#ZEWPodcast
The #ZEWPodcast “Economics Actually” (“Wirklich Wirtschaft”) offers direct insights into ZEW's research – understandable, up-to-date, and close to the scientists. The podcast is available in two formats: “Economics Actually Concise” (“Wirklich Wirtschaft Kompakt”), the short and concise news and explanation format, and “Economics Actually Background” (“Wirklich Wirtschaft Background”) which explores topics in greater depth and context. In the future, there will also be episodes in English.
From 2020 to 2025, the podcast ran under the title “Wirtschaft · Forschung · Debatten” (in German language only). At the end of 2025, it was relaunched and has since been renamed “Economics Actually” (“Wirklich Wirtschaft”).
You can find the podcast on all popular platforms, including Podigee, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Do you have any comments, ideas, or feedback about the podcast? Feel free to write to us at podcast@zew.de.
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#ZEWPodcast (Concise) What Does the Welfare State Commission Report Say? (in German language)
After less than four months, the Commission on Welfare State Reform has submitted its final report to the German Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Bärbel Bas. The report is divided into four main topics: reorganisation of social benefits, improvement of employment incentives, simplification of laws, and digitisation and modernisation of administration.
Professor Dr. Holger Stichnoth, head of the ZEW research group "Inequality and Distribution Policy", discusses this in the ZEW podcast Wirklich Wirtschaft ("Economics, actually") with host Fabian Oppel. Stichnoth classifies the report as a courageous decision with many sensible proposals for modernising a welfare state that is efficient but has become very complex over the years. The report is not a finished blueprint, but it provides a strong impetus for simplification and modernisation. Social policy is being thought of more holistically and digitalisation is understood as a structural principle.