| Ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich | |
| Size: | 150px |
| Status: | Eingetragener Verein |
| Founded: | 1949 |
| Formation: | 1949 |
| Merger: | Süddeutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Informations- und Forschungsstelle of the Bavarian Statistical Office |
| Staff: | 193 employees |
| Location: | Munich, Germany |
| Headquarters: | Munich, Dresden |
| Affiliations: | Center for Economic Studies University of Munich |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Clemens Fuest |
| Website: | www.ifo.de |
The Ifo Institute for Economic Research is a Munich-based research institution. Ifo is an acronym from Information and Forschung (research). As one of Germany's largest economic think-tanks, it analyses economic policy and is known for its monthly Ifo Business Climate Index for Germany. According to its 2021 report 217 employees work for the organisation.[1] The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung ranks it as Germany's most influential economics research institute.[2]
Ifo's Business Climate Index is an early indicator of economic activity released monthly since 1972. The database underlying the index is a monthly survey of 7000 in the construction, manufacturing, wholesale and retail industries. The index is closely followed by investors, commentators and politics.[3] [4]
The Ifo Institute participates in the twice yearly (spring and autumn) joint analysis of the state of the German and world economy, the so-called Gemeinschaftsdiagnose.[5]