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.

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.

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.

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.