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DIW Discussion Papers 883 / 2009
This paper assesses the relative efficiency of knowledge production in the OECD using a nonparametric DEA approach. Resources allocated to R&D are limited and should therefore be used efficiently given the institutional and legal constraints. This paper presents efficiency scores based on an intertemporal frontier estimation for the period 1995 to 2004 and analyzes the impact of the regulatory environment ...
2009| Astrid Cullmann, Jens Schmidt-Ehmcke, Petra Zloczysti
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DIW Discussion Papers 881 / 2009
In January 2009 Germany introduced incentive regulation for the electricity distribution sector based on results obtained from econometric and nonparametric benchmarking analysis. One main problem for the regulator in assigning the relative efficiency scores are unobserved firm-specific factors such as network and technological differences. Comparing the efficiency of different firms usually assumes ...
2009| Astrid Cullmann
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DIW Discussion Papers 876 / 2009
The determinants of export behaviour at firm level have been widely investigated for manufacturing companies. By contrast, what has remained largely neglected is a detailed investigation in the service sector. As aggregate statistics show, international trade in services has grown significantly over the last few years. However, it is unclear why some companies export and others do not. This paper presents ...
2009| Alexander Eickelpasch, Alexander Vogel
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DIW Discussion Papers 863 / 2009
We estimate firms' cash flow sensitivity of cash to empirically test how the financial system's structure and activity level influence their financial constraints. For this purpose we merge Almeida, Campello and Weisbach (2004), a pathbreaking new design for evaluating a firm's financial constraints, with Levine (2002), who paved the way for comparative analysis of financial systems around the world. ...
2009| Christopher F. Baum, Dorothea Schäfer, Oleksandr Talavera
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DIW Discussion Papers 856 / 2009
Support schemes for unemployed persons aiming to become self-employed have been recently reformed several times. In 2003, the "start-up-subsidy" (Existenzgründungszuschuss) was added to the existing "bridging-allowance" (Überbrückungsgeld) and the two programs to-gether led to a strong increase in the number of supported start-ups. In 2006 both instruments were merged to the "start-up allowance" (Gründungszuschuss). ...
2009| Marco Caliendo, Alexander S. Kritikos
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DIW Discussion Papers 851 / 2009
We experimentally test the efficacy of indenture as a self-enforced contract device. In an indenture game, the principal signals the intention of payment-on-delivery, by tearing a banknote and giving the agent half of it as "prepayment"; the agent receives the completing half after delivering the service. By forward induction, cooperation is incentive-compatibly self-enforcing. The indenture performs ...
2009| Alexander S. Kritikos, Jonathan H. W. Tan
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DIW Discussion Papers 848 / 2008
The paper studies the persistence of profit and its determinants in emerging markets. We apply Markov chain analysis, dynamic panel GMM estimation, and quantile regression techniques to a panel of approximately 3,000 Ukrainian companies. The empirical results show a moderate level of profit persistence, as well as a relatively low speed of adjustment to the steady-state profit level, thus providing ...
2008| Andreas Stephan, Andriy Tsapin
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DIW Discussion Papers 822 / 2008
The increase in liquefied natural gas trade has accelerated the integration of previously segmented markets in North America, Europe, and Asia. This paper provides evidence on the integration of the transatlantic natural gas market. We test the theoretical proposition that in integrating markets commodity prices should move closer than before. Using 2,059 pairs of daily spot prices for natural gas ...
2008| Anne Neumann
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DIW Discussion Papers 821 / 2008
We analyze the relation between European natural gas storage facilities and price patterns at major trading points, considering the theory of storage to derive a testable hypothesis imposed by the non-arbitrage condition. To model the efficiency of the natural gas market, we apply two indirect tests absent the scarcity of European inventory data. We find that operators of storage facilities realize ...
2008| Marcus Stronzik, Margarethe Rammerstorfer, Anne Neumann
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DIW Discussion Papers 811 / 2008
This paper introduces a statistical technique, Support Vector Machines (SVM), which is considered by the Deutsche Bundesbank as an alternative for company rating. A special attention is paid to the features of the SVM which provide a higher accuracy of company classification into solvent and insolvent. The advantages and disadvantages of the method are discussed. The comparison of the SVM with more ...
2008| Laura Auria, Rouslan A. Moro