Our Publications

In the spotlight “Who pays for the energy transition? Social distribution effects and group-related communication of the Gebäudeenergiegesetz,” Dr. Philip Rathgeb and Dr. Leonce Röth analyze the political discourse and weaknesses of the GEG as a central climate social policy within the framework of the Group Appeals project.

Time is perhaps the scarcest resource of the 21st century and, at the same time, the least considered in political discourse. The texts collected here demonstrate this from different perspectives.

In the spotlight article “Facilitating transitions between life phases – progress and areas for improvement in German family policy,” Dr. Fabian Mushövel and Prof. Dr. Anton Hemerijck analyze the role of family policy as a central flow policy within the social investment approach.

The socio-political discourse in Germany is dominated by the notion that social policy is primarily a cost factor. Dr Fabian Mushövel and Prof. Dr Anton Hemerijck argue that modern social policy should instead be understood as social investment: a targeted investment that can promote long-term economic growth.

When it comes to citizen's income and minimum wage, there is often a lack of realistic reference values. Data is needed on what people need to live a decent life. Greater participation can make needs visible and legitimise decisions.

Opportunities are unevenly distributed in Germany. Despite considerable efforts, many people are unable to build up the wealth that would enable them to live a self-determined life. To reduce inequality of opportunity, we propose an Initial Capital that would empower socially disadvantaged individuals to make self-determined decisions.

In Germany, one's background often determines one's future. Social advancement seems virtually unattainable for many, and trust in politics is alarmingly low. Our latest study shows that a large part of the population wants a welfare state that creates real opportunities and reduces inequalities. However, without fundamental reforms, the promise of the social market economy is in danger of becoming an illusion.

Pension provision in Germany faces key challenges such as poverty in old age, unequal life expectancy and a changing concept of lifetime achievement beyond gainful employment. Policy Fellow Dr Elmar Stracke proposes a two-pillar reform: a standardised, poverty-preventing federal pension secures the minimum subsistence level, while supplementary private and occupational pension schemes reward performance.

What do people need financially to live comfortably? The Minimum Income Standard (MIS) in the UK attempts to answer this question: expert-supported focus groups create a fictitious basket of goods and services, the value of which is then quantified. This results in a budget for a comfortable life. So far, there are no comparable figures for Germany. The Minimum Living Standard project aims to change this.

Germans' trust has been shaken: both their trust in politics and their trust in their fellow citizens has declined significantly in recent years – exacerbated by the COVID crisis. Our policy paper identifies characteristics and factors that make policies and institutions trust-building, and examines how basic social security can be designed to exploit its great potential for building trust.

How do tax allowances in the existing German tax system affect the tax burden on different income deciles and household types? And what happens if tax allowances are converted into lump-sum tax credits? This study on the German tax and transfer system, conducted under the scientific direction of Prof. Dr Andreas Peichl (ifo Institute), examines these questions using selected examples.

With the aim of providing unbureaucratic and rapid social aid in times of crisis, the federal government is focusing on relief measures that do not require a means test. How do citizens view the abolition of means testing? What influences the acceptance of this type of policy?

Trust in politics and political participation are unevenly distributed in Germany: our analysis of the ALLBUS population survey shows that unemployed people and those who have experienced unemployment are more distrustful of political institutions and politicians and less interested in voting.

Using clear maps and graphics, our impulse illustrates and explains the democratic imbalance at the Bavarian ballot boxes in the 2018 state elections and the 2021 federal elections.

Analysis of the 2022 state elections and a nationwide survey. Using clear maps and graphics, our impulse illustrates and explains the democratic imbalance in Germany, which was also evident in the most recent state elections.

In Germany, unemployed citizens are in democratic retreat. One possible lever is social policy: previously unpublished data from the Finnish basic income experiment shows how social security can influence voter turnout.

ifo study on basic income support commissioned by the Centre for New Social Policy: Why reform is urgently needed

Not claiming basic income support leads to hidden poverty, social inequality and, indirectly, even lower standard rates for everyone. We have investigated why people choose not to claim it and how a basic income could help solve the problem.