[Introduction] Germany currently finds itself in a difficult economic situation, one characterised not only by a long period of weak economic growth, but also by developments that, if the necessary adjustment processes are not accomplished, pose a threat to Germany's medium-term growth...

Introduction Germany currently finds itself in a difficult economic situation, one characterised not only by a long period of weak economic growth, but also by developments that, if the necessary adjustment processes are not accomplished, pose a threat to Germany's medium-term growth prospects....

Es gehört zu den bemerkenswerten Paradoxien der gegenwärtigen empirischen Wirtschaftsforschung, dass für einzelne Unternehmen die Gewinne als zentraler Erfolgsindikator eine überragende Rolle spielen. Dagegen werden auf aggregierter, insbesondere auf gesamtwirtschaftlicher Ebene -...