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This article shows the extent to which companies' investments in digital technologies have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a large German company survey conducted by the Institute for Employment Research, the authors examine whether and which companies have invested in different types of digital technologies, how these investments are connected to working from home, and how investments are influenced by the economic situation of companies during the pandemic. The authors also discuss further training activities provided and planned by employers and how those are related to their investments in digital technologies.This article shows the extent to which companies' investments in digital technologies have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a large German company survey conducted by the Institute for Employment Research, the authors examine whether and which companies have invested in different types of digital technologies, how these investments are connected to working from home, and how investments are influenced by the economic situation of companies during the pandemic. The authors also discuss further training activities provided and planned by employers and how those are related to their investments in digital technologies.

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and the war in Ukraine since 2022 have exposed Germany's dependence on global supply chains. Based on \"Establishments in the Covid-19 Crisis\", a survey conducted by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), this paper examines the extent and causes of supply chain disruptions and the responses of establishments in Germany. Our results show that nearly three-quarters of all establishments that report using intermediate inputs have experienced problems with their supply chains in 2022 up until the time of the survey in June. The hospitality, manufacturing, and construction sectors are particularly affected. In response to these problems, establishments are diversifying their supply chains by adding new suppliers or replacing existing ones. New suppliers tend to come from geographically closer regions than their predecesors.

Based on data from a representative German establishment survey, we assess the ramifications of potentially cutting off the gas supply from Russia. Moreover, we analyse how rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions are so far related to the probability of firms adjusting prices, output and employment. A large share of businesses, especially energy-intensive ones, expect a partial or full reduction in output levels should they no longer be supplied with gas. Fourteen percent of businesses report that their production already decreased due to the Russia-Ukraine war and even more expect such a decrease in the future. Similarly many businesses report price increases. Output and price adjustments are more likely to occur among businesses reporting rising energy costs or supply chain bottlenecks. Some have taken personnel measures, but overall, employment has remained robust so far. Seit 2021 steigen die Energiepreise kraftig an. Mit Beginn des russischen Kriegs gegen die Ukraine sind sie noch einmal in die Hohe geschnellt. Neben Lieferkettenstorungen und Exportruckgangen dampft das die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung, Konjunkturprognosen wurden deutlich nach unten revidiert. Daruber hinaus stellt ein mogliches komplettes Ausbleiben aller Lieferungen von Energietragern aus Russland ein erhebliches Risiko dar. Uber die zu erwartenden Folgen ist viel diskutiert worden. Wenn es um die Auswirkungen eines Lieferstopps von Gas geht, kommen bisherige Berechnungen auf Basis okonomischer Modelle zu uneindeutigen Ergebnissen mit einer Spannbreite von einem verkraftbaren Schock (Bachmann et al., 2022) bis hin zu massiven und dauerhaften wirtschaftlichen Schaden (Krebs, 2022).

Abstract Based on data from a representative German establishment survey, we assess the ramifications of potentially cutting off the gas supply from Russia. Moreover, we analyse how rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions are so far related to the probability of firms adjusting prices, output and employment. A large share of businesses, especially energy-intensive ones, expect a partial or full reduction in output levels should they no longer be supplied with gas. Fourteen percent of businesses report that their production already decreased due to the Russia-Ukraine war and even more expect such a decrease in the future. Similarly, many businesses report price increases. Output and price adjustments are more likely to occur among businesses reporting rising energy costs or supply chain bottlenecks. Some have taken personnel measures, but overall, employment has remained robust so far.

Seit 2021 steigen die Energiepreise kräftig an. Mit Beginn des russischen Kriegs gegen die Ukraine sind sie noch einmal in die Höhe geschnellt. Neben Lieferkettenstörungen und Exportrückgängen dämpft das die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung, Konjunkturprognosen wurden deutlich nach unten revidiert. Darüber hinaus stellt ein mögliches komplettes Ausbleiben aller Lieferungen von Energieträgern aus Russland ein erhebliches Risiko dar. Über die zu erwartenden Folgen ist viel diskutiert worden. Wenn es um die Auswirkungen eines Lieferstopps von Gas geht, kommen bisherige Berechnungen auf Basis ökonomischer Modelle zu uneindeutigen Ergebnissen mit einer Spannbreite von einem verkraftbaren Schock (Bachmann et al., 2022) bis hin zu massiven und dauerhaften wirtschaftlichen Schäden (Krebs, 2022).

This article shows the extent to which companies' investments in digital technologies have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a large German company survey conducted by the Institute for Employment Research, the authors examine whether and which companies have invested in different types of digital technologies, how these investments are connected to working from home, and how investments are influenced by the economic situation of companies during the pandemic. The authors also discuss further training activities provided and planned by employers and how those are related to their investments in digital technologies.

