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Project

Accompanying evaluation of the Investment Act for Coal Regions (InvKG) and the STARK federal program

In order to achieve the goals of the Climate Action Plan 2050, the German government committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Phasing out the thermal utilization of coal (especially lignite) can make a substantial contribution to achieving these goals. However, the phase-out of coal poses major structural policy challenges for lignite mining areas (and the locations of hard coal-fired power plants). In order to actively shape structural change, the Coal Region Structural Strengthening Act (StStG) was passed in August 2020.

The project aims to conduct an accompanying evaluation of the measures planned in this law to manage structural change and secure employment in the assisted areas. Specifically, the aim is to analyze the relationship between the measures of the Investment Act for Coal Regions (InvKG) and the STARK federal program with regard to achieving the associated economic policy targets. The policy measures focus primarily on macroeconomic (value added, growth, tax revenue), competitive (productivity), labor market policy (employment, employment structures), compensatory (regional disparities), and climate policy (greenhouse gas reduction, sustainability) targets.


Project start:
31. October 2022

Project end:
29. June 2027

Project management:
Prof. Dr. Torsten Schmidt

Project staff:
Dr. Philipp Breidenbach, Dr. Jochen Dehio, Maximilian Dirks, Ronald Janßen-Timmen, Dr. Uwe Neumann, Dr. Florian Kirsch, Dr. Michael Rothgang

Project partners:
Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle

Funding:
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz