Economic and Spatial Development, Democratic Participation and Social Integration

The Leibniz Institutes within the section conduct research both within and across their disciplines. They value the competition of ideas and the plurality of their research approaches as an important element in ensuring outstanding academic quality and as beneficial to a vibrant academic system.

Every institute within the section is in continuous dialogue with society and the political sphere. They provide information for the organisation of political, economic, social and ecological processes and systems in many regions of the world.

The section’s key research areas are:

• Sustainable economic growth, functioning markets and institutions;
• Crises, conflicts and the democratic organisation of governance systems;
• Social participation, poverty risks and increasing education and employment opportunities;
• Securing the world’s food supply, as well as international relationships and regional integration;
• Sustainable development of urban societies and their environment;
• Environmental risks, climate change and sustainable energy supply; and
• The digital economy and networked society.