Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) forms the widely accepted ecosystem approach to manage water and its related resources in a sustainable way. Nevertheless its implementation is still lacking behind, especially in developing and transition countries which are often short of essential...

What factors shape environmental policies across Europe? In order to answer this question most economists would probably adopt a Public Choice approach. This approach has explained some aspects of environmental policies that exist in a similar fashion across Europe convincingly. But why do many...

The authors assess the performance of the Structural Funds’ implementation system in six Member States of the European Union. Considering the strengths and weaknesses, they develop a reform model for the implementation of European structural policy after 1999. The strengths of the existing...

Am 1.1.2005 ging das 'Vierte Gesetz für moderne Dienstleistungen am Arbeitsmarkt' (Hartz IV) in zwei Modellvarianten an den Start: Arbeitsgemeinschaften (ARGEn) mit gesplitteter Trägerschaft zwischen Kommunen und Bundesagentur für Arbeit und 'Optionsmodell' mit kommunaler Alleinträgerschaft....

In dieser Expertise wird der Stand der internationalen und deutschen Forschung zu den Wirkungen von Mindestlöhnen zusammengefasst. Die neuere Forschung zeigt übereinstimmend, dass sich keine negativen Beschäftigungswirkungen feststellen lassen. Diese Ergebnisse lassen sich auch auf...

In 2005, an EU-wide emissions trading scheme covering major CO2 producing sites shall come into power. The key objective of the trading scheme is to promote cost-efficiency of carbon reduction within the EU. We identify policy-relevant tradeoffs between overall efficiency, compensation and...

The paper identifies key labor market and institutional differences between developed and developing countries, analyzes how these differences affect the working of the standard, OECD-style unemployment insurance (UI) program, and derives a desirable design of unemployment benefit program in...

There is a widespread consensus among the most important players in developed countries (voters, politicians, producers, traditional and green interest groups and bureaucracies) that a shift towards an eco-social market economy is essential for sustainable growth. Nevertheless, market-based...

This article analyzes whether and to what extent reliance on conditionality is appropriate to guarantee the revolving character of Fund resources. The paper presents theoretical arguments in favour of conditionality, and those against the use of conditions. It summarizes the track record of...