We conduct independent research into significant challenges to the economy, society and the welfare state in a global world.

About us
Work with us

Become part of our research team

Join as a PhD student
Join as a postdoc

Research

Learn more
Fact of the day

The ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin Institute for the Economy and the Future of Work (RFBerlin) engages in research designed to raise the standard of public debate and create the best possible basis for policy making.

Equity, Inclusion & Opportunity
Equity, Inclusion & Opportunity
View projects
Migration & Global Collaboration
Migration & Global Collaboration
View projects
CReAM @ RFBerlin
Technology, Trade & Human Capital
Technology, Trade & Human Capital
View projects

Discussion papers

No. 211/26 - August 2026

Female-Targeted Hiring Subsidies, Firm Learning, and Women’s Employment

Mimosa Distefano, Lorenzo Incoronato, Anna Raute

View paper

No. 210/26 - August 2026

Crime Victims’ Children

Paul Bingley, Lorenzo Cappellari, Marco Ovidi, Matteo Sandi

View paper

No. 209/26 - August 2026

Neighborhood Change and Local Economic Activity

Lorenzo Neri, Hector Blanco

View paper

No. 208/26 - August 2026

A Helping Hand Goes a Long Way: Long-Term Effects of Counseling and Support to Welfare-to-Work Program Recipients

Gustavo J. Bobonis, Aneta Bonikowska, Philip Oreopoulos, W Craig Riddell, Steven P. Ryan

View paper
View all Discussion Papers

Research Insights

Concise, research-based articles for scholars,
policymakers, and anyone curious about the world.

All Research Insights

No. 30/26 - August 2026

The Rules of the Game: How Wage Bargaining Rules Shape the Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is often attributed to broad differences in education, experience, or career choices. However, even when men and women hold the same positions within the same firm, a pay gap often persists. Our recent study identifies a critical, yet often overlooked driver of this inequality: the specific rules governing wage bargaining.

Learn more

No. 29/26 - August 2026

Why Class Background Matters for Professional Success 

Organizations and researchers have rightly examined the roles of gender and race in career disparities within elite occupations. But there is a glaring omission: class. Why? There is a common assumption that once someone attends an elite college or receives an elite job, the effects of class are effectively “washed out” and cease to matter. We challenge this assumption in our recent paper. 

Learn more

No. 28/26 - July 2026

Still Waters, Rapid Currents

Picture a marketing professional drafting ad copy with a chatbot, an IT support specialist troubleshooting user issues, or a teacher spotting AI-generated student homework. Two years after ChatGPT’s launch, generative AI has rapidly become part of white-collar work. Yet for adopters, the data show no differential changes in earnings or hours.

Learn more

CReAM Reports

Data-driven reports on migration and related economic and social trends, highlighting the latest developments across Europe and beyond.

All CReAM Reports

No. 6/26 - July 2026

Employment of Immigrants in the European Union: Progress, Persistent Gaps, and Untapped Potential

Employment among immigrants in the European Union has reached its highest level since 2017, yet important differences remain across origin groups, countries and demographic characteristics. While EU immigrants frequently match or exceed native employment rates across Member States, substantial employment disadvantages remain concentrated among non-EU immigrant women and highly educated non-EU immigrants, pointing to significant untapped labour market potential.

View report

No. 5/26 - June 2026

The Refugee Population in Europe in 2025: A Decade of Growth Comes to a Halt

The rapid growth of Europe's refugee population has come to an end. Drawing on new UNHCR data, this report shows how falling asylum inflows, the naturalisation of earlier refugee cohorts in Germany, and a reform of temporary protection in Italy are reshaping refugee numbers.

View report

No. 4/26 - May 2026

Immigrant Educational Attainment in the European Union: Origin, Gender and Cross-Country Differences

This report examines educational attainment among natives, EU-born immigrants, and non-EU-born immigrants across the European Union, highlighting how differences by origin, gender, and country continue to shape educational outcomes despite a general rise in tertiary attainment since 2017.

View report

News

RFBerlin research and researchers are regularly featured in the press.

View all press
CReAM at RFBerlin Press

26 Jul 2026 • Radio France Internationale

Tommaso Frattini speaks on record immigrant employment in the EU
View article
Press

24 Jul 2026

CReAM Report on the Employment of Immigrants in International Media
View article
Press release

24 Jul 2026

Immigrant Employment Rate in the EU at a Record High 
View article
CReAM at RFBerlin

23 Jul 2026

Employment of Immigrants in the European Union: Progress, Persistent Gaps, and Untapped Potential
Read report

Tweets by @RF_Berlin

rf_berlin ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin @rf_berlin ·
5 Aug

🧠 New Research Insight!

Class doesn’t stop mattering once you reach an elite university or job. Research by Stansbury & Rodriguez shows that first-generation graduates are less likely to secure top academic positions, earn less, and report lower job satisfaction.

Read here 🔗

Reply on Twitter 2084946302375207210 Retweet on Twitter 2084946302375207210 1 Like on Twitter 2084946302375207210 1
rf_berlin ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin @rf_berlin ·
3 Aug

We’re excited to welcome @ZeitfuerMartin_ to RFBerlin on his first day! 🎉
Martin technically joined us on Saturday, but since the office was rather quiet, we thought a Monday welcome might land a little better.
Welcome to the team. Great to have you with us! 👋

Reply on Twitter 2084274605783396764 Retweet on Twitter 2084274605783396764 1 Like on Twitter 2084274605783396764 12
rf_berlin ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin @rf_berlin ·
30 Jul

A special one for our French-speaking followers: our Deputy director of CReAM @tomfratti spoke to @RFI about the latest CReAM report on immigrant employment in the EU.
Immigrant employment has reached a record high, though significant gaps remain. Listen to learn more.
🎧

Reply on Twitter 2082777354951114959 Retweet on Twitter 2082777354951114959 2 Like on Twitter 2082777354951114959 2

Upcoming events

RFBerlin hosts a wide array of events aimed at fostering academic research and collaboration.

RFBerlin Event

27 Aug – 30 Aug 2026

RFBerlin Nizza Monferrato Workshop 2026

Read more
RFBerlin Co-hosted

7 Sep – 8 Sep 2026

Structural Labor Workshop

Read more
RFBerlin Masterclass

24 Sep – 25 Sep 2026

“People, Practices, and Productivity: A Review of New Advances in Personnel Economics”

Taught by Christopher Stanton and Guido Friebel

Read more
View all events

Handbook of Labor Economics – Chapter Previews

In anticipation of the upcoming Handbook of Labor Economics, we offer early access to select chapters through our Discussion Papers series. Following our 2023 conference on this new edition, first chapters are now available for preview, featuring insights from leading research in economics and labor.

Preview Chapters
Image link

Sign up to our newsletter

Keep up to date with upcoming RFBerlin events, our new research and other news from our research centre.

Close
Search

Hit enter to search or ESC to close

cookie By using rfberlin.com, you agree to our cookie policy. Close