The ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics is one of the most important research infrastructures in the world for economic literature, data, and digital information services. Located in Germany with sites in Kiel and Hamburg, the ZBW serves as a central hub where students, researchers, policymakers, and the public can access a vast wealth of economic knowledge. Its mission is rooted in opening up economics research to a global audience, promoting scientific transparency, and supporting open science practices in the field of economics and business studies. Over its more than 100year history, the ZBW has grown from a regional library to a globally connected institution committed to organising, preserving, and sharing economic research.
What Is the ZBW?
The name ZBW stands for Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften, which translates to Leibniz Information Centre for Economics. It is the world’s largest specialised library for economic and business sciences, holding millions of print and digital resources. Its collection includes books, journals, working papers, statistics, and research databases that are essential for economic research and study.
As a researchdriven institution and a member of the Leibniz Association, the ZBW actively contributes to research on information infrastructure, open science, and digital transformation in academic publishing. It also operates under public funding from the German federal government and the states of SchleswigHolstein and Hamburg.
Core Functions of the ZBW
- Collecting and preserving economic literature, both print and digital.
- Providing access to millions of scholarly records and datasets.
- Supporting open access and open science practices in economics.
- Developing digital research tools and services for researchers and students.
- Publishing academic journals and research content.
History and Development
The ZBW was founded on 1 February 1919 as part of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, tasked with collecting materials related to economic geography, trade policy, and related fields. Over time, it expanded its collection and mission to include a broader range of economic and business research materials. In 1966, it was designated as the German National Library of Economics, recognising its role as a central specialised library in Germany.
In 2007, the ZBW became an independent foundation under public law and integrated the library of the Hamburg Institute of International Economics, strengthening its position as a nationally and internationally significant research institution. Today, it continues to grow its digital collections and services, driving innovation in the way economic research is accessed and used.
Growth Through the Decades
- Started as an institute library in 1919.
- Designated national library for economics in 1966.
- Became a Leibniz Association institution, expanding its research role.
- Merged with Hamburg economic archives to strengthen national reach.
Key Services and Digital Platforms
One of the most valuable aspects of the ZBW is its range of services designed to help users find and work with economic research effectively. These services support academic work from the earliest stages of research to publication and data management.
EconBiz Specialist Portal for Economic Research
EconBiz is a major online portal provided by the ZBW that allows users to search through millions of economic data records, including books, journal topics, working papers, and conference proceedings. It serves as a central access point for international economic information and is widely used by students and researchers worldwide.
The portal supports research across languages and offers tools to refine searches, find fulltext documents, and access academic sources that might otherwise be difficult to locate.
EconStor Open Access Publishing Repository
Another important platform run by the ZBW is EconStor, the institution’s open access publication repository. EconStor hosts hundreds of thousands of freely accessible working papers, topics, and research documents from economic research institutions around the world. This repository supports the global movement towards open academic access, ensuring research outputs are available without financial barriers.
Library Services OnSite and Online
The ZBW also offers traditional library services that complement its digital presence. At its locations in Kiel and Hamburg, users can access quiet study spaces, group rooms, printing facilities, and expert research consultations. The library provides support for literature searches, data management, and access to digital resources around the clock.
Research and Open Science Initiatives
Beyond its role as a library, the ZBW conducts research on open science, digital information infrastructures, and the future of scholarly communication. It is home to research groups that examine topics such as data accessibility, research reproducibility, and information retrieval technologies.
The ZBW’s work in this field not only supports economic research but also contributes to the broader transformation of science towards openness and transparency. Its research helps develop tools and guidelines to support open access publishing and data sharing in economics and beyond.
Contributions to Global Research Culture
- Open science research for economic disciplines.
- Development of digital infrastructures for research.
- Participation in international science policy discussions.
Publications and Academic Engagement
In addition to its repositories and portals, the ZBW is active in academic publishing. It edits and supports economic policy journals such as Wirtschaftsdienst and Intereconomics, providing platforms for scholarly debate and dissemination of policy research.
Through these publications, the ZBW helps bridge the gap between academic research and policy practice, encouraging informed dialogue on economic issues at national and international levels.
Journals and Policy Impact
- Wirtschaftsdienst for German economic policy debate.
- Intereconomics for European economic research.
International Cooperation and Influence
The ZBW also plays a significant role in international research networks, collaborating with universities, research institutions, and data providers across Europe and beyond. Its efforts include negotiating licences for academic content, contributing to shared data infrastructures, and participating in projects funded by organisations such as the EU and national research foundations.
These collaborations help the ZBW to stay at the forefront of research infrastructure development and to provide users with access to the latest and most comprehensive economic data available.
The ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics stands as a cornerstone of global economic research infrastructure, serving academics, students, and policymakers with a vast library of literature, digital services, and research tools. With its extensive collections, open access platforms, and commitment to open science, the ZBW helps make economic research more accessible, transparent, and impactful. Its services support the entire research cycle from data discovery to publication, while its engagement in global scholarly networks ensures that the economics community continues to benefit from shared knowledge and innovative digital solutions.