We model the bargaining process of parents over custody at the time of divorce. First we assume an institutional setting where only sole custody is available. In a second step we reform this institutional setting and introduce the possibility of joint custody. We show that some parents, who...

In this paper we study the importance of marriage for interstate risk sharing. We find that US states in which married couples account for a higher share of the population are less exposed to state-specific output shocks. Thus, marriages do not just improve the allocation of risk at the...

Since the 1970s almost all states have introduced a form of joint custody after divorce. We analyze the causal effect of these custody law reforms on the incidence of marriage and divorce. Our identification strategy exploits the different timing of reforms across states and the control group of...

The issues of privatization (and sometimes deregulation) have been reviewed in a large literature on the various aspects of privatization, that has emphasized the potential efficiency gains. Hence, we provide some theoretical reasoning why privatization is useful as well as profitable for an...

Neben dem Pensions- und dem Gesundheitssystem ist der Pflegebereich das dritte Aufgabengebiet der Sozialpolitik, das stark von der demographischen Entwicklung geprägt ist. Schon derzeit sind die Budgets der Länder und Gemeinden durch die Mittel für die Pflege, vor allem für die in Alten- und...

This paper deals with a cross section analysis of local compensation payments to farmers for their provision of landscape amenities in alpine tourist communities. These payments can be interpreted as the outcomes of Coasian negotiations. Based on Austrian data we empirically identify the...

We analyse the consequences of starting a wage subsidised job, marginal employment, for unemployed workers. Marginal employment is a type of wage subsidy paid to unemployed workers and they do not lose their unemployment benefits if the wage is below a certain threshold. We ask if the unemployed...

Die private Pensionsversicherung, bei der dem Versicherungsnehmer regelmässige Auszahlungen bis an das Lebensende garantiert werden, ist Gegenstand einer spezifischen steuerlichen Förderung. Dahinter steht die Überlegung, dass eine Ergänzung zum öffentlichen Pensionssystem erreicht werden...