Der Ausbruch der Coronapandemie 2020 hat die Abhängigkeit der deutschen Wirtschaft von globalen Lieferketten offengelegt. Verzögerungen bei der Zulieferung oder der Ausfall von Vorprodukten infolge eingeschränkter Logistikkapazitäten, geschlossener Grenzen oder einer gestörten Produktion bei Zulieferern hat seitdem bei vielen Betrieben in Deutschland zu Problemen geführt. Mit dem Angriff Russlands auf die Ukraine im Februar 2022 wurde deutlich, dass Lieferketten auch erheblichen geopolitischen Risiken ausgesetzt sind. Die Unternehmen stehen vor der Aufgabe, ihre Zulieferketten resilienter gegen solche Risiken zu machen. The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and the war in Ukraine since 2022 have exposed Germany's dependence on global supply chains. Based on \"Establishments in the Covid-19 Crisis\", a survey conducted by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), this paper examines the extent and causes of supply chain disruptions and the responses of establishments in Germany. Our results show that nearly three-quarters of all establishments that report using intermediate inputs have experienced problems with their supply chains in 2022 up until the time of the survey in June. The hospitality, manufacturing, and construction sectors are particularly aff ected. In response to these problems, establishments are diversifying their supply chains by adding new suppliers or replacing existing ones. New suppliers tend to come from geographically closer regions than their predecesors.

Stößt das neuartige Coronavirus auf Menschen, deren ökonomische Lage und/oder sozialer Status sich deutlich unterscheiden, weichen die gesundheitlichen Auswirkungen für die Betroffenen häufig stark voneinander ab. Infektions-, Morbiditäts- und Mortalitätsrisiken der einzelnen Bevölkerungsschichten differieren zum Teil ganz erheblich, sind mit Abstand am höchsten bei armen und am niedrigsten bei reichen Personen. Die wirtschaftlichen Kollateralschäden der Pandemie und der Infektionsschutzmaßnahmen des Staates (zweimaliger bundesweiter Lockdown) verteilen sich ebenfalls nicht gleichmäßig über alle Bewohner:innen der Bundesrepublik. Vielmehr gibt es Gewinner:innen und Verlierer:innen, sowohl in der Wirtschaft (Differenzierung zwischen einzelnen Branchen) als auch in der Gesamtgesellschaft (Polarisierung zwischen verschiedenen Klassen und Schichten). Schließlich weisen die bisherigen Hilfsmaßnahmen, Finanzspritzen und Rettungsschirme des Staates eine verteilungspolitische Schieflage auf, wodurch die sozioökonomische Ungleichheit wächst, statt abgemildert zu werden. Angesichts der bevorstehenden Konflikte um die Rückführung der hohen Staatsverschuldung, die Deutschland in den nächsten Jahren vor eine politische Zerreißprobe stellen dürften, sollte Verteilungsgerechtigkeit bei der Subventionsvergabe oberste Priorität haben. Wenn der Sozialstaat nicht in dem Sinne als 'systemrelevant' gelten will, dass er nur die bestehenden Herrschaftsverhältnisse, Machtstrukturen und Verteilungsmechanismen stabilisiert, muss er die Fehlkonstruktion der staatlichen Finanzhilfen zügig revidieren und künftig diejenigen Personengruppen stärker unterstützen, die auf den Märkten, insbesondere dem Arbeits- und dem Mietwohnungsmarkt, die geringsten Durchsetzungschancen haben. The coronavirus crisis has had a distinct impact on the labour market. The lockdown has led to job losses, especially in the catering and tourism industries. Certain sectors have also been affected by short­term work. This also has consequences for the income situation of affected households. It is evident that households with incomes that were already lower before the crisis are more affected by income losses during the crisis. However, the federal government’s economic stimulus and crisis management aid package is certainly effective at stabilising jobs and averting social hardship. However, men benefit from this comparatively more than women.

Durch die Corona-Pandemie haben digitale Technologien in Unternehmen an Bedeutung gewonnen. Auf Basis einer Betriebsbefragung des Instituts für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung untersuchen die Autor:innen, ob Unternehmen vermehrt in digitale Technologien investiert haben und welche Rolle dabei die wirtschaftliche Situation gespielt hat. Neben den Investitionen in digitale Technologien haben auch Weiterbildungsaktivitäten in den Betrieben zugenommen. This article shows the extent to which companies' investments in digital technologies have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a large German company survey conducted by the Institute for Employment Research, the authors examine whether and which companies have invested in different types of digital technologies, how these investments are connected to working from home, and how investments are influenced by the economic situation of companies during the pandemic. The authors also discuss further training activities provided and planned by employers and how those are related to their investments in digital technologies.