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

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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. 134/25 - December 2025

The Fertility, Marriage, and Gender Equality Quandary

Anson Zhou

No. 133/25 - December 2025

Firms’ Beliefs About Wage Setting

Antoine Bertheau, Christian Hoeck

No. 132/25 - December 2025

Parental Leave and Intimate Partner Violence

N. Meltem Daysal, Dan Anderberg, Line Hjorth Andersen, Mette Ejrnæs

No. 131/25 - December 2025

Paying disadvantaged teenagers to stay in school

Jack Britton, Nick Ridpath, Ben Waltmann, Carmen Villa

Research Insights

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

News

RFBerlin research and researchers are regularly featured in the press.

Press

3 Nov 2025 • Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR)

Sascha Becker on Luther’s Influence from Wittenberg to the Digital Age
View article
Press release

30 Oct 2025

Luther’s network of relationships was crucial to the early spread of the Reformation
View article
Research Insights

28 Oct 2025

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

28 Oct 2025 • L’Express

Christian Dustmann on Europe’s Long-Term Approach to Immigration and Integration
View article

Tweets by @RF_Berlin

Tonight we’re hosting the RFBerlin Holiday Party! 🎄✨
Looking forward to celebrating the end of a very successful year with our colleagues and friends.

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🆕 RFBerlin Discussion Paper!
@AnsonZhou9 documents countries struggling to have high fertility, low single parenthood, and gender income equality all at once. A unified model shows this tension is structural, and only lowering women’s child-rearing costs eases it
🔗…

🆕 RFBerlin Discussion Paper!
@ProfDavidDorn, Florian Schoner, @SeebacherMoritz, Lisa Simon, & @Woessmann use Linkedin data to measure multidimensional skills and uncover a dynamic gender skill gap explaining a large share of the earnings gap.
🔗 https://www.rfberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/25136.pdf

🆕 RFBerlin Discussion Paper!
Antoine Bertheau & @CPHoeck study firms’ beliefs about wage setting, uncovering how employers perceive labor supply, competition, and worker outside options, and how these beliefs shape wage offers.
🔗 https://www.rfberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/25133.pdf

Upcoming events

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

RFBerlin Masterclass

6 Jul – 7 Jul 2026

“Non-wage amenities” by Alexandre Mas

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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