In this paper we investigate the existence and shape of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) by means of nonparametric methods. We also investigate the issues involved in the choice of nonparametric estimator. We find that the nature of the economic relationship and the quality of environmental...

This paper presents new evidence about privatisation processes and their determinants from a panel of 34 countries over the 1977-99 period. The empirical analysis shows that privatisation takes place typically in wealthy and democratic countries, endowed with deep and liquid stock markets, and...

Die aktuellen Finanzmarktprobleme zeigen, dass die Immobilienpreisentwicklung wichtige Auswirkungen auf die konjunkturelle Entwicklung haben kann. Die vorliegende Untersuchung stellt zum einen dar, wie die Immobilienpreise auf die makroökonomische Entwicklung reagieren. Zum anderen wird...

In many OECD countries income inequality has risen, but surprisingly re-distribution as well. The theory attributes this partly to the redistributive effect of education spending. In the model income inequality and growth depend in an inverted U-shaped way on education. To maintain a given level...

The objective of evaluating public policy measures is to assess its implications and thus to obtain a measure for weather the respective program has been successful. In this paper, we consider and classify microeconomic and microeconometric approaches to measuring this success. To do so, the...

The importance of IPR regimes for large firm innovation is well documented but less is known about their impact on typically less innovative self-employed entrepreneurship. The paper sets out to estimate the net effect of the various elements that comprise an IPR regime including the political...

Die internationale Finanzmarktkrise hat sich zu einer Weltwirtschaftskrise ungeahnten Ausmaßes entwickelt. Was im Jahr 2007 in den USA als Subprimekrise begann, weitete sich innerhalb kürzester Zeit zu einer globalen Krise aus, bei der es sich um die bedeutendste Krise seit der letzten...

While the impact of exchange rate changes on economic growth has long been an issue of key importance in international macroeconomics, it has received renewed attention in recent years, owing to weaker growth rates and the debate on "currency wars". However, in spite of its prevalence in the...

The estimation of an ordered probit model for currency reforms trying to end 31 hyperinflations and three big inflations of the 20th century shows that the introduction of an independent central bank and the adoption of a credibly fixed exchange rate are crucial for the success of a currency...