Even after the pandemic, occupational health in disability care continues to face structural challenges. On behalf of the BGW, DIW Econ analysed the development of working conditions and their impact on employees based on data from the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
Who benefits from the tax allowance for education, upbringing and training?
The current short expert report commissioned by the AWO Bundesverband e.V. sheds light on the distributional effects of the tax allowances for children. In particular, the allowance for care, education and training costs (BEA) currently favours high-income households more than low-income families. The study analyses how halving the CEA or reducing it to 300 euros would affect different groups of households.
The economic power behind housing
Residential construction has been a major contributor to Germany’s economic growth in recent decades. However, current forecasts point to a worrying decline in the real volume of residential construction, which could have far-reaching consequences. This development underlines the urgent need to strengthen residential construction as a driver of economic recovery.
Cost of (no) basic child allowance: long-term costs of child poverty
One in five German households with children lives below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold. Germany’s current coalition agreement aims to strengthen families and lift children out of poverty. Against this background, the basic child allowance is currently under discussion. In the public debate, however, the long-term societal costs of child poverty are hardly ever compared with the costs of measures against child poverty. Yet, the costs are significant and occur in the areas such as health, education and social participation. Scenario analyses confirm that policy measures can be effective in reducing child poverty. Investing in children can therefore lead to substantial fiscal savings in the long run.
The Saar Economy in Structural Change
The Saar economy faces current and future challenges that are unique in Germany. The acute need for transformation in the Saarland, which is particularly significant compared to other federal states, is due primarily to the strong industrial character of the Saar economy. This is confirmed by a study conducted by DIW Econ on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and Europe and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour, Energy and Transport of the Saarland