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According to information provided by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the coronavirus contact-tracing app has been downloaded more than 18 million times. In light of the rise in infection rates, there is hope that the app will facilitate the tracking of chains of infection in the cold winter months ahead and that it will help to control outbreaks of the virus.

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Accompanied by the weekly protests from the Fridays for Future movement, the German government debated various climate policy instruments and measures within the scope of its so-called “Climate Cabinet” in 2019. The final result was the climate package, a compromise that evoked both praise as well as strong criticism in the public discussion. Students at the University of Mannheim got to know which precise balance of interests, conflicting goals, strategies, and political effects should be taken into account when developing an effective climate policy on a national scale during the “Climate Cabinet” simulation game at ZEW Mannheim on 10 October 2020.

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Within the space of a few days in September, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German economic minister Peter Altmaier both publicly called for the creation of a climate-neutral economy by 2050. Each of their proposed initiatives focuses on augmenting CO2 reductions. But the success of European and German climate policies will depend on more than meeting climate targets alone.

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This year, the grand final of the YES! high school student competition was held digitally from 21 to 23 September 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. This did, however, not break the spirit of the YES! competition; quite the contrary, the students were highly motivated to present their innovative ideas and discuss them with economic experts, turning this year’s grand finale into a special event despite not being physically present. With their proposal for a procedure to effectively allocate childcare places, the student team mentored by ZEW Mannheim took the second place.

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The European Green Deal is an ambitious climate action plan by the European Union. Its implementation leaves a number of questions unanswered. During the European Evening at ZEW Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Science, Theresia Bauer, former EU Commissioner, Günther H. Oettinger, as well as the director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Ottmar Edenhofer, and president of ZEW, Achim Wambach, discussed what exactly is needed in order for Europe to become carbon neutral by 2050. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an exclusive group of participants comprising 30 guests was permitted to attend the event in person. Individuals who were interested in the event, but were not able to physically attend, were still able to follow the opening ceremony of the closure of the SEEK research programme via a live stream from their screens at home. Journalist Johannes Pennekamp moderated the panel discussion at the event.

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Five years ago, Angela Merkel coined the now famous phrase “Wir schaffen das” (“We can do it”) in the midst of a crisis situation, as more and more migrants made their journey to Europe on the Balkan route. But what can the countries that take in immigrants do to integrate them? What consequences can be expected from accepting and integrating immigrants with regard to the attitudes towards migration issues in these countries? These and other questions were discussed at the international workshop “Immigration, Integration and Attitudes” that took place on 22 and 23 September 2020 at ZEW Mannheim.

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Dr. Laura Pohlan, a researcher in the ZEW Research Group “Market Design”, received the 2020 “Forschungspreis Soziale Markwirtschaft” (“Social Market Economy Research Award”) by the Roman Herzog Institute (RHI) Munich on 7 October 2020. She was awarded the third prize for her dissertation on the social consequences of unemployment and the effects of direct and indirect state measures on employment. She wrote her dissertation while still working in the ZEW Research Department “Labour Markets and Human Resources”. The award ceremony was held online.

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Young companies are particularly hard hit by the coronavirus crisis, since firms that have not been in the market for a long time are less able to cushion the effects of the crisis. Especially innovative high-tech firms face a great number of challenges. As these start-up companies create knowledge and develop new technologies, it would be very damaging for the German economy if they do not survive the crisis, explains ZEW economist Jürgen Egeln. In the latest episode of the #ZEWPodcast he talks about how young and innovative companies are suffering from the current crisis and what support measures they need. While this editions was published in German, there are plans to produce English editions of the podcast as well.

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The German Real Estate Financing Index (DIFI) of ZEW Mannheim and JLL rises again, but remains in negative territory at minus 36 points. After a slight decline in the sentiment indicator at the beginning of the year (by minus 3.7 points) to minus 18.9 points, and a plunge of 37.8 points in the second quarter to an index level of minus 56.7 points, the DIFI has now improved by more than 20 points in the third quarter compared to the previous quarter. At present, however, the indicator continues to remain below the values registered since the the survey began in 2011.

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Economics has now also come to the schools of North Rhine-Westphalia. Starting in the school year 2020/21, economics is to become a mandatory subject in all secondary schools in this state – North Rhine-Westphalia is taking the step that Baden-Württemberg took four years ago.

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