: THE INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH (WSI)
The Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) is an independent academic institute within the Hans-Böckler-Foundation, a non-profit organisation fostering co-determination and promoting research and academic study on behalf of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB).
Since it was founded in 1946, the institute's focus has always been on the improvement of life chances, on social justice and fair working and living conditions. Economists, sociologists, political scientists and law scholars work on social, economic and labour market policy issues. On the basis of their analyses, researchers elaborate policy proposals aimed at overcoming labour market restrictions and social problems to the benefit of employees.
Source: WSI
Key Research Topics
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Labour market and working conditions
In recent years, labour market policy has been challenged by huge structural changes, most of all by the increase in non-standard and often also precarious forms of employment. Moreover, quality of work has changed – growing job-related stress being one major example.
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Wage policy, collective bargaining and industrial relations
Wage policy
Wage policy, collective bargaining policy and industrial relations have been the main fields of expertise in WSI research and public policy advice for decades.
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Social inequality, social (des-)integration and social policy
Research is concerned with welfare state and social policy changes, structural causes for the increase in social inequality, and the search for possibilities to foster a fairer distribution of life chances.
The research area monitors economic, social and political developments on the European level and evaluates the consequences, risks and opportunities for employees, households, firms and the future of the welfare state.
Malagardē, Athēna / Sengayrac, Simon-Pierre / Schulten, Thorsten
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The minimum wage in Greece, France and Germany
The study provides a comparative overview of the new mechanism for setting the statutory minimum wage in Greece in relation to the French and German models.
Müller, Torsten / Schulten, Thorsten
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After Landmark EU Court Judgement: The EU Minimum Wages Directive Is Alive and Kicking
The landmark ruling validates the directive's approach to adequate wages and collective bargaining, dealing only minor setbacks to its implementation across Europe.
Eurofound 2025
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Digitalisation of social protection
The report focuses on the digitalisation of front- and back-office processes in monetary social benefits. The automation removes the need to apply and prevents non-take-up, but people in atypical situations are often excluded from digital processes.
Löw, Neva / Pichl, Maximilian
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Climate Refugees Are Already Here — And Democracy Hangs In The Balance
The climate crisis and global migration are closely linked. Socio-ecological transformation and advocacy for the right not to have to leave can only succeed through preserving and expanding democratic spaces.
Schulten, Thorsten / Lübker, Malte
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Germany’s Minimum Wage Hike In Accordance With The European Minimum Wage Directive
The German Minimum Wage Commission has, for the first time, recognised 60 % of the median wage as a formal reference point for the statutory minimum – a decisive policy shift bringing Germany into line with the EU Minimum Wage Directive.
Erol, Şerife / Kärcher, Anneliese / Schulten, Thorsten / Walser, Manfred
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Germany’s Subcontracting Ban in the Meat Industry
The European Parliament is preparing a report on abusive subcontracting practices across the EU. The experience in the German meat industry has demonstrated that a ban on subcontracting can be a suitable instrument to combat extreme forms of exploitation.
The authors show that voluntary women’s quotas in companies are linked to more egalitarian gender beliefs among employees. In conclusion, the findings indicate that policy feedback mechanisms operate not only at the national but also at the workplace level.
Höpner, Martin / Schmidt, Susanne K. / Seikel, Daniel
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Asymmetry resolved? Revisiting negative and positive European integration
Is Fritz W. Scharpf's influential theory of an institutional asymmetry between negative and positive integration in the European Union still relevant? The authors find that the asymmetry persists, albeit in a nuanced way.
Drawing on nationally representative panel data spanning the years 2019–2023, the article investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on subjective well-being of the solo self-employed and employees in Germany.
Interview with Daniel Seikel, 24.01.2025
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THE EUROPEAN TAILWIND FOR POVERTY-PROOF MINIMUM WAGES WOULD BE GONE
On January 14, the Advocate General at the ECJ recommended that the EU minimum wage directive be annulled. How likely is it that the judges will follow his vote? And what would the consequences be?
