Using enterprise data for the economies of Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, this study examines the effects of corruption on productivity. Corruption is defined as a "bribe tax" and is compared with another form of institutional inefficiency, which is often...

This paper investigates the relationship between the magnitude of automatic stabilizers in the tax and transfer systems of 19 EU countries and the US, and discretionary fiscal stimulus packages passed by these countries during the recent economic crisis. In particular, we ask whether countries...

Nachdem der Stabilitäts- und Wachstumspakt seine Bindungswirkung nur unzureichend entfaltet hat, setzen die Staats- und Regierungschefs der Eurozone nun auf eine noch stärkere Regelbindung. Was sind die Vorteile einer solchen Politik gegenüber diskretionären Entscheidungen? Lässt sich...