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Economics in Brief

Economics in Brief provides quick and concise information on current themes.

Forwarding to KfW Research

March 2023 Germans show broad support for the expansion of renewable energy(PDF, 168 KB, accessible)
March 2023 Don’t be afraid of zombies: Debt sustainability is not a problem for 95% of SMEs in Germany(PDF, 113 KB, accessible)
February 2023 Italy’s debt sustainability in the new interest environment: More challenging but still doable(PDF, 154 KB, accessible)
May 2022 Low-income countries are in the grip of soaring global market prices for fuel and foodstuffs(PDF, 112 KB, accessible)
February 2021 Coronavirus and structural change threaten jobs – further training more important than ever(PDF, 123 KB, non-accessible)
August 2020 Social media – a tool for SMEs to recruit talent(PDF, 94 KB, non-accessible)
August 2020 Coronavirus crisis has unsettled the VC market and changed the investor landscape(PDF, 91 KB, non-accessible)
July 2020 Climate neutrality: Energy efficiency of buildings remains crucial!(PDF, 102 KB, non-accessible)
June 2020 Green hydrogen – a key building block for a successful energy transition(PDF, 130 KB, non-accessible)
June 2020 Coronavirus crisis drives shift to flexible and digital working in SMEs(PDF, 93 KB, non-accessible)
May 2020 Recession in the Gulf spells trouble for many developing and emerging economies(PDF, 114 KB, non-accessible)
May 2020 How the coronavirus crisis is affecting the German labour market(PDF, 85 KB, non-accessible)
April 2020 Promotional programme makes 55,000 dwellings burglary-resistant each year(PDF, 113 KB, non-accessible)
February 2020 Export weakness under the microscope: Where are the headwinds in the euro area coming from?(PDF, 86 KB, non-accessible)
February 2020 Latin America – denouncing inequality(PDF, 102 KB, non-accessible)
January 2020 Estonia is a technologically savvy place but not all is future-oriented yet(PDF, 95 KB, non-accessible)
October 2019 Just under 100,000 new businesses were started in the creative industries in 2018(PDF, 142 KB, non-accessible)
October 2019 South Africa: The debate on reforms is slowly starting(PDF, 91 KB, non-accessible)
October 2019 German SMEs divided over possible consequences of a hard Brexit(PDF, 95 KB, non-accessible)
September 2019 Bulgaria plans to join the euro – is the Southeast European EU country ready?(PDF, 139 KB, non-accessible)
August 2019 Use of foreign currency in Russia(PDF, 237 KB, non-accessible)
July 2019 Germany’s economy: is an industrial recession less contagious than before?(PDF, 226 KB, non-accessible)
May 2019 Energy crisis in South Africa – a barrier to higher economic growth(PDF, 236 KB, non-accessible)
April 2019 Protests in Algeria also highlight the limitations of the economic model(PDF, 233 KB, non-accessible)
March 2019 Nigeria after the elections: no recovery without reforms(PDF, 236 KB, non-accessible)
February 2019 Germany has fewer women in executive positions than the international average(PDF, 327 KB, non-accessible)
February 2019 Female ownership decreases further in Germany's SME sector(PDF, 226 KB, non-accessible)
January 2019 Access to finance is main obstacle for SMEs in Africa(PDF, 366 KB, non-accessible)
December 2018 Why are German firms reluctant to invest in Africa?(PDF, 266 KB, non-accessible)
December 2018 Slovakia must now change its course(PDF, 239 KB, non-accessible)
November 2018 Ethiopia – from land of famine to land of hope?(PDF, 242 KB, non-accessible)
November 2018 Financial investors in the M&A market for SMEs: activities are picking up slightly(PDF, 233 KB, non-accessible)
September 2018 Downturn in Greenfield investments in Asia – cyclical or structural?(PDF, 223 KB, non-accessible)
August 2018 European financial assistance – Germany’s exposure is average(PDF, 42 KB, non-accessible)
July 2018 Migrants’ start-up propensity is now in line with the average(PDF, 51 KB, non-accessible)
