The numbers of migrants from the accessions countries have clearly increased since the enlargement of the EU in 2004. Following enlargement, the net inflow of EU8 immigrants has become 2.5 times larger than the four-year period before enlargement. Poles constitute the largest immigrant group...

Im Falle handwerklicher Produkte und Dienstleistungen des Baugewerbes handelt es sich um sogenannte Vertrauensgüter, da ein (Laien-)Kunde ihre Qualität auch nach dem Kauf meist nur schwer beurteilen kann. Ohne ein geeignetes Regulierungsinstrument birgt diese Asymmetrie in der Verteilung der...

Trotz der günstigen Beschäftigungsentwicklung ist die Zahl der Hartz IV-Empfänger in den letzten zweieinhalb Jahren nur wenig gesunken. Die Zahl der erwerbsfähigen und nicht arbeitslosen Leistungsempfänger ist sogar gewachsen. Die Arbeitslosigkeit unter den Hilfeempfängern hat zwar...

Although the economic boom in Germany is over, a recession is not looming. The economy is still expected to grow by 1.0 percent this year despite its recent weaker performance. Consumption remains a mainstay of the economy; the average annual increase in the number of employees is likely to be...

Compared to last year, the German economy is weakening noticeably. Orders from abroad are decreasing and domestic companies are holding back on investments. However, capacity utilization remains high—also because the government will boost the incomes of private households next year. However,...

The German economy continues to perform well although the boom has ended. However, at 1.5 percent, German GDP will increase this year at a lower rate than expected at the beginning of the year. Nevertheless, concerns about an imminent recession should give way to the assessment that the pace of...