News
Discussion Paper: The Bitter Taste of Unemployment - Evidence from Plant Closures and Layoffs
The new discussion paper "The Bitter Taste of Unemployment - Evidence from Plant Closures and Layoffs" by Max Steinhardt and Christopher Prömel is now available. Abstract This study examines the effects of unemployment on bitterness, which describes a feeling of not having achieved what one deserves compared to others. Pooled OLS and fixed effects estimates reveal a positive association between unemployment and bitterness. To identify the causal effect of unemployment on bitterness, we exploit variation from plant closures and layoffs in Germany, combining entropy balancing with difference-in-differences estimation. We find that unemployment leads to a substantial and significant increase in bitterness of nearly half a point on the 1-7 point Likert scale. We demonstrate the robustness of our findings and that both the experience of job loss and the state of being unemployed contribute separately to a significant increase in bitterness, with longer unemployment duration resulting in higher levels of bitterness. Lastly, we evaluate the persistence of our effects, finding significant long-term effects for those who remain unemployed for over one year. Link to the discussion paper
27.08.2025 | Wirtschaft
Language proficiency and homeownership: Evidence from U.S. immigrants
The joint work of Marc-André Luik, Max Steinh ardt, and Simon Voss , " Language proficiency and homeownership: Evidence from U.S. immigrants " is now available in the Journal of Housing Economics. Abstract: In this paper, we deliver the first causal evidence on the relationship between immigrant host-country language proficiency and homeownership. Using an instrumental variable strategy, we find a substantial positive impact of language skills on the propensity to own a home and the quality of housing among immigrants in the United States. While this effect is mediated by household income, our estimates also speak in favor of a direct language effect. Suggestive evidence further indicates that part of this effect may be driven by discrimination. Our results highlight the importance of host-country-specific human capital and, in particular, language proficiency for socio-economic assimilation in housing markets. Link to the paper
13.08.2025 | Wirtschaft
Diskussionspapier: Feeling Equal before the Law? The Impact of Access to Citizenship and Legal Status on Perceived Discrimination
Das neues Diskussionspapier " Feeling Equal before the Law? The Impact of Access to Citizenship and Legal Status on Perceived Discrimination " von Adriana Rocío Cardozo Silva (DIW) und Christopher Prömel ist ab sofort auf der Seite des DIW zu finden. Abstract: In this study, we contribute to the literature about the effects of improving access to citizenship on integration outcomes. Hereby, we exploit exogenous variation from two citizenship reforms in Germany to estimate the effects of residency requirements on perceived discrimination, which is strongly linked to individual well-being, sense of belonging, and migration desires and decisions. We find that reducing waiting times to become eligible for citizenship decreases perceptions of discrimination. However, heterogeneity analyses reveal that these effects appear to be mostly limited to men and immigrants from Eastern European countries. In addition to our main analysis, we exploit exogenous variation from EU enlargement to show that citizens from countries that became part of the EU report significantly less discrimination than non-EU immigrants. Link zum Diskussionspapier
16.05.2025 | Wirtschaft
Ethnische Diversität im Klassenzimmer: Chancen für Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft
Eine zentrale Voraussetzung, um das Potenzial kultureller Vielfalt zu nutzen, ist auch aus Sicht von Christopher Prömel und Max Friedrich Steinhardt, FU Berlin, dass es zwischen den einzelnen kulturellen und ethnischen Gruppen zu einem Austausch kommt. Segregierte Gesellschaften seien dazu nicht in der Lage. Eine zentrale Rolle spielen hierbei Schulen: Programme zur Förderung ethnischer Diversität an Schulen könnten dazu beitragen, Vorurteile abzubauen und die soziale Integration zu stärken.
14.04.2025 | Wirtschaft
Marrying a Billonaire - Neue Veröffentlichung von Ria Wilken
Marrying a Billionaire - Studying US American billionaires’ family biographies using the Forbes World’s Billionaires List, 2010–2022 ist im Review of Economics of the Household erschienen
09.01.2025 | Wirtschaft
Call for Papers: Workshop on the Impact of Immigration and Refugee Inflows on Host Country Economies
26.11.2024 | Wirtschaft
Neuer Diskussionsbeitrag: Crowding (at) the Margins: Investigating the Unequal Distribution of Housing Space in Germany
25.11.2024 | Wirtschaft
Papier von Christopher Prömel zur Veröffentlichung im Journal of Behavior & Organization angenommen
07.10.2024 | Wirtschaft
Neue Veröffentlichung zum Thema „Frauen in der politischen Macht und Schulschließungen in Zeiten von COVID“
09.09.2024 | Wirtschaft
Neues Diskussionspapier von Max Steinhardt zu den Auswirkungen interethnischer Kontakte in der Kindheit auf Einstellungsentscheidungen von Führungskräften
09.09.2024 | Wirtschaft
Neues Buch von Prof. Dr. Carl-Ludwig Holtfrerich: Edward A. Tenenbaum and the Deutschmark - How an American Jew Became the Father of Germany’s Postwar Economic Revival
05.06.2024 | Wirtschaft
Neues Diskussionspapier von Christopher Prömel zu lokalen rechtsextremistischen Demonstrationen und bundesweiten öffentlichen Einstellungen zur Migration
12.04.2024 | Wirtschaft
Neue Veröffentlichung von Max Steinhardt über die öffentliche Meinung und die Abstimmungen im US-Kongress über das Einwanderungsgesetz von 1965
29.01.2024 | Wirtschaft
Sebastian Garcia-Torres erhält den DAAD-Preis für herausragende Leistungen internationaler Studierender
11.12.2023 | Wirtschaft