German Chancellor Acknowledges Outstanding ZEW Research

Today, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Angela Merkel, visited the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim. In front of 570 invited guests she acknowledged the ZEW’s outstanding performances regarding research and politico-economic advice. She acknowledged ZEW’s extraordinary achievements and valued the work of ZEW president Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Wolfgang Franz in the the German Council of Economic Experts.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Wolfgang Franz, said: "It is a great pleasure to welcome you here in Mannheim today, Mrs Merkel. Especially because your speech deals with economic and fiscal issues which are of high importance during the current economic backdrop". Furthermore, Franz supported the German Federal Government in taking measures to stimulate growth rather than igniting an economic straw fire.

Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Science, Research and the Arts, Prof. Dr. Peter Frankenberg, warmly welcomed the Chancellor in the name of the federal state government in Stuttgart. He stressed the ZEW's role as an outstanding research institute which is, at the same time, embedded in the exquisite academic environment of the Rhine Neckar Area. Mrs Merkel underlined in her speech that economic policy alone cannot fully compensate for the strong recession. She further pointed out, however, that Germany is currently much better prepared for an economic crises than it was a couple of years ago. Merkel explained that another economic recovery plan, which is designed to give impetus to growth, will be implemented early next year. The Federal Government’s plan will be focused on investments in infrastructure, such as road building, broadband communication or renovation of school buildings.