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Enabling better policy making

 

The FiFo Institute for Public Economics at the University of Cologne unites top quality economic research with a straightforward "hands on"-approach to policy consulting. Our mission is to enable better policy making. Primarily, we engage in all fields related to public finance, to urban economics and local finance, to environmental economics, and to questions of demographic change. We pursue these aims: By listening first. By providing the best information attainable. By answering the relevant research questions. By offering top-quality policy advice. 

Publications

Alongside political consulting the FiFo Institute actively engages in the academic discourse.

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Staff

The staff members of the FiFo Institute introduce themselves.

News

Visions well grounded - urban future in scenarios. Actual fiscal and infrastructural constraints are often seen as "killjoys" when visions for the city of tomorrow are being developed. But a firm grounding and long-term vision always go hand in hand in scenarios of urban opportunities and challenges. Dörte Diemert, Cologne's city treasurer, together with researchers from difu Berlin and FiFo Cologne present their findings in the April issue of "der gemeindehaushalt” (in German).

The Saarland on its way to better fiscal equalisation. Sofia Darmstadt and FiFo Cologne have published their economic analysis of municipal fiscal equalisation in the Saarland. The route is clear: unprejudiced funding for municipalities and districts that reflects tasks, needs and centrality is feasible; anachronisms such as "inhabitant-weighting" may very well go. Order the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; or use its free digital version (both in German).

The failed income tax withholding is extended for six years. In 2016, one of the big German subsidies for maritime shipping, the wage tax withholding for seafarers on ships flying the German flag, was more than doubled from 40% to 100%. Five years later it is clear this had no impact on employment. Apparently, this failure is not a sufficient reason not to extend the aid for German shipping companies for another six years. Michael Thöne comments on this in the Bundestag hearing from the perspective of subsidy control. (In German.)