“Shaping the Economic Debate”: The ifo Institute wants to help shape the economic policy debate in Germany and Europe. We can do this because we combine excellent research with economic policy relevance. Our research findings provide policymakers and business leaders with a basis for making informed decisions. We prepare economic findings in such a way that the media and the public can understand and classify current economic and political events. The people at the ifo Institute, its supporters, and its committees make it possible to fulfill our mission. Our close cooperation with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich is an important basis for our success. Research at ifo combines academic excellence with economic policy relevance. Five fields of action form the basis for this bridge building: research, policy advice, information and services, participation in public debates, and development of junior economists. In all these areas we aim to achieve excellence. Our five fields of action are closely interlinked: research is the basis for policy advice. And we can participate in public debates on the basis of newly gained knowledge. Young economists make a significant contribution to achieving excellent research results. The development of junior economists is particularly important to us. The ifo Institute’s activities in the area of information and services in turn ensure that our findings reach the various stakeholder groups: through events, media work, or publications.