Helmut Rainer

Helmut Rainer is a Professor of Economics at the University of Munich and Director of the Center for Labor and Demographic Economics at the ifo Institute. Previously, he held a faculty position at the University of St. Andrews' School of Economics and Finance. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Essex in 2005.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Economics, University of Essex, 2005

Research Interests: Focuses on applied microeconomics, particularly family economics and labor economics. His work extends to policy analysis involving domestic violence, gender equality, immigration, and social policy. Notable areas include quantifying domestic violence during crises, evaluating childcare policies, and studying the socioeconomic impacts of political movements like Fridays for Future.

Policy Contributions: Advised German Federal Government on the Second Gender Equality Report (2015–2017) and contributed to evaluations of family policies and labor market reforms. His recent work highlights the effectiveness of arrests in reducing domestic violence cycles and analyzes the economic consequences of sports-related violence.

Awards:

• Economic Journal Best Paper Award 2016

Grants & Funding:

• DFG-funded projects on custody effects and gender dynamics
• Leibniz Association grants for research on violence against women and economic uncertainty

Labs/Teams: Leads the Center for Labor and Demographic Economics at ifo Institute, focusing on policy-relevant economic analysis of labor markets, family structures, and demographic trends.