News Archive

The downfall of Credit Suisse should serve as a lesson that supervisory board competence determines the long-term risk of a bank. In Germany, this idea is also enshrined in law. But this study of German banks shows, there is still a long way to go.

The US 2024 elections have the potential to reshape international trade, climate policy, and the geopolitical landscape decisively. In this latest issue of EconPol Forum our authors critically compare the policy proposals of the leading presidential candidates and assess the likely consequences of their policy differences for the US economy and their global spillover effects. The authors also make some policy suggestions on how Europe and other regions of the world could counter US protectionism and other discriminatory measures.

In case Donald Trump wins the US presidential race and starts a new trade war with China, Germany as an exporting nation, would feel the consequences.

The EU's new decision-makers will need smart adaptation strategies to navigate today's complex geoeconomic reality. Our EconPol summer newsletter features a policy brief by ifo's president Clemens Fuest addressing these challenges. It further includes a policy brief on the EU's development policy with African, Caribbean and Pacific States, as well as a policy brief on the future direction of the EU’s foreign economic policy. You will also find the new EconPol Forum discussing how Europe can build up its economic defense capabilities and challenges to its innovations policy. 

Europe is increasingly falling behind in growing high-tech industries, such as the digital economy or biotechnology. Contrary to their US and Chinese competitors, companies in the EU concentrate their innovation activities rather on established mid-tech sectors, which tend to have lower growth rates and generate less disruptive innovations. This paper proposes reforms of EU innovation policy to get Europe out of its “mid-tech trap”.