment Research Network) Workshop on Migration, which took place April 20-21, 2007 in the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) of the London School of Economics, Zimmermann presented the keynote speech entitled "Migration Potential and Its Labour Market Impact After EU Enlargement: A Review".
On May 16, 2007, he was invited by the Anglo German Foundation to present a lecture entitled "Germany's economic priorities during the EU and G8 presidencies: Challenges and Perspectives" as part of the lecture series "Fit for the Future: Policies for Sustainable Growth in Europe". |
January 02, 2007:
IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann becomes Honorary Professor at Renmin University of China
In a festive ceremony on December 20, 2006 in Beijing, Richard B. Freeman (Harvard University, NBER and IZA) and IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann have been appointed Honorary Professors of Renmin University of China in recognition of their outstanding contributions to labor economics. Both economists were awarded this high honor from the hands of Tianquan Cheng, Chairman of the University Council of Renmin University, in front of a larger number of distinguished Chinese labor economists, government officials, and many research students. The laudations were given by Xiangquan Zeng, Dean of the School of Labor Relations & Human Resources of Renmin University and Director of its China Institute for Employment Research (CIER). |
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September 18, 2006:
Zimmermann criticizes lack of preparedness for demographic change in Germany
As an invited speaker at the 60th Congress of German Business Economists on September 18, 2006, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann shared his insights on "Demography, Migration and Corporate Personnel Management". A recent article in the German business daily "Börsen-Zeitung" summarizes the key arguments of his speech. Courtesy of Börsen-Zeitung, IZA makes the full text of the article available (in German language only). |
January 02, 2006:
New book edited by Klaus F. Zimmermann presents reform concepts for Germany
At the end of 2005, Germany is wavering between "reform-willingness" and "reform-weariness". The first steps at modernizing the country's economy and welfare state are only slowly taking effect. Given the widespread misgivings about a strict continuation of the chosen path, policymakers and society are faced with enormous challenges in the fields of federalism, the labor market, budget balancing and taxation, healthcare, pensions and intergenerational fairness, education and research, and family policy.
In view of the huge tasks ahead of the new Grand Coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has gathered a team of leading economists, who comment on these issues in a provocative but constructive manner. The authors have contributed twenty articles on the most important challenges that will shape Germany’s future. The result is a multi-faceted volume, which critically addresses the crucial economic and social issues of our time. [read more] |
September 02, 2005:
Zimmermann presents "Election Check 2005"
In his function as President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann has analyzed the election programs of the German political parties. The study, authored jointly with IW Köln, assesses each party's position on labor market issues, taxation, the pension system and health insurance.
The "election check" is available in German language only. [read more] |
August 18, 2005:
May 11, 2005:
Klaus F. Zimmermann achieves top ranking among German economists
In a recent ranking by the renowned German daily Handelsblatt, IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann (who is also President of DIW Berlin) is the only German economist to be listed among the Top 10 in terms of both research (5th) and media presence (4th).
Only three other economists receive a Top 25 ranking in both categories. Zimmermann deplores this obvious dualism between researchers and communicators: "An economist who engages in policy advice should also have a strong position in research." But unlike their American colleagues, "many of Germany's top economists are too reluctant to interact with the media."
The ranking results underscore IZA's successful strategy to conduct high-quality scientific research while at the same time providing effective policy advice. The Handelsblatt article also highlights the role of Bonn as a center of academic excellence. Apart from the highly productive economics faculty at the University of Bonn, the Bonn Graduate School of Economics (BGSE), with which IZA cooperates closely, is lauded as a pioneer in graduate education. According to the article, progress in this area has the largest potential to advance Germany's international position in economic research.
[Online version of the article (in German)]
Download (PDF): Research Ranking | Media Presence Ranking | University Ranking | Article on Klaus F. Zimmermann |
March 11, 2005:
Joint reform proposal by German research institutes
On March 11, 2005, a reform proposal to stimulate economic growth and employment was put forward to German policymakers by IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann jointly with Michael Hüther, Director of the Cologne Institute for Business Research (IW Köln), and Thomas Straubhaar, President of the Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWA). The proposal contains an immediate action program consisting of three components:
1. Lowering unemployment insurance contributions and abolishing the "solidarity surtax" while raising the value-added tax.
2. Extending the legal provisions for temporary employment contracts and considering (in the medium run) the replacement of layoff protection with severance pay schemes.
3. Reducing bureaucracy with regard to legal restrictions on the use of future technology and other regulations impeding employment (e.g. the planned anti-discrimination act).
Read the press statement and the full-text proposal (both only available in German).
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