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Our Projects 07.2022 ‐ 12.2026 Evaluation of the InvKG and the federal STARK programme On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, the IWH and the RWI…
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29.09.2022 • 23/2022
Joint Economic Forecast 2/2022: Energy crisis: inflation, recession, welfare loss
The crisis on the gas markets is having a severe impact on the German economy. Soaring gas prices are drastically increasing energy costs, leading to a massive reduction of the purchasing power. Despite a decline in the second half of the year, gross domestic product is expected to expand by 1.4% this year. For the coming year, the institutes expect a contraction by 0.4%, followed by an increase of 1.9% in 2024.
Oliver Holtemöller
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Energiekrise: Inflation, Rezession, Wohlstandsverlust
Dienstleistungsauftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz,
No. 2,
2022
Abstract
Die krisenhafte Zuspitzung auf den Gasmärkten belastet die deutsche Wirtschaft schwer. Durch die reduzierten Gaslieferungen aus Russland ist ein erheblicher Teil des Angebots weggefallen und auch das Risiko gestiegen, dass die verbleibenden Liefer- und Speichermengen im Winter nicht ausreichen, um die Nachfrage zu decken. Die Gaspreise sind in den Sommermonaten in die Höhe geschossen, und auch auf den Terminmärkten zeigen sich für einen längeren Zeitraum deutlich höhere Notierungen. Die dadurch stark steigenden Verbraucherpreise schmälern insbesondere die Kaufkraft der privaten Haushalte. Die Wirtschaftsleistung dürfte im dritten Quartal bereits leicht gesunken sein. Im Winterhalbjahr ist ein deutlicher Rückgang zu erwarten. Dass dieser nicht noch kräftiger ausfällt, ist dem hohen Auftragspolster im Verarbeitenden Gewerbe zu verdanken. Insgesamt dürfte die Produktion in diesem Jahr trotz des Rückgangs in der zweiten Jahreshälfte um 1,4% ausgeweitet werden. Damit halbieren die Institute ihre Prognose vom Frühjahr für dieses Jahr annähernd. Für das kommende Jahr ist zu erwarten, dass das Bruttoinlandsprodukt im Jahresdurchschnitt um 0,4% zurückgeht. Im Frühjahr erwarteten die Institute noch einen Anstieg von 3,1%. In dieser Revision zeigt sich das Ausmaß der Energiekrise. Im Jahr 2024 expandiert das Bruttoinlandsprodukt im Jahresdurchschnitt mit 1,9%. Die Inflationsrate dürfte sich in den kommenden Monaten weiter erhöhen. Jahresdurchschnittlich ergibt sich für das Jahr 2023 mit 8,8% eine Teuerungsrate, die leicht über dem Wert des laufenden Jahres (8,4%) liegt. Erst im Jahr 2024 wird die 2%-Marke allmählich wieder erreicht.
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14.09.2021 • 23/2021
Production bottlenecks delay recovery
The German recovery made good progress over the summer 2021. However, bottlenecks in sea transport and the production of intermediate goods are weighing on world trade. The rise in raw material prices has prompted inflation rates to spike, and an increase in new infections is clouding the outlook again. A weak final quarter is therefore to be expected. The Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) forecasts that German gross domestic product (GDP) will increase by 2.2% in 2021 and 3.6% in 2022 (East Germany: 1.8% and 2.8%).
Oliver Holtemöller
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Conditional Macroeconomic Forecasts: Disagreement, Revisions and Forecast Errors
Alexander Glas, Katja Heinisch
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 7,
2021
Abstract
Using data from the European Central Bank‘s Survey of Professional Forecasters, we analyse the role of ex-ante conditioning variables for macroeconomic forecasts. In particular, we test to which extent the heterogeneity, updating and ex-post performance of predictions for inflation, real GDP growth and the unemployment rate are related to assumptions about future oil prices, exchange rates, interest rates and wage growth. Our findings indicate that inflation forecasts are closely associated with oil price expectations, whereas expected interest rates are used primarily to predict output growth and unemployment. Expectations about exchange rates and wage growth also matter for macroeconomic forecasts, albeit less so than oil prices and interest rates. We show that survey participants can considerably improve forecast accuracy for macroeconomic outcomes by reducing prediction errors for external conditions. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the expectation formation process of experts.
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16.09.2020 • 18/2020
Economy recovers from the shutdown – but a quick return to pre-crisis normality is unlikely
The German economy has bounced back strongly over the summer, recovering a considerable part of the production slump caused by the shutdown in spring. Nevertheless, real gross domestic product in 2020 is likely to contract by 5.7%. In 2021, growth is expected to average 3.2% according to IWH autumn economic forecast. The decline in production in 2020 is likely to be less pronounced in East Germany com¬pared to Germany as a whole.
Oliver Holtemöller
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02.10.2019 • 20/2019
Joint Economic Forecast Autumn 2019: Economy Cools Further – Industry in Recession
Berlin, October 2, 2019 – Germany’s leading economics research institutes have revised their economic forecast for Germany significantly downward. Whereas in the spring they still expected gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 0.8% in 2019, they now expect GDP growth to be only 0.5%. Reasons for the poor performance are the falling worldwide demand for capital goods – in the exporting of which the Germany economy is specialised – as well as political uncertainty and structural changes in the automotive industry. By contrast, monetary policy is shoring up macroeconomic expansion. For the coming year, the economic researchers have also reduced their forecast of GDP growth to 1.1%, having predicted 1.8% in the spring.
Oliver Holtemöller
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05.09.2019 • 18/2019
Downturn in Germany continues
Trade disputes are causing international trade in goods to decline this year. The manufacturing industry in Germany is particularly affected by this. However, a robust labour market is supporting the economy. According to IWH autumn economic forecast, German gross domestic product (GDP) will increase by 0.5% in 2019. At 1%, output growth in East Germany is likely to be significantly higher than in West Germany.
Oliver Holtemöller
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04.04.2019 • 9/2019
Joint Economic Forecast Spring 2019: Significant cooling of the economy – Political risks high
Berlin, April 4 – Germany’s leading economics research institutes have revised their forecasts for economic growth in 2019 significantly downward. They expect Germany’s gross domestic product to increase by 0.8%. This is more than one percentage point less than in autumn 2018, when the forecast was still for 1.9% growth. In contrast, the institutes confirm their previous forecast for the year 2020: gross domestic product is expected to increase by 1.8%. These are the results of the Joint Economic Forecast for spring 2019, which will be presented in Berlin on Thursday.
Oliver Holtemöller
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27.09.2018 • 18/2018
Joint Economic Forecast Autumn 2018: Upturn Loses Momentum
Berlin, 27 September – Germany’s leading economics research institutes have downwardly revised their forecasts for 2018 and 2019. They now expect economic output to increase by 1.7 percent in 2018, and not 2.2 percent as forecast in spring. They also scaled back their 2019 forecast slightly from 2.0 to 1.9 percent. These are the results of the Joint Economic Forecast for autumn 2018 that will be presented in Berlin on Thursday.
Oliver Holtemöller
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