We examine the statistical performance of inequality indices in the presence of extreme values in the data and show that these indices are very sensitive to the properties of the income distribution. Estimation and inference can be dramatically affected, especially when the tail of the income...

The classical risk model is considered and a sensitivity analysis of finite-time ruin probabilities is carried out. We prove the weak convergence of a sequence of empirical finite-time ruin probabilities. So-called partly shifted risk processes are introduced, and used to derive an explicit...

In this paper, we investigate the microeconomic effects of one major feature of the German Hartz Reforms (2003-2005), namely the reduction in compensation duration for older unemployed above 45 years of age. We look at two potential effects of this measure: on job take-up rates, but also on...