March 2018 Interest rate reversal – a threat to capital flows to developing and emerging economies?(PDF, 80 KB, non-accessible)
March 2018 The performance of the German innovation system is falling behind other countries(PDF, 65 KB, non-accessible)
February 2018 Public debt reduction in the euro area – initial progress(PDF, 63 KB, non-accessible)
January 2018 Start-up location Germany: good with upside potential(PDF, 96 KB, non-accessible)
November 2017 Energy transition in France – winds of change with Nicolas Hulot(PDF, 81 KB, non-accessible)
October 2017 German exports are dominated by automobiles(PDF, 78 KB, non-accessible)
October 2017 Green Bonds: global market is growing fast and issuers are becoming more diverse(PDF, 79 KB, non-accessible)
September 2017 Labour market in the Czech Republic sets standards(PDF, 81 KB, non-accessible)
September 2017 Dark clouds are gathering on the UK’s economic horizon(PDF, 88 KB, non-accessible)
September 2017 The whole euro area is recovering – the whole euro area …? Yes!(PDF, 87 KB, non-accessible)
August 2017 Nigeria – a poor example of macro-economic adjustment?(PDF, 101 KB, non-accessible)
August 2017 Emergin markets have become more important for Germany's foreign trade(PDF, 81 KB, non-accessible)
July 2017 Oil prices and bond yields – hand-in-hand again(PDF, 111 KB, non-accessible)
July 2017 Five years of ‘whatever it takes’: three words that saved the euro(PDF, 58 KB, non-accessible)
July 2017 Asymmetric shocks within the euro area – absorption mechanism needed(PDF, 65 KB, non-accessible)
June 2017 US climate policy jeopardises SMEs’ energy efficiency gains(PDF, 45 KB, non-accessible)
June 2017 In its fourth year, Spain’s recovery has overcome many crisis effects(PDF, 43 KB, non-accessible)
June 2017“Taper tangram” – the ECB’s exit is a game of patience
June 2017The USA has no economic policy
June 2017Is climate protection really bad for the US economy?
May 2017Food inflation: a brief intermezzo
March 2017At what level might tariffs be set after a “hard Brexit”?
March 2017R&D expenditure in Germany: positive trend since 1995, but levels need to increase further
March 2017The external debt levels of the poorest Sub-Saharan countries must be monitored closely
February 2017Mexico – struggle for growth and progress
January 2017What is behind China’s capital outflows?
January 2017The current weakness of many emerging markets evokes the concept of the middle income trap
January 2017Banking regulation in Europe: further steps on a long road
December 2016Germany's SMEs after US election and before Brexit: keep markets open!
December 2016The current external imbalances from a global and from a German perspective
November 2016Supporting the private sector would greatly benefit the countries of North Africa
October 2016Should the lingering weakness of global trade be a cause for concern?
September 2016Keeping a watch on emerging market corporate debt
September 2016Japan – a trailblazer in economic policy change?
September 2016KfW Research Business Cycle Clock Euro Area
May 2016Ageing in developing East Asia requires broad policy responses
May 2016Brazil: investment suffers strongly during recession
May 2016Market for green bonds is taking root
April 2016Germany’s external trade – driven by demand or by the exchange rate?
April 2016Mexico – portfolio inflows finance a large portion of the current account deficit
March 2016SME business performance – research and development pays off
March 2016Oil – suppliers are calling the shots
March 2016MENAP – the low oil price makes a big difference
February 2016Weak productivity growth in Germany – is it a problem?
February 2016Will the free movement of workers survive a Brexit deal at the EU Summit?
January 2016Commodity price decline weighs on investment
December 2015Spain: political uncertainty overshadows good economic outlook
December 2015The remarkable weakness of world trade and its implications for Germany
December 2015Euro area: the credit channel is working!
