Die Rolle des Staates im Umweltschutz schien für die meisten Ökonomen lange Zeit eindeutig definiert. Da die relativen Preise im Umweltbereich durch negative externe Effekte verzerrt sind, sollte der Staat über geeignete Instrumente - wie Abgaben und Zertifikate - eine internalisierende...

The paper fundamentally challenges the institutional sclerosis explanation of the present German economic stagnation. Instead, we present a macroeconomic explanation focusing on the combined effects of too restrictive monetary policies, too restrictive and sometimes pro- cyclical fiscal policies...

This paper challenges the institutional sclerosis view of the German crisis according to which rigid labour markets and generous welfare state institutions have driven Germany into its position as „Europe’s sick man“. In general, the view is not convincing, because the underlying...