On October 27, 2026, Wolfgang Streeck, director emeritus at the MPIfG, celebrates his 80th birthday. Streeck is one of Germany’s most influential social scientists, whose research lies at the intersection of sociology, political science, and political economy. Appointed to the MPIfG in 1995, he has played a decisive role in shaping the discussion on the dynamic between democratic politics and the capitalist economy.

The MPIfG is seeking postdoctoral researchers for the following research areas and topics:
Political Economy (Lucio Baccaro), Economic Sociology (Jens Beckert), Technology and Statehood (Regine Paul) and Wealth and Social Inequality (Jens Beckert). Open to scholars of all nationalities who successfully completed their doctoral degree in sociology, political science, or economics no longer than three years before the starting date at the MPIfG. We look forward to receiving your online application by December 11, 2026.

In a new MPIfG Discussion Paper, Erik Neimanns examines when and how rising house prices translate into wage setting. House prices have been on the rise in many of the affluent Western countries during the last decades, partly deliberately bolstered by loose credit regulation, low interest rates, and central banks’ bond and asset buying programs. The effects on economic growth, however, may be ambiguous: On the one hand, rising house prices, via a wealth effect for house owners, have the potential to strengthen domestic demand; on the other, house prices also factor in as a component of consumer prices, potentially contributing to inflation, wage claims, and a loss of international competitiveness.