Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung

RWI Essen is a modern center for scientific research and evidence-based policy advice, retaining its strong roots in the region. The institute was founded in 1926 by Walther Däbritz as the West German Department of the Institut für Konjunkturforschung (now: DIW/Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung) in Berlin, in reply to a suggestion from members of the Ruhr Basin economy. Since 1943 the Institute is an independent and non-commercial establishment.

In 2003 RWI Essen developed a coherent research program for the next years following the Leitmotif: "Individual prosperity and economic policy in the times of demographic and societal change." Focal points of the research include analysis of the labor market, educational research, migration and environmental economics. Particular attention is paid to the diagnosis and forecasting of the German economy and those of leading developed countries, as well as to structural changes within the economy, i.e. in manufacturing, medium-sized businesses and the IT sector. Due to the location of the institute, analysis of the economy of North Rhine-Westphalia is also on the agenda. Research is based on the latest theoretical concepts, as well as scientific methods. The results are published as a rule and are thus available to the public.

Research is organized in seven areas of competence:

• Labor Markets, Population and Social Security
• Migration, Integration and Education
• Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Performance
• Environment and Resources
• Growth and Cycles
• Public Economics
• Data

Together with Ruhr University Bochum, University of Dortmund and University of Duisburg-Essen RWI Essen just founded the Ruhr Graduate School of Economics. RGS Econ explicitly combines the expertise of researchers from all four participating institutions, thus providing an ideal place for research and higher education in economics. Emphasis is on analytical theories and advanced methods (www.ruhr-econ.de).

Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung
Hohenzollernstraße 1-3
45128 Essen
Tel: +49 (0) 201 / 81 49 - 0
Fax: +49 (0) 201 / 81 49 - 200
E-Mail: rwi@rwi-essen.de

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Further Information: www.rwi-essen.de/