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WI Institute of Rural Economics

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In the latest issue of the Journal of Public Finance and Fiscal Federalism, Dominik Frankenberg examines opportunities for municipalities to participate in the value creation associated with the expansion of renewable energy in rural areas.

Journal of Public Finance and Fiscal Federalism, issue 01/2026

Cultural similarity between two regions enhances collaboration among inventors, even when they are separated by significant geographic distance. Alexander Kopka and Petrik Runst presented their current research at the GeoInno conference in Budapest.

Alexander Kopka (right) und Petrik Runst (left)

The current Zeitgespräch section in the journal Wirtschaftsdienst addresses “Economic Responses to Populism.” In their contribution, Lena Gerling and Thomas Apolte (University of Münster) discuss the role of conspiracy beliefs and party identification for the observed success of populist parties.

Cover of the Journal Wirtschaftsdienst issue 01/2026

To what extent can firms increase their probabilities of survival through innovation activities? A new study by Ann Hipp explores the important role of patents for a firm’s probability of survival from the emergence to the decline of an industry.

Cover of the Journal Small Business Economics

Current transformation processes are significantly challenging economic dynamics in rural areas. In a new article in the journal “Ländliche Räume”, Jan Cornelius Peters and Christian Hundt show that the structural shift away from industry is gaining momentum, particularly affecting rural areas.


In an article published in the members’ magazine of the German Farmers' Association, "Deutsche Bauern Korrespondenz", Petrik Runst and Christian Bergholz address the question of how rural and urban areas differ in terms of their economic performance.

Cover of themembers’ magazine of the German Farmers' Association . „Deutsche Bauern Korrespondenz"

Against the backdrop of the upcoming redefinition of the funding areas for the Joint Task for the Improvement of Regional Economic Structures (GRW), the report examines the structural weaknesses of rural areas, taking into account various dimensions related to the GRW.


How does a tax on overnight stays affect German cities? Valentin Kissmann from the University of Göttingen presented a research project on this topic at the Thünen Institute of Rural Economics.

Valentin Kissman (left) and Jan Cornelius Peters

Women start businesses less often than men – but are catching up. This is shown in the report “Women Entrepreneurship Monitor 2024/2025” published today by the RKW Competence Center. Thünen researchers were also involved in the study.

Even in times of crisis, the rate of women starting businesses remains more stable than that of men.

Gesine Tuitjer presented the results of her research project on artists and cultural professionals as a resource for rural development at the State Culture Congress in Rendsburg.

Programm of the State Culture Congress Schleswig-Holstein

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