Understanding economic change in its broader context
The interplay between markets, businesses, and households becomes particularly apparent in the context of digitalization and demographic change. New technologies can drive productivity and innovation, but they can also transform jobs, skill requirements, and power dynamics. An aging society presents businesses with new workforce challenges and requires households to make decisions about employment and retirement planning. At the same time, it places new demands on social welfare systems and capital markets. 

Rather than examining businesses, markets, and households in isolation, this research focus area explores the ways in which they interact. This helps us understand how economic change affects income, wealth, inequality, and public acceptance, as well as the factors that enable economies and societies to adapt and become more resilient.

The research program brings together economic, legal, technological, and societal perspectives. Economic change can only be fully understood by considering market mechanisms, institutional frameworks, new technologies, and their implications for individuals and society as interconnected factors. This interdisciplinary approach brings together the University of Mannheim's diverse research strengths. The focus is on fundamental research while also considering potential applications and the transfer of knowledge to policymakers, businesses, and society.

Together, our researchers examine how policies and institutions can foster innovation and competitiveness while safeguarding social inclusion and the principles underlying the European social model. Theoretical models, empirical analyses, and institutional and historical research provide a foundation for understanding both long-term developments and short-term adjustment processes.