In response to recent negative publicity within and outside the economics profession, the Verein für Socialpolitik instituted a Code of Ethics for its members in 2012. The Code is based on central three principles of transparency, objectivity, and fairness. This essay presents a rationalization...

Whether democracy or capitalism should have normative priority depends on the philosophical point of view but also how both are defined. The more relevant perspective is, however, the positive one. Formally, politics dominate, but the economy often dominates de facto because political decisions...

In this paper we discuss the main taxation related problems which arise from internet commerce. Additionally, a survey of the economic literature about this problem is provided. This literature mainly deals with the United States. First, effects on indirect taxation are discussed. Then, we deal...

Um zu zeigen, dass wirtschaftliche Aktivitäten dem Gemeinwohl dienen, wird als normative Referenz im allgemeinen das Pareto-Kriterium verwendet. Dieses lässt sich auch in begrenztem Rahmen zur Rechtfertigung politischer Entscheidungen nutzen. Damit solche Entscheidungen getroffen werden...

Increasing fuel extraction costs and global temperatures make it likely that in the medium-term future, technological or political measures against global warming will be implemented. In assessments of current climate policy, possible medium-term future developments, such as backstop...

After a short sketch of the history of modern business schools in the German speaking countries, their four major activity fields are considered: (i) academic teaching, (ii) scientific research, (iii) consulting and (iv) executive education. While teaching was traditionally dominant, research...

First, the points of view of economists regarding falsificationism, scientific revolutions and scientific research programmes are discussed. Next, hardly debatable scientific progress regarding empirical economic research in recent decades is described. Then it is asked whether there have been...

In 2007, the Wall Street Journal published an article claiming that each execution saves more than 70 lives. This example is used to show how easy it is, using simple or advanced econometric techniques, to produce results that do or do not support the deterrence hypothesis. Moreover, we also...

First the assumption of self-interest as applied in Economics is presented. Here we also discuss areas in which (many) people behave less self- but more other-regarding than traditional economic models assume. Then, greedy behaviour is considered as existing in the political and economic...

In Switzerland, a constitutional initiative has been launched to introduce an unconditional basic income. It should amount to 2'500 CHF per month for adults and 625 CHF for children. Total expenditure would be 200 Billion CHF, of which 50 Billion CHF are already covered by today’s social...