Latest Press Releases

The Federal Statistical Office today published the first calculations on gross domestic product (GDP) and general government net lending/borrowing for 2021. According to the results, GDP increased by 2.7 per cent and the general government deficit amounted to 4.3 per cent of GDP in the second year of the pandemic. Professor Friedrich Heinemann, head of the Research Department “Corporate Taxation and Public Finance” at ZEW Mannheim, has commented on this matter:

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On 1 January 2022, France will take over the rotating presidency of the Council for six months under the motto “Recovery, strength, and a sense of belonging”. During this period, the French presidential and legislative elections will take place. This coincidence could create some tension. The president of ZEW Mannheim, Professor Achim Wambach, has commented on this matter:

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1 January 2022 will be the twentieth anniversary of the introduction of euro banknotes and coins. The changeover to the euro, which had already taken place three years earlier, was thus fully completed. Professor Friedrich Heinemann, ZEW research department head, has scientifically accompanied the introduction of the euro. He assesses the success of the euro as follows:

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz picked economist Joachim Nagel as the new president of the Bundesbank. This is reported by Handelsblatt and Der Spiegel, both citing government circles. Professor Friedrich Heinemann, head of the Research Department “Corporate Taxation and Public Finance” at ZEW Mannheim, has commented on that matter:

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The German Federal Ministry of Finance’s Working Party on Tax Revenue Estimates presented the results of its new analysis today. According to the announced results, tax revenues will recover much faster from the pandemic in the coming years than previously assumed.

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According to a report in the Handelsblatt, the so-called traffic light coalition partners SPD, FDP and the Greens, named after the traditional colours of the parties, have agreed not to create a digital ministry. Professor Irene Bertschek, head of the ZEW Research Department “Digital Economy”, has commented on that matter:

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Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann has requested his resignation at the end of the year. Professor Friedrich Heinemann, head of the Research Department “Corporate Taxation and Public Finance” at ZEW Mannheim, has commented on this matter:

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The European Commission has initiated the debate on a possible reform of the Stability Pact by presenting a first discussion paper. In view of the sharp increase in debt ratios due to the pandemic and the high investment needs in the areas of climate policy and digitalisation, the paper proposes to review the existing debt rules. Professor Friedrich Heinemann, head of the Research Department “Corporate Taxation and Public Finance” at ZEW Mannheim, comments on this matter:

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At the end of 2025, the spectrum usage rights in the bands at 800 MHz, 1,800 MHz and 2.6 GHz will expire. The Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency) has therefore sparked a discussion on how best to provide the freed-up spectrum for use from 2026 onwards in such a way as to ensure a functioning mobile radio market and optimal broadband coverage. For this purpose, the agency published a scenario paper on which ZEW President Professor Achim Wambach and Professor Vitali Gretschko, head of the Research Department “Market Design” at ZEW Mannheim, have provided their views.

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Today, the German government’s Economic Stabilisation Fund (ESF) announced its intention to sell part of the shares it holds in Lufthansa. Professor Achim Wambach, president of ZEW Mannheim and member of the Monopolies Commission, explains:

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