01.04.2026 • 10/2026
Economic growth in East Germany slightly higher than in the West – Implications of the Joint Economic Forecast Spring 2026 and of new data for the East German economy
In 2025, the East German economy expanded by 0.4%, somewhat more than Germany as a whole (0.2%). For 2026, the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) expects growth of 0.7% for East Germany (Germany: 0.6%). The unemployment rate is likely to amount to 7.9% in the current year, after 7.8% in 2025.
Oliver Holtemöller
Read
Economic Outlook
Joint Economic Forecast Autumn 2026 Recovery Under Structural Stress – Fiscal Policy on Slippery Ground September 24, 2026 The German economy has been recovering since the end of…
See page
Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) – Member of the Leibniz Association
Recovery under structural stress – fiscal policy on slippery ground The recovery of the German economy, although stronger than expected in spring, remains modest. In their joint…
See page
Research Articles
Research Articles Explore cutting-edge research based on CompNet’s micro-aggregated firm-level data and related analytical tools. These articles cover empirical and theoretical…
See page
Behaviour
The maths behind gut decisions First carefully weigh up the costs and benefits and then make a rational decision. This may be the way we want it to be. But in reality, invisible…
See page
CompNet
Welcome to IWH-CompNet 15th Annual IWH-CompNet Conference The program for the 15th Annual IWH-CompNet Conference is now available! View the program and register here ! Program…
See page
25.09.2025 • 29/2025
Fiscal policy will stimulate the East German economy next year – Economic Forecast Fall 2025 for the East German economy
In 2025, the economy in East Germany, as in Germany as a whole, is likely to do little more than stagnate. In the coming year, fiscal policy measures will stimulate the economy, but their effects are likely to be somewhat weaker than in Germany as a whole. The Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) expects the expansion rate of the East German economy in 2025 to be at 0.3%, slightly higher than that of Germany as a whole (0.2%). In both following years, it will rise to 1.1% and 1.2% respectively, which is slightly less than in the west.
Oliver Holtemöller
Read
Macroeconomic Reports
Macroeconomic Reports Local and global: IWH regularly provides current economic data – be it about the state of the East German economy, the macroeconomic development in Germany…
See page
LRF Research Profile
Research Profile of the Department of Laws, Regulations and Factor Markets The Department of Laws, Regulations and Factor Markets conducts research on the interaction of labour…
See page
Guiding Theme and Research Profile
Guiding Theme and Research Profile Guided by its mission statement , the IWH places the understanding of the determinants of long term growth processes at the centre of the…
See page
