Bachelor Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject Business economics - Operations Research, grade: 2,0, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg, language: English, abstract: The paper deals with the economic impact of possible pandemics and draws conclusions for the risk management of individual companies. Against the background of historical examples, the emergence of pandemics and their possible effects are explained. On the basis of the WHO classification, the current risk situation is discussed and the possible economic effects are examined. The consequences on the supply and demand side are considered and the short-, medium- and long-term effects of a pandemic are also dealt with. Furthermore, the exposure of various industries to such an emergency is analysed. The possible consequences for the individual company are also explained. Furthermore, disruptions in business operations, transport or infrastructure and changes in the economic environment of a company are described in more detail. The work also describes the task, the goal and the possibilities of operational pandemic planning.