Kiel Institute for the World Economy

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, commonly known as IfW Kiel, is an independent, nonprofit economic research institute and policy think tank headquartered in Kiel, Germany. Established in 1914 as the Royal Institute for Maritime Transport and World Economics at the University of Kiel, it is generally regarded as Germany's oldest economic research institute. Its work focuses on the global economy, economic policy, international finance, macroeconomics, trade, development, labor markets, environmental and resource economics, and the communication of economic knowledge to policymakers and the public. The institute was founded by economist Bernhard Harms, whose original concept emphasized the study of international economic relationships rather than concentrating solely on the German national economy. From the beginning, IfW Kiel combined academic research with practical policy advice, teaching, publications, statistical analysis, and the systematic collection of economic information. Its research library and press archive became important institutional assets. The library later developed into the German National Library of Economics, or ZBW, which became legally independent in 2007 and is now a separate nonprofit institution under public law. During the First World War and the interwar period, the institute expanded its international research and developed a significant reputation in business-cycle analysis. In 1926 it created a department devoted to statistical economics and business-cycle research. Researchers associated with that department included Adolph Lowe, Gerhard Colm, Hans Neisser, Jacob Marschak, and Wassily Leontief. The Nazi period brought the dismissal or emigration of Jewish and Social Democratic researchers and placed the institute's work within the political and economic priorities of the regime. Although the institution's library survived because its holdings were moved to Ratzeburg, parts of the institute and its press archive were destroyed. The institute's research between 1933 and 1945 included work relevant to German wartime economic planning, a legacy that remains an important part of its historical context. After 1945, IfW Kiel was rebuilt as an internationally connected center of economic research. Directors including Fritz Baade, Erich Schneider, Herbert Giersch, Horst Siebert, and Dennis J. Snower shaped successive research agendas. The postwar institute contributed to debates on agricultural economics, food security, Keynesian macroeconomics, exchange rates, monetary policy, labor markets, industrial policy, globalization, environmental resources, and international financial markets. Its economists frequently advised governments and participated in Germany's wider economic policy debate, including through links to the German Council of Economic Experts. Under Dennis J. Snower, who became president in 2004, the institute reorganized its mission around global economic affairs, research, education, and policy advice. It also developed international conferences and public-facing initiatives, including the Global Economic Symposium and the Global Economy Prize. These programs brought together politicians, academics, business leaders, civil-society representatives, and international organizations to discuss practical responses to global challenges. In the contemporary period, IfW Kiel operates as a research-driven institution with a substantial international profile. It employs roughly 160 people, including more than 80 economists, and is a member of the Leibniz Association. Its publications include forecasts, working papers, policy analyses, research reports, data-based economic assessments, and contributions to public debate. Its forecasting work covers Germany, the euro area, and the world economy. The institute remains particularly associated with global economic analysis, economic forecasting, policy evaluation, and public discussion of international economic developments.

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy was established on 18 February 1914 as the Royal Institute for Maritime Transport and World Economics at the University of Kiel. It opened two days later in premises on Schlossgarten. Its founding director, Bernhard Harms, promoted the study of international economic relations and connected academic research with government advice, economic teaching, publications, and the collection of economic information. With support from an association of sponsors, the institute moved in 1920 to a former seaside hotel known as the Seebadeanstalt, a property associated with the Krupp family. It adopted the German name Kiel Institut für Weltwirtschaft in 1934. During the First World War it built a war archive and expanded its international economic work. In the Weimar period, it became known for research on the world economy and business cycles. A department for statistical economics and business-cycle research was established in 1926 under Adolph Lowe. Its researchers included several economists who later became influential scholars in the United States and elsewhere. The Nazi takeover in 1933 severely disrupted the institute. Jewish employees and researchers associated with the Social Democratic movement were forced out or emigrated. Harms initially accommodated the new political order but later opposed the expulsion of Jewish staff and lost his effective leadership. Jens Jessen followed him briefly, while Andreas Predöhl directed the institute from 1934 until November 1945. Predöhl maintained close university ties and protected the library from the systematic removal of Jewish-authored works. The institute continued international economic research during the Second World War, including studies relevant to German wartime planning, resource access, and economic control of occupied territories. A full historical assessment of the institute's work from 1933 to 1945 has not been completed. The library's main holdings survived because they were relocated to Ratzeburg, although portions of the institute and its press archive were destroyed. British occupation authorities removed Predöhl from the directorship in November 1945. Friedrich Hoffmann served temporarily before Fritz Baade became director in 1948. Baade concentrated on agricultural economics and food security and helped reconnect the institute with international research networks, especially through his contacts in the United States. Erich Schneider succeeded him in 1961 and strengthened the relationship with the University of Kiel. A leading German Keynesian, Schneider also established the Bernhard Harms Prize in 1964 to mark the institute's fiftieth anniversary. Herbert Giersch became director in 1969 and later president. His period included the collapse of the Bretton Woods monetary system, oil-price shocks, the growth of developing and emerging economies, and major changes in international production. He made the institute a prominent voice in German policy debates on exchange rates, monetary policy, labor markets, and industrial policy. The institute also expanded international collaboration and participated in the major research network on the world economy and international economic relations. Horst Siebert succeeded Giersch in 1989. His presidency coincided with the end of communist economic systems, German reunification, China's rise, the spread of information technology, debates over labor-market and social-security reform, and growing concern about environmental sustainability. Siebert broadened the institute's work in environmental and resource economics and international financial markets and became a highly visible public commentator. He left the presidency in 2003 and became president emeritus. After an approximately eighteen-month search, Dennis J. Snower became president in October 2004. He was the first non-German to lead one of Germany's major economic research institutes. Snower reorganized the institute, restated its global mission, and launched or strengthened public events including the Global Economic Symposium and the Global Economy Prize. In January 2007, the institute's library became the independent German National Library of Economics, or ZBW. The ZBW subsequently developed major open-access and research-information services, while IfW Kiel continued as a separate research institute. The institute celebrated its centenary in 2014. Today it is a member of the Leibniz Association and conducts research on global economic developments, macroeconomics, international trade and finance, economic policy, labor, resources, and related issues. Its forecasting center produces regular analyses of Germany, the euro area, and the world economy. The institute also convenes international policy discussions and awards prizes recognizing contributions to global economic thinking. Moritz Schularick is the current president.

