Research Provides an Evidence-Based Foundation for Policy Decisions
The economist, who last year assumed responsibility for the Research Center, the Data and Statistics Division, Risk Controlling and IT, explained why the Deutsche Bundesbank requires academic expertise and sound research to fulfill its role as a central bank and to provide credible policy recommendations. She cited numerous examples of current topics in monetary policy, financial stability and banking supervision where research plays a crucial role in providing valuable insights and support.
The Deutsche Bundesbank, she said, maintains a lively exchange with the House of Finance at Goethe University. As a current example of research cooperation, Köhler-Geib, who teaches a master’s course at Goethe-University on policy measures that support economic transformation processes, mentioned the project on “Fiscal Policy and Risk Premia” that examines the relationship between fiscal policy, particularly government debt, and the bond market. The successful research collaboration, she added, can not only be seen in such projects but also in consulting activities, regular joint events and in the Frankfurt Summer School in cooperation with the House of Finance, the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE and the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle, held for the first time in 2024.
A further example of the importance the Deutsche Bundesbank attaches to research is, according to Köhler-Geib, the data provision services provided by its Research Data and Service Centre (FDSZ). These include standardized options for the use of microdata - including on companies, households, banks and securities - for research projects, access to the Bundesbank's own survey data and other data services for researchers.
Separately, Rainer Klump, the Managing Director of the House of Finance, outlined the collaborations with numerous international partners that were set up in 2024 as well as detailed the prospects for new initiatives for interdisciplinary research in the field of sustainable finance.
