The central purpose of the proposed Priority Programme is to develop a deeper understanding of the challenges facing labour markets in Germany in particular and throughout Europe in a global context. The programme addresses pertinent research issues on the link between trade, technology, and demographic changes as they affect wages and employment. In an international perspective, the programme will analyse empirically the way the German labour market works with particular emphasis on labour market flows, on the role of institutions and policies, on the explanation for the increase in inequality, on demographic changes, and on the links to education and important non-economic motives and outcomes.

The core research areas where the programme invites proposals are:

technology, globalisation, tasks, wages

group differences in labour market outcomes

imperfect competition, institutions, government policy, unemployment

human resource management and organisational change

education, vocational training, demographic changes, cognitive and non-cognitive skills, earl childhood development