Research at ZEW

ZEW conducts evidence-based economic policy research on a range of high-visibility topics, including the digital transformation, European integration, and the energy transition.

These are tackled by ZEW’s research units.

Current Publications

Refereed Journal // forthcoming

Willingness to volunteer among remote workers is insensitive to the team size
Refereed Journal // forthcoming

Measuring the productivity effects of digital capital – A conceptual approach
Refereed Journal // forthcoming

Better Safe than Sorry? Toxic Waste Management after Union Elections

Current projects

Laufende Projekte

  1. Project // 01.02.2025 – 31.01.2027

    The role of fiscal policy for monetary decision making in the ECB – Empirical diagnosis and monitoring ECB transparency

    The ECB has become a significant fiscal actor through its bond-purchase programs, which commenced in 2010 and culminated in the 2022 decision regarding the Transmission Protection Instrument (TPI). The Governing…

    01.02.2025 – 31.01.2027
    Corporate Taxation and Public Finance
  2. Project // 01.01. – 01.10.2025

    Bundesländerindex Stiftung Familienunternehmen 2025

    The current focus in the public evaluation of state governments and administrations lies on the services provided to citizens. However, this does not comprise whether and to what extent federal states perform with…

    01.01. – 01.10.2025
    Corporate Taxation and Public Finance
  3. Project // 10.12.2024 – 30.06.2025

    Tax incentives and investment in the EU: best practices and ways to stimulate private investments and prevent harmful tax practices

    Governments worldwide increasingly rely on tax incentives to promote private R&D and innovation investment. Tax incentives make eligible investments financially advantageous to firms, aiming to drive growth, but…

    10.12.2024 – 30.06.2025
    Corporate Taxation and Public Finance
  4. Project // 01.12.2024 – 30.04.2025

    The Economic Contribution of Family Firms

    The majority of businesses in Germany are family businesses. The economic significance of family businesses and their special features compared to other businesses have been examined in recent years in studies by…

    01.12.2024 – 30.04.2025
    Economics of Innovation and Industrial...
  5. Project // 01.12.2024 – 30.09.2025

    Competition and Current Developments in Teaching and Knowledge Transfer by German Universities

    The aim of this study is to analyze and evaluate current quantitative and qualitative developments in transfer activities within the German higher education landscape, with a particular focus on their performance…

    01.12.2024 – 30.09.2025
    Economics of Innovation and Industrial...
  6. Project // 01.11.2024 – 30.09.2025

    Innovation Participation, Innovations and Productivity in the German Economy

    The aim of the study is to examine the innovation performance and the development of productivity in the German economy, with particular attention to the situation in medium-sized firms and the contribution of…

    01.11.2024 – 30.09.2025
    Economics of Innovation and Industrial...