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On the Representativeness of the ifo Business Survey

Author

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  • Magdolna Hiersemenzel
  • Stefan Sauer
  • Klaus Wohlrabe

Abstract

The monthly ifo Business Survey is the basis for numerous economic indicators, such as the ifo Business Climate Index Germany. Moreover, the anonymized micro data can be used for a wide range of research projects. In order to obtain robust results, the panel of survey participants must be large enough and as representative as possible for the German economy. This article describes the composition of the panel participants based on various criteria, such as representativeness at the sectoral and industry level, regional distribution, and distribution by firm size. The investigation shows that the business panel is representative for the German economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Magdolna Hiersemenzel & Stefan Sauer & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2022. "On the Representativeness of the ifo Business Survey," CESifo Working Paper Series 9863, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_9863
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sauer,Stefan & Klaus Wohlrabe & Stefan Sauer, 2019. "CEO or Intern − Who Actually Answers the Questionnaires in the ifo Business Survey?," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 20(02), pages 29-31, July.
    2. Klaus Abberger & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2006. "Einige Prognoseeigenschaften des ifo Geschäftsklimas - Ein Überblick über die neuere wissenschaftliche Literatur," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 59(22), pages 19-26, November.
    3. Christian Seiler, 2014. "The determinants of unit non-response in the Ifo Business Survey," AStA Wirtschafts- und Sozialstatistisches Archiv, Springer;Deutsche Statistische Gesellschaft - German Statistical Society, vol. 8(3), pages 161-177, September.
    4. Katrin Demmelhuber & Stefan Sauer & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2022. "Beyond the Business Climate: Regular and Supplementary Questions in the ifo Business Survey," CESifo Working Paper Series 9666, CESifo.
    5. Robert Lehmann & Stefan Sauer & Klaus Wohlrabe & Timo Wollmershäuser, 2022. "Gesamtwirtschafliche ifo Kapazitätsauslastungen für die deutschen Bundesländer," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 29(03), pages 19-25, June.
    6. Robert Lehmann, 2023. "The Forecasting Power of the ifo Business Survey," Journal of Business Cycle Research, Springer;Centre for International Research on Economic Tendency Surveys (CIRET), vol. 19(1), pages 43-94, March.
    7. Axel Pols & Stefan Sauer & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2019. "The Bitkom-ifo Digital Index: A New Indicator for the Economic Development of the Digital Economy in Germany," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 20(03), pages 31-32, October.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Born, Benjamin & Enders, Zeno & Menkhoff, Manuel & Müller, Gernot & Niemann, Knut, 2022. "Firm Expectations and News: Micro v Macro," CEPR Discussion Papers 17768, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Link, Sebastian & Peichl, Andreas & Roth, Christopher & Wohlfart, Johannes, 2023. "Information frictions among firms and households," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 99-115.
    3. Link, Sebastian, 2024. "The price and employment response of firms to the introduction of minimum wages," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    4. Cevat Giray Aksoy & Mathias Dolls & Justyna Klejdysz & Andreas Peichl & Lisa Windsteiger, 2025. "Speaking of Debt: Framing, Guilt, and Economic Choices," CESifo Working Paper Series 12060, CESifo.
    5. Caldwell, Sydnee & Hägele, Ingrid & Heining, Jörg, 2025. "Bargaining and Inequality in the Labor Market," IAB-Discussion Paper 202502, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    6. Garnitz Johanna & von Maltzan Annette & Wohlrabe Klaus, 2025. "FamData: Database for Family Business Companies in Germany Covering Company Key Figures and Survey Data," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 245(1-2), pages 235-246.
    7. Dovern, Jonas & Müller, Lena Sophia & Wohlrabe, Klaus, 2023. "Local information and firm expectations about aggregates," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 1-13.
    8. Nöller, Marvin & Balleer, Almut, 2023. "Monetary Policy in the Presence of Supply Constraints: Evidence from German Firm-level Data," VfS Annual Conference 2023 (Regensburg): Growth and the "sociale Frage" 277638, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    9. Thomas Licht & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2024. "AI Adoption Among German Firms," CESifo Working Paper Series 11459, CESifo.
    10. Balleer, Almut & Noeller, Marvin, 2023. "Monetary policy in the presence of supply constraints: Evidence from German firm-level data," Ruhr Economic Papers 1060, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    11. Almut Balleer & Marvin Noeller, 2023. "Monetary Policy in the Presence of Supply Constraints: Evidence from German Firm-Level Data," CESifo Working Paper Series 10261, CESifo.
    12. Stefan Sauer & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2024. "What Is Behind the ifo Business Climate? Evidence from a Meta-Survey," CESifo Working Paper Series 11482, CESifo.
    13. Daria Schaller & Jonas Hennrich & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2025. "The ifo Human Resources Survey," CESifo Working Paper Series 11638, CESifo.

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    JEL classification:

    • C80 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - General
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods

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