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

Become part of our research team

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. 24/26 - January 2026

College Major Choice, Payoffs, and Gender Gaps

Christopher Campos, Pablo Muñoz, Alonso Bucarey, Dante Contreras

No. 23/26 - January 2026

How Parenting Styles Shape Children’s Lifetime Outcomes

Hans Grönqvist, Bart Golsteyn, Thomas Dohmen, Edvin Hertegård, Gerard Pfann

No. 22/26 - January 2026

Directedness in Search

Rasmus Lentz, Jonas Maibom, Espen R. Moen

No. 21/26 - January 2026

Wedges: A Microeconomic Perspective on Misallocation

Lauren Falcao Bergquist, Danial Lashkari, Eric Verhoogen

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.

Articles Research Insights

29 Sep 2025

The Winners and Losers of Collective Bargaining Decentralization
View article
Articles Press

26 Sep 2025 • Süddeutsche Zeitung

Christian Dustmann on Tackling Germany’s Labor Shortages
View article
Podcast Press

3 Sep 2025 • Deutsche Welle

Christian Dustmann on Refugee Integration in Germany’s Labor Market on DW Podcast
View article
Press

22 Aug 2025 • The Parliament Magazine

Christian Dustmann comments on the new EU-US tariff policies in the car sector
View article

Tweets 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

New RFBerlin Discussion Paper!
@VirginiaMinni, Kieu-Trang Nguyen, Heather Sarsons & @CarlaSrebot show how managers transmit gender norms at work. Who sets the norms inside firms?
🔗 https://www.rfberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26040.pdf

New RFBerlin Discussion Paper!
@FenellaCarpena & Simon Galle study how technical change affects workers across occupations. The mechanisms behind adjustment matter.
🔗 https://www.rfberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26039.pdf

New RFBerlin Discussion Paper!
Jim Albrecht, Per-Anders Edin, Raquel Fernandez, Jiwon Lee, Peter Skogman Thoursie & Susan Vroman analyze how parental leave shapes norms. Can policy change culture as well as behavior?
🔗 https://www.rfberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26038.pdf

Upcoming events

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

RFBerlin Applied Economics Seminar

30 June 2026

Raffaele Saggio (University of British Columbia)

TBA

RFBerlin Masterclass

6 Jul – 7 Jul 2026

“Non-wage amenities” by Alexandre Mas

RFBerlin Applied Economics Seminar

7 July 2026

Alexandre Mas (University of California, Berkeley)

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.

Image link

Sign up to our newsletter

Keep up to date with upcoming RFBerlin events, our new research and other news from our research centre.