28.09.2026 • 29/2026
East Germany also benefits from higher foreign demand – Implications of the Joint Economic Forecast Autumn 2026 and official regional data for the East German economy
In 2026, economic activity in East Germany is expected to grow significantly, though somewhat less strongly than in Germany as a whole. In the years ahead, the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) forecasts only minor differences in growth rates between East and West Germany. The East German economy is expected to grow by 0.9% in the current year (Germany as a whole: 1.3%). Thereafter, output in East Germany is likely to expand at a pace broadly similar to that of Germany overall, rising by 0.9% in 2027 and by 0.4% in 2028.
Oliver Holtemöller
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Policy Output
Reports › CompNet’s flagship and special reports provide in-depth, data-driven analysis on productivity, competitiveness, and related economic trends, using the latest CompNet…
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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…
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04.09.2025 • 26/2025
Recovery on shaky ground – tariffs dampen growth, but a change in fiscal policy is on the way
In late summer 2025, it is still unclear whether the German economy is on the road to recovery, as it has to cope with the dampening effect of higher US tariffs in the second half of the year. It is not until 2026 that fiscal policy stimulus measures, combined with low key interest rates, will probably lead to an economic upturn. According to the autumn forecast of the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH), production is then expected to increase by 0.8%, following 0.2% in 2025. Similar rates of expansion are also expected for East Germany. In June, the IWH economists were forecasting growth of 1.1% for 2026 and 0.4% for the current year.
Oliver Holtemöller
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East Germany
The Nasty Gap 30 years after unification: Why East Germany is still 20% poorer than the West Dossier In a nutshell The East German economic convergence process is hardly…
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Archive
Media Response Archive 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 December 2021 IWH: Ausblick auf Wirtschaftsjahr 2022 in Sachsen mit Bezug auf IWH-Prognose zu Ostdeutschland: "Warum Sachsens…
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Speed Projects
Speed Projects On this page, you will find the IWH EXplore Speed Projects in chronologically descending order. 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2021 SPEED 2021/01…
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Alumni
Alumni IWH provides guidance and support in job placement after graduation, including letters of recommendation and career advice. Graduates have found placements in academia…
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6th CompNet Annual Conference
Innovation, firm size, productivity and imbalances in the age of de-globalization 6 th CompNet Annual Conference, June 29-30, 2017, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium As the…
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ProdTalks
CompNet ProdTalks CompNet ProdTalks is a monthly recurring 1.5 hour virtual event, two selected papers will be presented including presentation, discussion and Q&A. The top ic…
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