Silvia Pedersoli (Economics) | The more, the better? Exploring how unions' competition affects wages and employment (RFBerlin)

I spent the entire summer in Berlin as a visiting researcher at the Rockwool Foundation Institute. As part of my PhD thesis, I am doing research on collective bargaining, a topic that several researchers at the institute have worked on. I believed that the opportunity to work with and learn from them would help me gain new perspectives on my research questions. I was also curious to experience Berlin, a city I had heard so many fascinating stories about but had never visited. 

People often say that you should keep your expectations low before starting a new experience to avoid disappointment. But I certainly didn’t follow that advice. Now, in September, I can say that my already high expectations have been far exceeded. Berlin (in summer) is a fantastic city. The weather is great, and people are constantly out and about, enjoying the many parks, caf´es, shops, and hidden corners the city has to offer. I ate far too many delicious pastries and pretzels from the thousands of bakeries scattered across the city. Berlin has also been incredibly welcoming and easy to navigate, despite my German skills never progressing beyond “Danke”. 

An even livelier and more welcoming environment is what I found at the Rock wool Foundation Institute. My research was greatly enriched by the many people working there, who shared and discussed interesting and novel ideas in weekly seminars. I had the opportunity to present a couple of my own projects, and in both cases, I benefited greatly from the feedback and comments I re ceived. Beyond the academic environment, I also really appreciated the friendly atmosphere: the rooftop dinners, Taco Tuesdays, Friday beers at Sp¨ati, and the lovely weekly email updates featuring plenty of funny pictures. 

This experience has, without a doubt, enriched my PhD journey. I am now even more convinced that becoming a good researcher is not simply about being part of a great institution, but also about having the opportunity to exchange ideas, engage in discussions, and learn from as many fellow researchers as possible. And at the Rockwool Foundation Institue, I found exactly that: a vibrant intel lectual environment, where I was surrounded by young and talented people who were always willing to listen to and engage with my ideas, whether in the office or over a beer. I cannot recommend the GRIP scholarship enough. If you have the opportunity, spend a summer in Berlin and visit the Rockwool Foundation Institute! 

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