After months of growth, the HWWI-Commodity Price Index recently recorded significant declines, driven by weak demand and geopolitical uncertainty.

After rising continuously since October, the HWWI-Commodity Price Index recorded negative growth rates over the past three months (February: -1.4%, March: -4.6%, and April: -7.6%). As a result, the index stood 7.6% below the level of the same month in the previous year (as of 09 May 2025).

This paper analyzes the impact of a technological shock on the labor market based on the spread of electric refrigerators in American households in the 1930s. This shock caused many ice dealers to go out of business or change jobs. The new jobs were often paid up to 12% less. The technological shock had intergenerational effects. Younger sons in particular had to make a compromise between participation in the workforce and school attendance, which led to a decline in school attendance rates.

The chemical element hydrogen used as an energy source can play an important role in reaching this goal of a carbon-dioxide-free industrial production process until 2045. In our paper we investigate the effects of a total switch toward hydrogen used in production. The simulation results based on the CGE framework indicate that such a cost-intensive procedure can lead to a decline in the output of heavy   industries such as chemical, steel, and copper. Reverse effects are obtained in the case of further deregulation, which has the potential to increase the efficiency of an established hydrogen core network. This observation emphasizes the need to accompany the transformation process by maintaining low-level regulation.

The transition toward sustainable economic growth has received increasing attention due to the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to reduce resource dependency. This study examines the relationship between green energy production and green total factor productivity (GTFP), a metric that incorporates environmental factors into traditional productivity measures. Using a panel dataset of 221 European NUTS2 regions across 10 sectors from 2009 to 2021, we estimate GTFP through the Malmquist–Luenberger productivity index. Our analysis focuses on green energy production—particularly hydrogen energy—and its potential impact on GTFP by reducing emissions and optimizing resource use. The results indicate a positive relationship between green energy production and GTFP. Moreover, the interaction between green and hydrogen energy further enhances GTFP, suggesting spillover effects between these technologies.

The COVID-19 pandemic spiked global demand for medical goods, with China as a key supplier. This paper explores the political factors that facilitated access to face masks, a vital product early in the pandemic. Using a triple difference-in-differences event study, we compare face mask exports with similar products. Our findings show that face mask prices surged, and China’s exports rose. Political ties, especially with Chinese provinces, significantly boosted exports, while sister city relationships helped mitigate early price increases.