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 in Berlin. Our Berlin office strengthens the institute's presence in the German capital. We build bridges between research and policy.
Dual expertise: scientific networking and policy advice
The team in Berlin 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. We work closely with Berlin universities and communicate research results directly to decision-makers. Politicians, media professionals and other stakeholders find competent answers to economic questions at our institute.
Active networking in the research landscape
Since 2023, the RWI Berlin Network Seminar has regularly invited leading researchers from Berlin and the surrounding area. Anyone interested can participate after registering.
Together with our partner institutions, we coordinate important Berlin research networks and seminar series:
- Berlin School of Economics Applied Micro Seminar (BAMS)
- Berlin Network for Labour Market Research (BeNA)
- Development Economics Network Berlin (DENeB)
- Research Seminar on Environment, Resource and Climate Economics (RSERC)
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. If you would like to find out more about our events or participate in our network seminar, please contact us at Claudia.Schmiedchen@rwi-essen.de.
Upcoming events in 2025
03.09.2025: RWI Berlin Network Seminar
Speaker: Daniel Sonnenstuhl (University of Chicago)
Location: Hybrid – Berlin Office and Teams Link
Time: 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Title: “Employment, Productivity, and Weak Institutions: Experimental Evidence from Nigeria”
Abstract:Consequences of weak institutions can profoundly shape economic activity. In many low-income countries, weak contract enforcement creates an economic environment where firms frequently fail to pay employees’ contractual salaries. This paper investigates how such frictions affect labor supply behavior. Using original survey data from Nigeria, we document that salary delays are a widespread experience among workers, causing pervasive concerns about employers not paying wages as agreed. We then present evidence from a field experiment in which we employ 299 workers for real data classification tasks in Lagos. Delaying salaries for a random subset of employees (who had been informed about this possibility as part of the job offer) does not reduce productivity; if anything, their productivity increases. This result is consistent with the idea that workers want to signal their value to the employer in the presence of uncertainty. Finally, a supplementary field experiment explores how payment uncertainty affects workers’ willingness to accept jobs. Job offers that credibly signal reliable salary payments significantly increase take-up rates. Strikingly, this effect is driven by individuals who initially reported not seeking employment, suggesting that payment uncertainty deters labor market participation among those with viable outside options.
22.10.2025: RWI Berlin Network Seminar
Speaker: Shushanik Margaryan (Universität Potsdam)
Location: Hybrid – Berlin Office and Teams Link
Time: 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Title: tba
Abstract: tba
27.10.2025: Leibniz Open Science Day 2025
Workshop: Better Science for Better Policies
When: 27 October 2025
Where: Berlin, Leibniz-Gemeinschaft
ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, DIW Berlin (the German Institute for Economic Research), WZB (Berlin Social Science Center), and RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research are pleased to invite to the Leibniz Open Science Day 2025: Better Science for Better Policies.
With the growing importance of social sciences in addressing societal challenges, the significance of a meta-scientific perspective is also increasingly on the rise. We need a deeper understanding of how evidence is generated and communicated to society and policymakers.
The keynote speech will be given by Johanna Rickne (Stockholm University)
We invite researchers to submit their extended abstracts (max. 750 words) via e-mail to Heike Henningsen (h.henningsen@zbw.eu) by 1 August. Notifications will be sent by 1 September.
Registration will also be possible from 1 September on.
Limited travel assistance is available for junior researchers (doctoral students, non-tenured postdocs, and assistant professors). Please indicate in your submission whether you will require funding.
More information about the event and the program can be found here.
03.12.2025: RWI Berlin Network Seminar
Speaker: Hannah Klauber(PIK)
Location: Hybrid – Berlin Office and Teams Link
Time: 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Title: tba
Abstract: tba
