We study the effect of politics on the distribution of intergovernmental grants. We consider a model where local government officials lobby the central government who in turn distributes grants based on the local governments' lobbying efforts. We argue that the marginal costs of lobbying increase with the geographical and "political" distance from the central government capital. Hence, in equilibrium, ...
A first systematic, model-based analysis of the environmental fiscal reform in Germany is undertaken with an econometric model and an empirical general equilibrium model. It indicates moderate but slightly positive effects on employment, energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The influence on economic growth is very low; employment is growing slightly, while energy consumption and CO2 emissions are ...
The positive effects of Early Childhood Programs (ECP's) on children's school success have been demonstrated in the literature. However, most studies were completed in the U.S.A., where ECP's vary widely, based on differing auspice, regulation, cost, and other factors. In European countries, ECP's are generally far more homogenous. This is particularly true for Germany where most programs are community-based ...
This paper presents the financial effects of a transition from the pay-as-you-go to a capital funded health insurance system in Germany. The focus of the following article will be on the financial need in different settings which are given by the difference of the spending for health care and the insurance contributions with an upper limit of 15% of the underlying assessment basis. Calculations made ...
When the Philipp Holzmann corporation declared insolvency many professional observers suggested that the German constructor had fallen victim to the operation of `Germany Inc.'. This metaphor meant to blame the close ties between Deutsche Bank and Holzmann as the ultimate reason for the insolvency of Holzmann. This paper challenges the notion that the relationship between Deutsche Bank and Holzmann ...
This study examines income mobility amongst older people in Great Britain and Germany after retirement. The motivation is that older people may be subject to greater income risks in today's environment of early exits from the labour force, rising longevity and increasing reliance on private pension income. Our results provide evidence that income mobility amongst older people is more pronounced in ...
