Behavioral economics has so far largely avoided discussing the psychological origins of preferences, as well as their relation to needs. This has not only restricted interdisciplinary exchange, but also significantly limits the predictive capabilities of models. For example, the revealed...

The German government intends to fix the yearly income tax free subsistence level for a single in 1996 at an amount of 12.000 marks. Own calculations show a minimium of 13.000 marks. They also show that the planned level for the tax allowance for each child of 6.264 marks is sufficient at least...

Aufgrund der Entscheidung des Bundesverfassungsgerichts vom 25. September 1992 muß sich der Gesetzgeber ab 1996, nach einer Übergangsregelung bis 1995, zur Freistellung des Existenzminimums für einen neuen Einkommensteuertarif entscheiden. Einer großzügigen Bemessung des steuerfreien...

Since redemocratization in 1985, Brazil’s system of social protection became more focused on the neediest while at the same time emphasizing universal access, especially focusing education and healthcare. In a traditional context of severe inequality, the sub-national units of government...