History
1925 In July 1925 Ernst Wagemann founds DIW Berlin, which is originally called Institute for Business Cycle Research, and becomes the first President.
1928 In the context of the Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, Arthur Hanau publishes his dissertation "The phenomenon of cyclical development" and becomes head of the agricultural market research in Germany. Using his concept of the "pork cycle" is still a popular way of explaining students of economics the relationship between demand and supply.
1933–1945 During the Nazi Regime, Wagemann is removed from his office. He is questioned several times by the Gestapo and even arrested for a while in 1942. By the end of 1943, the Institute for Business Cycle Research, renamed in German Institute for Economic Research, is partially relocated to Feldberg, Mecklenburg.
1945 Postwar Berlin political leader Ferdinand Friedensburg
takes on being the President of the German Institute for Economic Research until 1968. Following the war, the main focus of economic research lies upon economic issues within the city of Berlin.
1950 The first Wochenbericht (Weekly Report) after the war is published, covering a detailed report about "Germany's economic situation at the end of 1945".
1956 The German Institute for Economic Research moves into a new building in Koenigin-Luise-Straße.
1960 For the first time, the so-called "Grundlinien der Wirtschaftsentwicklung", forecasts about current and future trends in Germany, EU and world economy, are published. They are referring to the year of 1961.
1968 Klaus Dieter Arndt becomes new President of the German Institute for Economic Research.
1972 Newly established departments are the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Finance and the Department of Money and Capital Markets.
1975 Karl Koenig takes on being the President of the German Institute for Economic Research.
1979 The German Institute for Economic Research publishes the Wochenbericht "Eine mittelfristige Strategie zur Wiedergewinnung der Vollbeschaeftigung", proposing strategies for re-establishing full employment in Germany. Taking this report into account, the federal government derives a programme for future investment in year 1977–1980, one of the very few programmes which consequence is a noticeable drop in German unemployment rates. Prof. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Krupp becomes new President of the German Institute for Economic Research.
1989 The Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) is now part of the German Institute for Economic Research. The main focus of the service institution SOEP is on basic research and scientific services. The Socio-Economic Panel regularly surveys 10,000 private households in a representative longitudinal study. The data acquired is analysed within and outside the German Institute for Economic Research, the results are then used for the analysis of income and labour force developments.
1990 The German Institute for Economic Research disapproves of a monetary union with the former GDR. In the case of a monetary union, the only way for the GDR to compensate their difference in productivity would be a significant decrease of the wage level. A unification of wage levels would lead to mass dismissals and enormous business shutdowns. The GDR people would become welfare recipients of the Federal Republic of Germany.
1994 On behalf of Greenpeace, the German Institute for Economic Research analyses the economic consequences of an ecological fiscal reform. The model of ecotax, short for ecological taxation, has been enacted in Germany by means of three laws in the following years.
2000 Klaus F. Zimmermann becomes new President of the DIW. From now on, there are seven Research Departments. Thus, the DIW is able to react flexible to new respective current economic and social political topics. Main focus of economic research is now lying upon information society and competition, public economics and innovation. The institute also aims at increasing its number of international cooperations and its participation in research networks worldwide.
2003 DIW Berlin publishes its first Konjunkturprognose (Economic Barometer), an up-to-date indicator of Germany's economic trends.
2006 With the founding of the DIW Graduate Center, the Institute dedicates itself to furthering the careers of young scientists.
2007 DIW Berlin relocates from Berlin-Dahlem to Mohrenstraße in Berlin-Mitte, marking a return to the city's government district.
2013 Marcel Fratzscher becomes new President of the DIW.
2016 The Berlin Economics Research Associates Archived 7 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine (BERA), a postdoctoral program funded by the Leibniz Association to promote the careers of young scientists, is established at DIW Berlin.