1. 2014Centenary

   IfW Kiel commemorated 100 years of economic research and international policy engagement.

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2. 2007Library becomes the German National Library of Economics

   The institute's library became an independent nonprofit institution under public law known as the ZBW.

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3. 2004Dennis J. Snower becomes president

   Snower began a reorganization centered on global economic research, education, and policy advice.

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4. 1964Bernhard Harms Prize established

   The institute created the prize for distinguished contributions to international economics.

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5. 1934German name adopted

   The institute adopted the name Kiel Institut für Weltwirtschaft.

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6. 1926Business-cycle research department established

   A department for statistical economics and business-cycle research gave the institute a stronger profile in macroeconomic analysis.

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7. 1920Move to Seebadeanstalt premises

   The institute moved to a former seaside hotel acquired with support from its sponsors.

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8. 1914Institute founded

   The institution was established in Kiel as the Royal Institute for Maritime Transport and World Economics at the University of Kiel.

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Independent, internationally oriented economic research and policy advice with a strong emphasis on global economics, forecasting, and evidence-based public debate.

• Economic research publicationsAcademic and policy research

  IfW Kiel produces research papers, working papers, policy analyses, reports, and other publications covering macroeconomics, international trade and finance, globalization, development, labor markets, environmental economics, and economic policy. The output is intended for both academic audiences and decision-makers.

• Economic forecastsEconomic forecasting

  Through its forecasting work and International Business Cycle Forum, the institute provides assessments of the German economy, the euro area, and the world economy. These analyses interpret current data, identify risks, and discuss the implications of economic policy and international developments.

• Global Economic SymposiumPolicy forum

  The Global Economic Symposium and related Global Solutions Summit convene policymakers, business leaders, academics, nongovernmental organizations, and think tanks to develop practical responses to international economic and social challenges.

• Global Economy PrizeEconomic award2005

  Presented with the city of Kiel, the Global Economy Prize recognizes influential initiatives or achievements addressing globalization and contemporary international economic challenges.

• Bernhard Harms PrizeAcademic award1964

  Established in 1964, the Bernhard Harms Prize honors individuals with distinguished records in international economics and is presented biennially.

• 2017Global Solutions Summit recommendations

  G7 · G20 · International

  The institute presented policy recommendations addressing the digital economy, climate policy, international finance, and migration.

  Outcome. The recommendations were positioned for consideration by major international policy forums.

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• 2004Global Economic Symposium

  International

  The institute established a recurring international forum for discussing policy solutions to global economic and social problems.

  Outcome. The symposium became a central public-policy and international-networking initiative associated with IfW Kiel.

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• 2007Separate the economics library into an independent institutionStrategy

  The institute's library had grown into a major international resource for economics and social-science literature.

  What changed. The library was made an independent nonprofit institution under public law and renamed the German National Library of Economics.

  Aftermath. The ZBW continued as a separate organization with large collections and open-access information services, while IfW Kiel retained its research and policy-advice role.

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• 2018Angela Merkel joins Global Economic Symposium

  Germany's chancellor was among the prominent participants at the 2018 symposium, highlighting the event's policy-facing role.

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• 2017Global Economic Symposium expands international policy dialogue

  The institute's global symposium addressed digitalization, climate policy, international finance, migration, and other issues relevant to the G7 and G20.

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• 2014Kiel Institute reaches its centenary

  The institute marked 100 years of economic research and policy engagement.

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1. Kiel Institute for the World Economy
2. Kiel Institute for the World Economy official website