DIW

The German Institute for Economic Research (Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung - DIW Berlin) is the largest economic research institute in Germany. Our two core mandates are applied economic research and economic policy consulting. As an independent, non-profit institution, we are committed to serving the common good.

DIW Berlin was founded in 1925 as the Institute for Business Cycle Research (Institut für Konjunkturforschung). It has been headquartered in Berlin since its founding. As a member the Leibniz-Gemeinschaft, DIW Berlin is predominantly publicly funded.

Research Team

The research team at DIW focuses on economic aspects of piracy and maritime terrorism. The team includes Dr. Hella Engerer and Max Gössler. In the course of the project they will be assisted by a student research assistant.

Objectives

The aim of the project “Economic Aspects of Piracy and Maritime Terrorism” is to show the (macro)economic consequences of security threats to maritime trade as well as to analyse the responses and potential options of action for economic agents. This combination of macro- and microeconomic approach will provide the ground for economic and security policy measures.

The objectives of the research team at DIW Berlin are:

• to document and systematize existing research on economic aspects of piracy and maritime terrorism;
• to present macroeconomic aspects and existing estimations of the effects of piracy and maritime terrorism;
• to analyse the microeconomic consequences and decision making processes of the affected economic actors. The focus will be on actors’ responses to piracy and maritime terrorism, and their chosen strategies, evasion and cooperation mechanisms within the context of a more effective coordination of actions (security governance). Finally, the study will provide recommendations for economic policy measures.