We conduct independent research into significant challenges to the economy, society and the welfare state in a global world.
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Research
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.
Discussion papers
No. 48/26 - February 2026
Host Country Language and School Integration of Immigrant Students
Yu Qin, Michael Vlassopoulos, Jackline Wahba
No. 47/26 - February 2026
Long–Run Effects of Technological Change: The Impact of Automation on Intergenerational Mobility
Martin Olsson, Fredrik Heyman
No. 46/26 - February 2026
Delayed Retirement: Effects on Health and Healthcare Utilization
Rune Vejlin, Hans Sigaard, Michael Svarer, Anne Katrine Borgbjerg
No. 45/26 - February 2026
Stephen versus Stephanie? Does Gender Matter for Peer-to-Peer Career Advice
Warn N. Lekfuangfu, Grace Lordan
Research Insights
Concise, research-based articles for scholars,
policymakers, and anyone curious about the world.

No. 2/26 - February 2026
Too Old to Apply for a Job? How Age Limits in Job Ads Shape Who Applies
As populations age, keeping people in work later in life has become an economic necessity. Yet many older job seekers still face substantial barriers to reemployment.
Learn more
No. 1/26 - January 2026
From Steam Power to Artificial Intelligence: What the Past Can Teach Us About the Future of Work
Regional inequalities remain a central issue in public and policy debates. Where do such disparities originate? And what policies can reduce them? A new study traces these inequalities back to the introduction of a transformative technology: the steam engine.
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No. 5/25 - December 2025
Immigration, Jobs and Wages: Separating Regional and Worker Effects
How does immigration affect jobs and wages? Public debates often conflate regional labour market outcomes with the experiences of individual workers. The effects of immigration on “places” and “people” may differ considerably.
Learn moreNews
RFBerlin research and researchers are regularly featured in the press.


15 Jan 2026
The steam engine still drives the German economy – Lessons for the introduction of artificial intelligence
View article
27 Dec 2025 • DIE ZEIT
Claudia Goldin on Why Pay Transparency Alone Is Not Enough
View article
16 Dec 2025
Do Immigrants Take Natives’ Jobs? New Study Shows the Answer Depends on How You Measure It
View articleTweets by @RF_Berlin
🧠New RFBerlin Research Insight!
👥 @luo_qinyue, @LiaoliangZ & Xinhan Zhang
Using a unique setting in China where age caps in job ads are legal, this study reveals how explicit age requirements shape who applies, and who doesn’t.
One of the surprising findings? Even younger
Upcoming events
RFBerlin hosts a wide array of events aimed at fostering academic research and collaboration.
RFBerlin Applied Economics Seminar
27 February 2026
Philip Oreopoulos (University of Toronto)
TBA
RFBerlin Masterclass
12 Mar – 13 Mar 2026
“Tasks At Work: Comparative Advantage, Technology and Labor Demand” by Fredric Kong
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.

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