This paper extends the standard Hotelling model with quadratic transport costs to the multi-firm case. Considering locational equilibria we show that neither holds the Principle of Maximum Differentiation - as in the duopoly model - nor does the Principle of Minimum Differentiation - as in the...

The report summarizes the main results of the SME research that has been conducted in the framework of the “Sino-German Cooperation Program in Empirical Economic Research”, with the ifo Institute, Germany as the core unit to provide methodological support. The program focused on business cycle...

Für die Auswahl geeigneter Wachstumsstrategien ist zuerst eine objektiveAnalyse des eigenen Unternehmens sowie der Wettbewerbssituationin der eigenen Branche und gegebenenfalls in angrenzenden Branchenerforderlich. Dazu dient beispielsweise ein Benchmarking mit Kennzahlen.Einen ersten...

Very little is known about the effectiveness of SME policies, and a careful look at thestructure, mechanisms and incentives provided by these policies suggest caution in theirimplementation and, most importantly, the need to carefully and closely monitor their results.This paper relies on the...

We test whether firms with a single bank are better shielded from loss of credit and investment cutsin periods of adverse cash flow shocks than firms with multiple bank relationships. Our estimatesof the cash flow sensitivity of investment show that both types of firms are equally subject...

Government policy emphasises five ‘drivers’ of productivity: competition, enterprise, innovation, investment and skillsand each of these has been the subject of major programmes of reform (HM Treasury, 2006). Despite this, andnotwithstanding some improvement, UK productivity in terms of output...

Die sich verändernde Altersstruktur in Deutschland bedingt eine Veränderung der Finanzierungsmodalitätenim deutschen Gesundheitswesen. Ein Schritt dazu ist die Einführung derFallpauschalen (englisch DRG: Diagnosis Related Groups) zur Entlohnung von stationärenLeistungen. Allgemein wird...