The ZEW works in the field of user-related empirical economic research. In this context it particularly distinguished itself nationally and internationally by analysing internationally comparative issues in the European context and by compiling scientifically important databases.

The ZEW is a non-profit economic research institute with the legal form of a limited liability company (GmbH). It was founded in 1990 on the initiative of the government of the federal state Baden-Württemberg, trade and industry, and the Mannheim University. In April 1991 the institute took up work and has expanded rapidly since then. At present, 115 employees work at the ZEW, 78 of which are scientifically active. Professor Dr. Wolfgang Franz (President/Scientific Management) and Ernst-O. Schulze (Director/Commercial Management) are heading the institute. The high quality of the research work conducted at the institute was confirmed by the Wissenschaftsrat (the advisory body to the Federal Government) on the occasion of the evaluation of the ZEW in 1998, and documented externally by the recommendation to grant the ZEW Federal Government and Länder Funding (Blue List).