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We conduct independent research into significant challenges to the economy, society and the welfare state in a global world.

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This year we welcome Janet Currie, Professor of Economics at Yale University, for a lecture on youth mental health, one of the defining challenges of our time. Join us and reserve your seat.

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Research

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The ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin Institute for the Economy and the Future of Work (RFBerlin) engages in research designed to raise the standard of public debate and create the best possible basis for policy making.

Discussion papers

No. 254/26 - September 2026

Estimating treatment-effect heterogeneity across sites, in multi-site randomized experiments with few units per site.

Clement de Chaisemartin, Antoine Deeb

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No. 253/26 - September 2026

Organization of Production and Technology Adoption: Evidence from Jewish Immigration and the Tailoring Industry in England

Yannis Kastis, Hillary Vipond

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No. 252/26 - September 2026

Pay Transparency, Wage Inequality, and the Role of Collective Bargaining

Aspasia Bizopoulou, Elias Einiö, Tuomo Virkola

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No. 251/26 - September 2026

Assessing Hypothetical Scenarios for Estimating Labor Supply Responses: Evidence from a Pension Reform

Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln, Jonas Jessen, Pinchuan Ong, Jessica Pan

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Research Insights

Concise, research-based articles for scholars,
policymakers, and anyone curious about the world.

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No. 36/26 - September 2026

Can AI-Powered Mental Health Apps Improve Well-Being

Can a mental health app on your phone sustainably improve psychological wellbeing? New evidence from Mexico suggests that it can.

Opportunity Technology

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No. 35/26 - September 2026

Who Gains When Restaurants Adopt Digital Platforms?

When a restaurant adopts a delivery platform, it gains access to new markets and a workforce outside its own payroll. This changes the boundary of the firm: tasks that once had to be done inside the restaurant, or were too costly to provide at all, can now be supplied through a platform. This study asks who wins and who loses when this happens.

Human Capital Opportunity Technology

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No. 34/26 - September 2026

Salary Caps for Public Managers: Cutting Costs, or Losing Talent?

Salary caps for public-sector workers are a popular policy in many countries. While these caps can contribute to fiscal savings, many argue that they also undermine the efficiency of public-sector organizations by driving talented workers away.

Human Capital Opportunity

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CReAM Reports

Data-driven reports on migration and related economic and social trends, highlighting the latest developments across Europe and beyond.

All CReAM Reports

No. 6/26 - July 2026

Employment of Immigrants in the European Union: Progress, Persistent Gaps, and Untapped Potential

Employment among immigrants in the European Union has reached its highest level since 2017, yet important differences remain across origin groups, countries and demographic characteristics. While EU immigrants frequently match or exceed native employment rates across Member States, substantial employment disadvantages remain concentrated among non-EU immigrant women and highly educated non-EU immigrants, pointing to significant untapped labour market potential.

Human Capital Integration Labor Force Opportunity

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No. 5/26 - June 2026

The Refugee Population in Europe in 2025: A Decade of Growth Comes to a Halt

The rapid growth of Europe's refugee population has come to an end. Drawing on new UNHCR data, this report shows how falling asylum inflows, the naturalisation of earlier refugee cohorts in Germany, and a reform of temporary protection in Italy are reshaping refugee numbers.

Demography Integration

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No. 4/26 - May 2026

Immigrant Educational Attainment in the European Union: Origin, Gender and Cross-Country Differences

This report examines educational attainment among natives, EU-born immigrants, and non-EU-born immigrants across the European Union, highlighting how differences by origin, gender, and country continue to shape educational outcomes despite a general rise in tertiary attainment since 2017.

Human Capital Opportunity

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News

RFBerlin research and researchers are regularly featured in the press.

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Press release

7 Sep 2026

Wage caps can lead to less management quality in state-owned firms

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Podcast

20 Aug 2026 • RFBerlin Podcast: Working Papers

Who actually helps you find a job? What German reunification reveals about how we really find work, and the one connection that makes the difference.

Listen now

CReAM at RFBerlin Podcast

13 Aug 2026 • RFBerlin Podcast: Working Papers

Moving away? How people decide to migrate, and whether any policy can change it.

Listen now

Announcement Podcast

12 Aug 2026

Introducing Working Papers: a new podcast season from RFBerlin

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Tweets by @RF_Berlin

ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin

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Can AI-powered mental health apps improve well-being? Research by Manuela Angelucci, Raissa Fabregas & Antonia Vazquez evaluates an AI-powered mental health app among 1,964 women experiencing psychological distress in Mexico. The results show

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ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin

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22 Sep

🗞️ The weekly release of our Discussion Paper Series!
You find more here: https://buff.ly/B8AMvLL

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ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin

Verified account @rf_berlin ·

16 Sep

We’re proud to congratulate our Senior Research Officer, Pietro Campa (@Pi_Campa), on winning the joint NOeG&SEA Young Economist Award in Vienna for his work on social interactions and intergenerational mobility. 🎉 Huge thanks to the organisers and award committee!

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ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin

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16 Sep

@Pi_Campa

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Upcoming events

RFBerlin hosts a wide array of events aimed at fostering academic research and collaboration.

Masterclass

24 Sep – 25 Sep 2026

“People, Practices, and Productivity: A Review of New Advances in Personnel Economics”

Taught by Christopher Stanton and Guido Friebel

Applied Economics Seminar

25 September 2026

Christopher Stanton (Harvard Business School)

Remote Work Makes Organizations Top-Heavy

Cooperative Event

5 Oct – 6 Oct 2026

Xavier D’Haultfoeuille (CREST-ENSAE)

Causal Inference with Differences-in-Differences: Credible Answers to Hard Questions

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Handbook of Labor Economics – Chapter Previews

In anticipation of the upcoming Handbook of Labor Economics, we offer early access to select chapters through our Discussion Papers series. Following our 2023 conference on this new edition, first chapters are now available for preview, featuring insights from leading research in economics and labor.

We conduct independent research into significant challenges to the economy, society and the welfare state in a global world.

Sign up for the RFBerlin Annual Public Lecture!

Become part of our research team

Research

Equity, Inclusion & Opportunity

Migration & Global Collaboration

Technology, Trade & Human Capital

Discussion papers

Research Insights

CReAM Reports

News

Wage caps can lead to less management quality in state-owned firms

Who actually helps you find a job? What German reunification reveals about how we really find work, and the one connection that makes the difference.

Moving away? How people decide to migrate, and whether any policy can change it.

Introducing Working Papers: a new podcast season from RFBerlin

Upcoming events

Masterclass

“People, Practices, and Productivity: A Review of New Advances in Personnel Economics”

Applied Economics Seminar

Christopher Stanton (Harvard Business School)

Cooperative Event

Xavier D’Haultfoeuille (CREST-ENSAE)

Handbook of Labor Economics – Chapter Previews

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