We conduct independent research into significant challenges to the economy, society and the welfare state in a global world.
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Research
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. 28/26 - January 2026
Gender Gaps Under Comparable Tasks: Evidence from Quasi-Random Assignment
Petter Lundborg, Johan Vikström, Negar Khaliliaraghi
No. 27/26 - January 2026
No. 26/26 - January 2026
In Their Own Words: What Workers Like and Dislike about their Jobs
Michele Belot, Xiaoying Liu, Vaios Triantafyllou
No. 25/26 - January 2026
Emotional stability and firm productivity. Evidence from German matched employer-employee data
Giorgio Brunello, Caroline Neuber-Pohl
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.

3 Oct 2025
Number of refugees in Germany rises to record high – RFBerlin Director Dustmann welcomes planned relaxation of work ban
View article
3 Oct 2025
CReAM Report: From Syria to Ukraine: Refugee Inflows and Trends in the European Union
Read Report

29 Sep 2025
Former colleagues enabled East Germans to find new job opportunities in West Germany
Read nowTweets by @RF_Berlin
🧠New RFBerlin Research Insight!
👥 @luo_qinyue, @LiaoliangZ & Xinhan Zhang
Using a unique setting in China where age caps in job ads are legal, this study reveals how explicit age requirements shape who applies, and who doesn’t.
One of the surprising findings? Even younger
Upcoming events
RFBerlin hosts a wide array of events aimed at fostering academic research and collaboration.
RFBerlin Event
11 Jun – 12 Jun 2026
RFBerlin-CEPR Annual Symposium in Labour Economics 2026
RFBerlin Applied Economics Seminar
23 June 2026
Antonio Cabrales (Charles III University of Madrid)
TBA
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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