This paper introduces a second, vertically related industry into the usual one-industry oligopoly framework of cooperative R&D investment between firms operating on the same product market. R&D efforts are affected by intra- and inter-industry R&D spillovers. Horizontal and vertical R&D...

Using U.K. microeconomic data, we analyze the empirical determinants of voluntary annuity market demand. We find that annuity market participation increases with financial wealth, life expectancy and education and decreases with other pension income and a possible bequest motive for surviving...

This paper presents theoretical and empirical results on the magnitude of optimal hedge ratios for a dynamically balanced strategic asset allocation with multiple currencies. Optimality refers to a mean-variance objective function with a time-varying risk-aversion parameter. A data driven choice...

This paper presents theoretical and empirical results on the magnitude of optimal hedge ratios for a dynamically balanced strategic asset allocation with multiple currencies. Optimality refers to a mean-variance objective function with a time-varying risk-aversion parameter. A data driven choice...

Defined benefit pension liabilities are usually computed by discounting promised future pension payments using the yields on either risk-free or AA-rated bonds. We argue that a pension plan in financial distress should use discount rates that reflect the inherent funding risk. We propose a new...

This paper deals with the labor market entrance of young people in the Federal Republic of Germany. The main focus is on failures during this stage. First, an overview of the youth labor market in Germany is given. Then, the transition from vocational training to work is analyzed: The duration...

The paper compares two approaches to the estimation of panel probit models: the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and the Simulated Maximum Likelihood (SML) technique. Both have in common that they circumvent multiple integrations of joint density functions without the need to impose...