THE BERLIN OFFICE OF RWI
RWI in Berlin: Science meets politics
Since 2007, the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research has been combining economic research with practical policy advice at its Berlin location. Our Berlin office strengthens the institute's presence in the German capital. We build bridges between research and politics.
Upcoming events
Speaker: Max Friedrich Steinhardt (FU Berlin)
Location: Hybrid – Berlin Office and Teams Link
Title: Central European Big Bangs: Migration and the Political Economy in the United States (co-authored with Theocharis Grigoariadis and Oliver Bogdan Wach)
Abstract: This paper investigates the transnational political agency of Eastern European diasporas. It specifically examines how the Polish diaspora in the United States (Polonia) shaped American political development during the Cold War. We conceptualise the Polonia as a carrier of political events from the home country, whose latent anti-communist preferences are strategically addressed by politicians. Based on a novel dataset of U.S. Congressional speeches, newspaper media salience, and roll call votes from the 93rd to 101st Congresses, we analyze legislative behavior by employing a two-way fixed effects empirical framework. We find that during exogenous foreign policy shocks that raised Polish salience, such as the rise of Solidarity and the 1980s, Members of Congress representing high Polonia districts significantly intensified pro-Polish floor discourse and conservative voting behavior. Furthermore, we provide tentative evidence that this ideological realignment yielded observable electoral rewards. We propose an electoral equilibrium where the historical trauma of communism works as a mobilization catalyst by redefining the nexus between international shocks, diaspora agency, and domestic political polarization.
Dual expertise: scientific networking and policy advice
The team in Berlin works closely with Berlin universities and communicates research findings directly to decision-makers. Politicians, media professionals and other stakeholders can find expert answers to economic questions here.
The team consists of researchers from all RWI areas of expertise as well as from the research groups Global Migration and Microstructure of Tax and Transfer Systems.
Active networking in the research landscape
Since 2023, the RWI Berlin Network Seminar has regularly invited leading scientists from Berlin and the surrounding area. Interested parties can participate after registering.
Furthermore, we coordinate important Berlin research networks and seminar series together with our partner institutions:
Knowledge transfer through events
Our Berlin office organises conferences, workshops and dialogue formats on current economic policy issues. We bring research, politics and society into conversation.
At RWI Impuls, you will find a confidential space for scientifically sound policy discussions. Here, research and decision-making come together directly. RWI Impuls is our exclusive round-table format in Berlin.
If you would like to learn more about our events or participate in our networking seminar, please contact us at Claudia.Schmiedchen@rwi-essen.de.
