Dr Ignat Stepanok

Ignat Stepanok studied Economics with a focus on international trade and economic growth. He was a researcher at the Kiel institute for the World Economy between 2011 and 2015 and has been working in the Department of “Migration and International Labour Studies” at the IAB since 2015. In his research he explores the connection between international trade and labour markets.

All articles in Ignat Stepanok

24. April 2026 | Establishments and the Demand for Personnel

Trump’s trade policy: almost every fifth establishment in the manufacturing sector feels the consequences

Ignat Stepanok , Alexander Kubis

6 percent of German establishments report that they are predominantly negatively affected by the impact of the changes to US trade policy since the beginning of 2025. These establishments employ 11 ...read more

20. April 2022 | International Labour Markets

The war in Ukraine, international trade and price effects on the German economy

Kamal Kassam , Ignat Stepanok

Russia’s exports account for a large share of world trade in a few goods and commodities classes. These are most notably nickel, fertilisers, mineral fuels and mineral oils, cereals and wood. Their ...read more

2. October 2020 | International Labour Markets

Germany’s trade with China at the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic

Ignat Stepanok

Studying trade flows between China and Germany in February 2020 gives a clear picture of what happens when a major shock affects a single trading partner. ...read more

15. April 2020 | International Labour Markets

German Exports to the UK: declining since the Brexit referendum in 2016

Ignat Stepanok , Sekou Keita

The rules defining trade between Germany and the United Kingdom (UK) have not changed despite Brexit. Nevertheless, there is a clear downward trend in German exports of goods to the UK since the ...read more

23. May 2019 | International Labour Markets

Protectionism and the argument for creating jobs at home

Ignat Stepanok

In the political debate, trade protectionism has been frequently associated with keeping and increasing the number of jobs at home. The argument is, however, not so simple, since international trade ...read more