Home

Lack of data limits crisis policy: Ingo Isphording at the Hessischer Landtag

Ingo Isphording provided expert testimony in front of the main committee of the Hessischer Landtag (state parliament of Hesse) on measures to strengthen Germany’s crisis resilience. He identified deficiencies in data infrastructure as a core structural problem of German crisis policy. International comparisons indicate that improved data access can be compatible with high data protection standards

Germany legalizes kidney exchange – Axel Ockenfels contributes to landmark reform

The German Bundestag has adopted a major reform of the Transplantation Act. The new law allows crossover living kidney donations between incompatible donor–recipient pairs, expanding access to life-saving transplants. Axel Ockenfels, Director at the institute, helped shaping the reform. He welcomes the breakthrough while also pointing to further potential to improve matching efficiency and patient outcomes.

New book by Matthias Sutter and Martin G. Kocher: Strong together. Cooperation and trust (in German)

The renowned duo of authors, consisting of Martin G. Kocher, Governor of the Austrian National Bank, and Matthias Sutter, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Economics, speak from practical experience, since they worked together for many years at the Institute of Public Finance at the University of Innsbruck. In this book, they highlight the advantages of cooperation and trust for a successful future.

© Christoph Hardt / Panama Pictures / picture alliance

Quo vadis, BAföG (German student aid)?

BAfög figures are at their lowest in 25 years. Sebastian Riedmiller’s study shows what is deterring students. BAfög hurdle: Up to 70 percent of students eligible for BAfög do not apply. One reason: they do not know that they are entitled to it. Read more (in German).

New Name, New Focus

With the retirement of our former director Christoph Engel and the closure of his legal department, our institute now has a clearly economic focus. In the future, our research will concentrate fully on questions in behavioral economics, including the analysis and design of economic institutions (Economic Design), and is led by the two directors Matthias Sutter and Axel Ockenfels. The scientific profile is further complemented by the research group headed by Sebastian Schneider. With the new name, this thematic focus is now also reflected externally.