empirica ag, an independent consultancy in economic and social sciences, opened its doors in Bonn in 1990, founded by Ulrich Pfeiffer. It now runs three offices in Berlin, Bonn, and Leipzig, employing about 30 staff trained in economics, geography, and urban planning. Reiner Braun serves as managing director, with Marie-Therese Krings-Heckemeier as board chair; local managers include Annamaria Deiters-Schwedt in Berlin, Timo Heyn in Bonn, and Hardo Kendschek in Leipzig.
The firm analyzes urban markets, property investments, and policy impacts, blending quantitative data with qualitative insights for clients like banks, insurers, builders, local governments, ministries, and foundations. Its work spans Germany—covering major cities and midsize towns—and extends abroad, with ties in England, Northern Europe, and Eastern Europe.
Recent analysis by empirica's data arm, Empirica Regio, tracked suburban flight from cities: in 2021, 17,249 people left Berlin for nearby districts, part of 56,600 exits from seven big metros amid housing costs and remote work. Past projects have fed into urban studies, like population shifts post-2010. empirica occasionally hosts student placements, prioritizing empirical rigor over preconceptions.