Abstract The allure of an environmentally benign, abundant, and cost-effective energy source has led an increasing number of industrialized countries to back public financing of renewable energies. Germany’s experience with renewable energy promotion is often cited as a model to be replicated...

As a consequence of a ruling of the Federal Labour Court in 2010, the German labour market entered a new regime, allowing multiple unions to operate in the same firm. This alteration has instigated an intense debate about its possible consequences for labour relations. We examine the conceptual...

In a bold legislative move, in 2009 Germany introduced a fundamental reform of the government borrowing rules which are specified in its constitu-tion. In particular, state governments will be required to provide a balanced budget, abstracting from cyclical fluctuations, starting in the year...

Abstract Three lessons have emerged from the experience of the recent crisis for future economic policy. First, when a crisis of this severity strikes, governments and central banks must be prepared to engage quickly and decisively into countervailing measures. Second, as the world economy has...

Abstract As a consequence of a ruling of the Federal Labour Court in 2010, the German labour market entered a new regime, allowing multiple unions to operate in the same firm. This alteration has instigated an intense debate about its possible consequences for labour relations. We examine the...