November 2015China: Interest rates set free
November 2015New capital for Greek banks
November 2015Strong growth makes India shine but its policy lags behind
October 2015Efficient investment for higher growth in the euro area
October 2015Inflation quiet thanks to oil?
October 2015China’s shift is the right approach, some worries are exaggerated
September 2015Business size and stages of economic development
September 2015Peru favours investment
September 2015Companies in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme: does climate policy influence their competitiveness?
September 2015US monetary policy: Courage needed!
September 2015Turbulent times ahead for foreign currency debtors in emerging markets
August 2015More Europe! On the road to Energy Union
July 2015TTIP from the perspective of developing and emerging countries
July 201525 years of economic and social union – proving the strength of Germany's social market economy
June 2015China's foreign exchange reserves – a currency policy with risks and side-effects
June 2015United Kingdom – “political construction sites” create uncertainty
April 2015Brazil’s consumers are in a tight spot
April 2015The BRICS – important trading partners for Germany
March 2015Who benefits from the devaluation of the euro?
March 2015A strong US dollar – a blessing or a curse?
February 2015Stressed Russian banking sector
February 2015Russia’s external debt
February 2015Without addressing structural weaknesses, Emerging Markets will struggle to make progress
February 2015Business climate increases as the year draws to a close
December 2014Eurozone grows as Lithuania joins
December 2014The Eurasian Customs and Economic Union
October 2014Ireland: Successful return
October 2014The new ECB test and banks' equity
October 2014Falling sales expectations curb SME innovation activity in Germany
August 2014Is an EU Association Agreement worth it?
July 2014New assistance frameworks for BRICS countries in place, but many questions remain
June 2014Controversial TTIP agreement between EU and USA
June 2014What next for global energy investments?
April 2014EnEV 2014: Housing stock is key to success – nine million buildings in need of renovation
April 2014France's plans deserve to be implemented
April 2014Interest rate liberalisation in China - necessary, but risky
April 2014Ukraine – Small economy, major problems
April 2014Russia's "Dutch disease"
April 2014SRM and SRF: a success – by European standard
April 2014Japan: "Abenomics" – a success story?
March 2014SME loans in southern Europe - are the lean times over?
March 2014The second energy turnaround – what do companies think?
March 2014EEG power runs along the supply chain
January 2014The Bali WTO resolutions: plenty of boastings, but not much substance
January 2014Young companies lead the way in the use of social media
December 2013Euro newcomer Latvia
December 2013Female Leaders – An economic success factor
November 2013Climate change also affects the residential sector
November 2013United Kingdom: Recovery with risks
November 2013Transport infrastructure – the municipalities are in need!
October 2013Backloading has no material impact on CO2 prices or reduction initiatives
October 2013Generation of low birth rates accelerates trend in older self-employed workers
September 2013Energy cooperatives need to professionalise following elections
September 2013Social enterprises as an investment?
August 2013Start-up activity in the skilled trades: visible change
August 2013Municipalities, prepare for old age!
August 2013After a sustained boom Turkey is facing a difficult period
July 2013With a little help from a friend
July 2013Necessity entrepreneurs tend to compete on price more often
June 2013Welcome, Croatia!
June 2013Yen depreciation slows German exports
June 2013Poverty in developing and industriealised countries - one term, two meanings
June 2013Alternative welfare is measureable
May 2013Remittances from migrant workers stabilise the economies of developing countries
March 2013Germany is increasingly attracting qualified migrants
February 2013Rising power supply costs, rising electricity rates: who carries the additional burden?
January 2013Updated view of the economic situation: the World Bank Report "Global Economic Prospects", January 2013
January 2013The confusing proliferation of developing country classifications
January 2013House price correction is underway in the Netherlands
December 2012From exports to foreign investments: SMEs tap into foreign markets
December 2012Why do young enterprises fail?
November 2012ECB monetary policy: Currently no risk of inflation