Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies

The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (German: Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung, MPIfG) is a German social-science research institute within the Max Planck Society located in Cologne. Established in 1985, it was initially headed by sociologist Renate Mayntz (1985/86), followed by political scientist Fritz W. Scharpf (1986-2003), both of whom exerted a profound influence on the institute's research and public image.

Currently directed by Wolfgang Streeck and Jens Beckert, the MPIfG has an annual budget of 3.8 million Euro, 31 employees and around 20 doctoral and post-doctoral fellows.