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Research

Fact of the day

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.

Equity, Inclusion & Opportunity
Equity, Inclusion & Opportunity
Migration & Global Collaboration
Migration & Global Collaboration
Technology, Trade & Human Capital
Technology, Trade & Human Capital

Discussion papers

No. 102/25 - November 2025

The Lasting Effects of Working while in School: A Long-Term Follow-Up

Mery Ferrando, Noemi Katzkowicz, Thomas Le Barbanchon, Diego Ubfal

No. 101/25 - November 2025

A Loan You Can’t Refuse: Credit Rationing and Organized Crime Infiltration of Distressed Firms

Paolo Pinotti, Gianmarco Daniele, Marco De Simoni, Domenico Marchetti, Giovanna Marcolongo

No. 100/25 - November 2025

Monopsony Power and Firm Organization

Lukas Delgado-Prieto, Álvaro Jáñez

No. 99/25 - November 2025

Bargaining and Inequality in the Labor Market

Sydnee Caldwell, Ingrid Haegele, Jörg Heining

Research Insights

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

No. 3/25 - October 2025

The Long-Term Effects of Air Pollution on Health and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from Socialist East Germany

New evidence shows that sustained exposure to dirty air can harm health for decades and can lower lifetime earnings.

Learn more

No. 2/25 - October 2025

Should we keep expanding the number of university graduates? Lessons from the UK in 1960-2004

When almost everyone can go to university, what becomes of inequality and opportunity once policy meets reality?

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No. 1/25 - September 2025

The Winners and Losers of Collective Bargaining Decentralization

In Italy, national agreements between unions and employers set wages and conditions. New evidence reveals how firms opting out of this system reshape pay, job stability, and survival.

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News

RFBerlin research and researchers are regularly featured in the press.

Press

6 Nov 2025 • Handelsblatt

The Economics of Gender Equality and Family Choices
View article
Press

5 Nov 2025 • Süddeutsche Zeitung

Claudia Goldin on Gender Equality, Work, and Family Policy
View article
Call for paper

3 Nov 2025

Call for Papers Now Open: Health and Economic Well-Being
View article
Press

3 Nov 2025 • La Repubblica

Izabela Wnuk-Soares on Poland’s Economic Growth and EU Integration
View article

Tweets by @RF_Berlin

The first presentation of the workshop is on the Italian administrative data, introduced by @c_giannetto.

Today, we are hosting the first EU/UK Administrative Data Workshop, an annual event designed to improve access to and understanding of administrative datasets. @GabrieleLucche5 introduces the program.

Upcoming events

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

RFBerlin Event

13 Nov – 14 Nov 2025

RFBerlin EU/UK Administrative Data Workshop

Internal Event

RFBerlin Masterclass

18 Nov – 19 Nov 2025

“Forced Migration: Insights from Economic History” by Sascha O. Becker

RFBerlin Event

26 Mar – 27 Mar 2026

RFBerlin Migration Forum

Migration: Drivers, Consequences, and Governance

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.

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